Taccachantrieri
Well-Known Member
What Does the Future Hold for Canadian Zoos?
Those who follow news regarding Canadian zoos will be well aware of the current abundance of bad publicity afflicting Canadian zoos. The Mountainview Conservation Centre is being investigated by the SPCA over abuse allegations. Recent investigations there have turned up numerous cases that substantiate calls of inadequate care (see the Mountainview Conservation Centre thread). PETA and ZooCheck Canada are currently suing the Edmonton Valley Zoo on grounds of violating the Animal Protection Act by keeping Lucy the elephant alone and in substandard conditions (http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Animal+rights+groups+take+Lucy+case+court/2511161/story.html). At the Greater Vancouver Zoo four zebra deaths prompted a British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals investigation. All three of these zoos are currently CAZA accredited. There are many zoos in Canada that are far worse and fail to even meet CAZA standards.
Canada’s two most respected zoos, the Toronto Zoo and Calgary Zoo, have also been criticized heavily in recent years. All of the news reports regarding animal deaths at the Calgary Zoo have tarnished their reputation sufficiently for the Calgary Zoo to voluntarily launch an independent investigation in an attempt to clear their image. The IDA recently put the Toronto Zoo on its list of worst zoos for elephants, which has increased public criticism of maintaining elephants at the Toronto Zoo.
Together, all of these stories seem to suggest that the zoo industry is suffering in Canada, but on the other hand there have been many recent announcements of major investments into Canadian zoos. The Edmonton city council has recently approved 43 million for the Edmonton Valley Zoo! What makes this announcement more extraordinary is just how long the community has avoided any kind of investment in their zoo. The Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg was also largely ignored until recent announcements of a 90 million makeover (Sunday Special: Brand-new zoo - Winnipeg Free Press)! The Tundra Trek recently opened at the Toronto Zoo with a huge polar bear exhibit. More developments at the Toronto Zoo will surely come- even if they can’t raise their ambitious 250 million dollar fundraising target. There have been talks of a major aquarium at the foot of the CN tower. Meanwhile, the Calgary Zoo will open a 24.5 million dollar penguin exhibit in mid 2011.
The problems and developments at Canadian zoos beg the question of what the future might hold for these kinds of institutions in Canada. Are they are on their way to improved standards and increased public appreciation or are all of the new developments just masking an inevitable decline?
Those who follow news regarding Canadian zoos will be well aware of the current abundance of bad publicity afflicting Canadian zoos. The Mountainview Conservation Centre is being investigated by the SPCA over abuse allegations. Recent investigations there have turned up numerous cases that substantiate calls of inadequate care (see the Mountainview Conservation Centre thread). PETA and ZooCheck Canada are currently suing the Edmonton Valley Zoo on grounds of violating the Animal Protection Act by keeping Lucy the elephant alone and in substandard conditions (http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Animal+rights+groups+take+Lucy+case+court/2511161/story.html). At the Greater Vancouver Zoo four zebra deaths prompted a British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals investigation. All three of these zoos are currently CAZA accredited. There are many zoos in Canada that are far worse and fail to even meet CAZA standards.
Canada’s two most respected zoos, the Toronto Zoo and Calgary Zoo, have also been criticized heavily in recent years. All of the news reports regarding animal deaths at the Calgary Zoo have tarnished their reputation sufficiently for the Calgary Zoo to voluntarily launch an independent investigation in an attempt to clear their image. The IDA recently put the Toronto Zoo on its list of worst zoos for elephants, which has increased public criticism of maintaining elephants at the Toronto Zoo.
Together, all of these stories seem to suggest that the zoo industry is suffering in Canada, but on the other hand there have been many recent announcements of major investments into Canadian zoos. The Edmonton city council has recently approved 43 million for the Edmonton Valley Zoo! What makes this announcement more extraordinary is just how long the community has avoided any kind of investment in their zoo. The Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg was also largely ignored until recent announcements of a 90 million makeover (Sunday Special: Brand-new zoo - Winnipeg Free Press)! The Tundra Trek recently opened at the Toronto Zoo with a huge polar bear exhibit. More developments at the Toronto Zoo will surely come- even if they can’t raise their ambitious 250 million dollar fundraising target. There have been talks of a major aquarium at the foot of the CN tower. Meanwhile, the Calgary Zoo will open a 24.5 million dollar penguin exhibit in mid 2011.
The problems and developments at Canadian zoos beg the question of what the future might hold for these kinds of institutions in Canada. Are they are on their way to improved standards and increased public appreciation or are all of the new developments just masking an inevitable decline?
! As it stands now there are only 5 Canadian AZA accredited facilities (Vancouver Aquarium, Calgary Zoo, Toronto Zoo, Montreal Biodome, and the Granby Zoo). If all goes well I could see the Assiniboine Park Zoo and Edmonton Valley Zoo becoming AZA accredited in the next decade. The Edmonton Valley Zoo, in particular, still has a long way to go before that can happen, but I am optimistic.