Tool launch due to governments' ongoing
failure to adequately track and restrict ownership of captive
wildlife across Canada
TORONTO, May 16, 2024
/CNW/ - World Animal Protection Canada has officially launched
its interactive transparency tracking tool to monitor captive
wildlife incidents in Canada. The
launch comes as dozens of underregulated roadside zoos are
beginning to open for the season.
"While there are frequent escapes, attacks and zoonotic disease
outbreaks throughout Canada, it's
typically reported as stand-alone incidents, if at all," says
Michèle Hamers, Wildlife Campaign Manager for World Animal
Protection Canada. "That's why World Animal Protection came up
with this tool, to show that captive wildlife problems are a
systemic issue across Canada."
The tool adds a layer of transparency to Canada's opaque captive wildlife problem.
Documenting instances of zoonotic disease outbreaks, escapes,
attacks and more, the tool is the most comprehensive database to
date by any organization or government in Canada.
World Animal Protection is also encouraging Canadians to
document and send in tips and information of captive wildlife
problems in their communities.
While provinces like Alberta,
have led the way in creating comprehensive zoo regulations and
captive wildlife restrictions, other provinces, notably
Ontario and Manitoba, have not.
Canada's captive wildlife
problem requires intervention from both provincial and federal
governments. World Animal Protection's research found more than 1.4
million wild animals are kept as pets in Canadian households, and
Canada continues to import
hundreds of thousands of wild animals every year, mostly for the
pet trade.
It's why World Animal Protection is supporting Bill S-15, An
Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Wild Animal and Plant
Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial
Trade Act, while calling on parliamentarians to expand the
scope of the bill to include more species beyond banning the
commercial trade, keeping and breeding of elephants and great apes
for entertainment purposes.
World Animal Protection also applauds efforts from the federal
government to engage with provinces, territories and stakeholders
for a national approach to animal welfare and public safety for
captive wildlife.
"The prevalence of captive wildlife ownership, trade and
breeding is much higher in Canada
than many might realize, that's why standardizing the approach to
these issues is critical," added Hamers. "This new tool
illustrates the status-quo simply is not working, and we need an
evidence-first approach to policies to protect wildlife and
Canadians."
Across all levels of government, World Animal Protection
continues to advocate for changes to captive wild-animal
regulations.
SOURCE World Animal Protection