UPDATE - ONTARIO ZOO CAMPAIGN
(July 2008)
Bill 50 Introduced! But will it help animals in zoos?
Shortly after Ontario MPP David Zimmer’s Private Member’s
Bill 154, The Regulation of Zoos Act died on the Order Paper, the Ontario government announced that a new bill would be introduced that would address, among other things, the roadside zoo problem. The new bill, entitled Bill 50, An Act to amend the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Act was introduced in the spring of 2008 and has since passed second reading.
While Bill 50 contains a number of very significant, long overdue and beneficial changes to the Ontario SPCA Act that will facilitate a more proactive enforcement program in the province, there is nothing specifically focused on the roadside zoo issue. One section of the bill does allow regulations to be created for certain practices, including roadside zoos, but, so far, there does not appear to be any intent to follow through with them.
Regardless, even if regulations for zoos are developed, in all likelihood they will be general standards of housing and care. There will still be no up-front regulation of the industry that will stop inexperienced or ill-equipped persons from acquiring wild animals for personal or display purposes and there will be no rules regarding the safety of staff, visitors, bystanders and neighbours.
Zoocheck Canada is continuing to push for a comprehensive regulatory scheme that will properly control the proliferation of wild animals in Ontario, something Bill 50 will not accomplish.
Zoo Closures
In
May 2007, Lickety Split Ranch (The Zoo) in London closed its doors
temporarily and has not yet reopened. The closure occurred because of the
massive negative media attention generated after Australian press learned about
the treatment of Tyson the kangaroo. Shortly thereafter Tyson disappeared and
his whereabouts are unknown. A local citizen’s group comprised of people
concerned about Tyson and the other animals at Lickety Split has been trying to locate him and to convince
the City of London council to close
the zoo down for good.
In
2007, Lickety Split was also charged by the Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources for holding native wildlife in captivity without
a license.
Also in 2007, a proposal
for a new zoo, that would have displayed a wide variety of exotic species,
including big cats and primates, was brought forward in the Niagara Region. For
several months Zoocheck worked to prevent its opening
and the project is on hold for now.
During
the past 24 months, the Pineridge Zoo near Grand Bend
and the Kerwood Wolf Education Centre near London both closed their
doors for good. In northern Ontario, the Cochrane Wildlife
Park and the Temiskaming Wildlife Center
also closed down.
Past Events
(2008) Bill 50, An Act to amend the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act - A government bill introduced to address deficiencies in Ontario's animal welfare legislation.
(2006) Bill 154, The Regulation of Zoos Act - A Private Members Bill introduced by MPP David
Zimmer and supported by Zoocheck, WSPA and OSPCA. Died on the Order Paper in 2007.
(2006) Zoocheck Canada
conducts review of zoos in Ontario,
including Lickety Split Ranch and Zoo, Twin Valley Zoo,
Killmans Zoo, Zooz Nature Park, Marineland,
Bergerons Exotic Animal Sanctuary
and Guha’s Tiger and Lion Farm.
(2005) Failing The Grade: A
Report on Conditions in Ontario’s Zoos – Release of WSPA Canada review
of 16 Ontario
zoos by Dr. Ken Gold.
(2001) The State of the Ark: Investigating
Ontario’s Zoos – Release of WSPA Canada review of 16 zoos by Karen
Cowan and Jennifer Long.
(2001) Ontario Ministry of
Natural Resources finalizes draft standards for zoos after extensive
consultation period. The standards were never implemented.
(1999) The Bear Essentials, A
Survey of Captive American Black Bears in Ontario
– Release of Zoocheck Canada review of black bear
exhibits by Marilyn Cole
(1998) While Rome Burns…A Report Into Conditions In The Zoos
Of Ontario – Release of Zoocheck Canada/WSPA
review of 11 Ontario
zoos by veterinarian/animal behaviourist Samantha
Lindley.
(1997) Bill 159, Exotic Animal Controls Act
– A Private Members Bill introduced by MPP John Parker and supported by Zoocheck. Died on the Order Paper.
(1995) Zoos In Ontario, An Investigative Report - Release of the Zoocheck Canada/WSPA review of 18 Ontario zoos
by Dr. John Gripper.
(1990-1994) Animal Welfare
Review Committee – An interministry committee
mandated to examine a variety of animal welfare issues, including the keeping
of wildlife in zoos and private menageries. The AWRC came out with
comprehensive recommendations in 1994. None were implemented.
(1988) Bill 129, An Act to Regulate the Use of
Animals Kept for Exhibition or Entertainment – A Private Members Bill
introduced by MPP Ed Phillip, supported by Zoocheck.
Passed 2nd reading and then died on the Order Paper.
(1988) Zoos In Ontario: An
Informal Look – Release of the first ever review of Ontario's roadside zoos and the problems they present by Rob
Laidlaw.
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