A Toronto -based charity dedicated to the protection of exotic animals said zoos on the province’s roadside are underregulated and unsafe. They are urging tourists to make more ethical choices this summer.
Toronto -based World Animal Protection describes roadside zoos as dangerouswhich says the province has few of its own regulations, instead choosing to leave the management and enforcement of unique animal ownership in its 444 municipalities, resulting in a patchwork rule that varies in each community .
Michèle Hamers, wildlife campaign manager at World Animal Protection, said anyone can run a zoo, regardless of their level of experience or knowledge of potentially dangerous exotic animals, such as lions and tigers.
” Almost anyone with exotic animals can technically run a zoo, regardless of their qualifications, expertise, or financial means. “
Private zoos face little oversight
As a result, private zoos are changing hands without much government oversight. The most recent example is Greenview Aviaries, a roadside zoo located in Morpeth, Ontario, in the Municipality of Chatham-Kent. The facility, along with its 450 animals, sold earlier this year for $ 4.5 million.
According to media reports, the facility was purchased this spring by Rob and Alicia Patten. CBC News tried to contact the new owners through the zoo itself, but received no response at the time of reporting.
The private zoo is one of three in southwestern Ontario that houses lions and tigers, all within an hour of London. The others are the Killman Zoo in Caledonia, and Twin Valley Nature Park in Brantford.
Michèle Hamers said that because Ontario’s standards for keeping exotic wild animals are low, it’s important that families who want to show their children these animals up close choose facilities recognized by the Canadian Association. of Wildlife. zoos and aquariums (CAZA).
CAZA -recognized establishments usually list it on their website. So this is the easiest way to find out if it is accreditedhe pointed out.
He added that one of the best ways to find out if a roadside zoo is treating its animals well is the attention the facility pays to designing an enclosure that focuses on the animal’s needs, including integrating space to move around.
Most of them kept animals in small cages, poor conditions and little thought about the animal being kept in captivity. Everything is organized and created so that people can see the animals.
Change the attitude of the public
Visiting these private zoos, especially those that allow patrons to interact and touch animals, raises some ethical questions about treating their menageries, says Kendra Coulter, Chancellor’s Chair for Research Excellence. at Brock University and Fellow of the Oxford Center for Animal Ethics.
Kendra Coulter pointed to the case of Marineland, a private zoo in Niagara Falls, which currently faces cases of using captive dolphins and whales for recreation without provincial permission.
He said the fact that the park is facing unprecedented public scrutiny illustrates how attitudes are changing when it comes to the idea of zoos and captive animals on display and whether it is morally correct.
New scientific knowledge about animal behavior, including a new understanding of the mental and intellectual abilities of animals and the needs and aspirations of society, is changing the way we view animals in captivity, he said.
” I think people are increasingly asking this key question, even though there is an accreditation standard: ‘Is it ethical for us to keep wild animals in small numbers in very small territories and yards for our own hobby? ‘ “
Alternatively, families can choose to visit pet sanctuaries, such as Canada’s Donkey Sanctuary in Puslinch, Ontario, where animals are already accustomed to interacting with humans, allowing visitors to meet their personal needs. look at the animals closely.
Source: Radio-Canada
