Campaigning against zoo's plan, Groups fight to keep polar bears and whales out of Calgary

2006-04-27

Zoocheck Canada

Yesterday, Zoocheck Canada, a national zoo watchdog group, launched their public awareness campaign to keep whales and polar bears out of the Calgary Zoo with a new billboard at 9th Avenue & 6th St. SW in downtown Calgary. The billboard has already generated an overwhelmingly positive response from Calgary residents.

Zoocheck first exposed the Calgary Zoo's plan to acquire marine mammals more than a year and a half ago and vowed to oppose the plan calling it misguided, outdated, unnecessary and cruel.

“We are confident that the majority of Calgarians don’t want to whales or polar bears suffering in captivity at the Calgary Zoo,” said Julie Woodyer, Campaigns Director for Zoocheck Canada. “It's no secret that far-ranging carnivores like belugas and polar bears suffer when confined. The public realizes that and is starting to speak out against their captivity. We hope to direct concerned Calgarians to our web site to learn more about the issue and how they can participate in the campaign.”
Fishbowl

"The billboard is just the first step in our public awareness effort, but it's an important one. With more than 40,000 cars passing by the billboard everyday, it will help get the message out,”Woodyer added.

A survey regarding the controversial plan announced by the zoo earlier this month conducted by Calgary City Alderman Craig Burrows reportedly attracted hundreds of e-mail responses, 96% of them opposed any plans by the zoo to display polar bears and whales.

Zoocheck and other public interest organizations are urging Calgary City Council and the Provinceof Albertato direct any current commitment of zoo funding toward improving the lives of animals already residing at the zoo rather than building new displays to house controversial species whose needs cannot be met in captivity. In August, 2004, a letter signed by 58 wildlife protection organizations representing more than 15 million supporters worldwide wrote to the Calgary Zoo expressing concerns about the display and warning that any move to acquire whales would generate enormous controversy.