Zoo

By Hayley Turner 

The documentary “Zoo” discusses the misunderstood topic of zoo/zoophile. Zoophile is when a person has a sexual interest in animals. The topic is depicted by men involved with the life and death of Mr. Hands, a Seattle businessman who dies from internal injuries received after participating in anal intercourse form a horse. The misunderstanding surrounding zoophile is due to the taboo nature of alternative species relationships.  The men involved with zoo that are telling this story and through the documentary they allow the audience to get a better understanding of how someone becomes zoo and the struggle of what is means to be zoo. The pleasure and desire aspect of zoophile are intertwined through out the narrative.

The first question that the documentary examines is how someone becomes zoo. The documentary opens with the story of Coyote. Coyote is a man who comes from a small town in Virginia and has his cultural world open up with the popularization of the Internet. Coyote used the Internet to discover zoo and saw a connection with himself and individuals who were zoo. One of the questions that Coyote tries to answer is “Why am I this way?” This question opens the door to view being zoo in the context of biology. Coyote asking this question show that he didn’t decide to be zoo, he just was. Another one of the zoo individuals stated that his love on animals started at age 16. This age is a time when people are discovering, exploring and understanding their sexuality and preferences.

Another question that the documentary examines is, what it means to be zoo. In the understanding of those who are zoo, being zoo means you are a person closer to animals than humans and animals are made part of the family. Thus zoo is just a love of animals. Sex with animals was not discussed in the movie until the second half, when it was noted that sex was just a small component of being zoo.  Those who do not participate in zoo often jump right to the aspect of sex. This is partly due to laws that deem that sex with an animal is animal cruelty, and the fact that this aspect of being zoo is viewed as out side the social norms for sexual activities. The individuals who are zoo do not understand the laws of animal cruelty, which is based on the belief that animals can’t consent and are innocent. The men in the documentary understanding of the horses willingness to participate was a mutually understanding of acceptance, everyone wanted and were happy to participate.

The question of why these men were happy participating in sex with an animal can be connected with what they derive from the sexual act. The act was not for pure pleasure but involved an important connection between horse and man. The men believed that the animals have a simple lives and plans in the world and that men were able to be connected to this world during the sexual act. The men desired this connection and it is what due them into being zoo.