{"id":1113,"date":"2019-06-17T08:59:17","date_gmt":"2019-06-17T12:59:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zoocheck.com\/podcast\/?p=1113"},"modified":"2020-11-30T14:58:20","modified_gmt":"2020-11-30T19:58:20","slug":"the-aftermath-of-bill-s-203-free-whales-vs-captive-elephants-with-kathryn-sussman-and-rob-laidlaw","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zoocheck.com\/podcast\/the-aftermath-of-bill-s-203-free-whales-vs-captive-elephants-with-kathryn-sussman-and-rob-laidlaw\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cThe aftermath of Bill S-203 : Free Whales vs. Captive Elephants\u201d with Kathryn Sussman and Rob Laidlaw"},"content":{"rendered":"

The precedent-setting Bill S-203 was extensively talked about in the media after it was adopted at the House of Commons on June 11, 2019. Kathryn and Rob discuss the ways in which this new legislation will not only ban the import and export of cetaceans into and out of captivity in the future, but also how it will put pressure on existing facilities that hold captive animals, like Kiska, that aren\u2019t required to be released or moved to sanctuaries. They examine whether Bill S-203 dictates in depth the conditions in which cetaceans should be kept in marine parks, as well as how enforcement will be delivered and by whom. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not a discussion that\u2019s over. It\u2019s ongoing. It will be ongoing for many years, and if we all keep engaged in the discussion, perhaps we can direct it in a way that\u2019s going to be most beneficial to the animals themselves.\u201d \u2013 states Rob Laidlaw.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Encouraged that this Bill exemplifies how Canadians are becoming more ethically concerned about animals, Kathryn ponders how this piece of legislation will set the stage to effect change for other animals that don\u2019t do well in captivity, such as bears and elephants. Considering the condition of Edmonton Valley Zoo\u2019s Asian elephant Lucy<\/a>, Kathryn and Rob compare the plight of Asian elephants (the ones most frequently showcased in zoos and circuses around the world) to their African cousins. They discuss the lack of space and stimulants in many zoos where elephants are kept around the globe, while also losing out on habitats to human disturbance in their natural settings in Asia. As Rob points out, while public awareness is growing, it is zoos themselves that need to act upon establishing new rules for keeping large animals in captivity. He believes that governments must follow-up on the latest scientific reports on a variety of species\u2019 cognitive abilities and social structures, enforcing new laws, and adapting practices to these new perspectives, just like they have now done for cetaceans here in Canada.<\/p>\n

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Be part of the change<\/h3>\n