Speak out for captive wildlife in degrading roadside zoos

There is a critical situation in Ontario: due to a lack of provincial zoo regulations, there are over one thousand wild animals being held captive in degrading conditions.

Our 2021 report, “Nothing new at the zoo”, highlights how these animals are being kept in horrible and unnatural conditions. Our Wildlife Campaign Manager visited four years later, and confirmed all the same issues exist:

Animals living in small and filthy cages, where they can't express their natural behaviours.
Social animals kept in complete isolation, putting a strain on their mental health.
Poorly designed ‘Do-It-Yourself' enclosures causing safety concerns for humans and animals alike.
The promotion of close interactions with animals, increasing the risk of incidents, including the transmission of zoonotic diseases.

Ontario ranks dead last among Canadian provinces to adequately address captive wildlife issues like roadside zoos. With no permits needed for non-native wildlife, anyone can own and operate a zoo.

CTV’s investigative reporting program, W5, also released their own exposé calling national attention to these roadside zoos and the sad and even dangerous conditions animals live in at these facilities.

We know that this issue can be solved; we need the Ontario government to develop and implement a mandatory province-wide zoo licensing system.

Join us and take this moment to speak out for the captive wild animals in Ontario. Show the Ontario Solicitor General that Canadians are concerned about this and urge him to act.

Take action: Send an e-letter to Ontario’s Solicitor General now!

We’ve created a template to get you started. When you’re ready, fill out the form below and click the “Send” button to send your e-letter to the Solicitor General.

Thank you for doing your part to help protect captive wild animals in Ontario!

Tips for personalizing your letter:

Tip #1: Be clear about the issue at hand. Make sure that you mention why you believe that Ontario should end roadside zoos.

Tip #2: Have you been to a roadside zoo or is there a roadside zoo in your area? Be sure to talk about your experience.

To: The Honourable Michael S. Kerzner

Solicitor General, Government of the Province of Ontario

Dear Minister Kerzner,

I am writing to express my concerns about the welfare of wild animals kept at roadside zoos in Ontario and the risk these places pose to public safety. It is discouraging and deeply worrying that Ontario hasn’t addressed this issue yet and continues to trail behind the rest of Canada.

World Animal Protection’s report 'Nothing New at the Zoo' highlights the issues at roadside zoos caused by  a lack of provincial oversight.

Ontario is the only province where roadside zoos are common despite ample evidence showing that these places keep animals in substandard and often dangerous conditions. Potentially dangerous animals, like tigers and lions, are kept in enclosures lacking appropriate safety measures. Additionally, in most of these facilities, members of the public are encouraged to interact with wild animals, leaving individuals at risk of injury and zoonotic diseases.

According to these reports, these places are likely not even complying with existing animal welfare regulations. For example, basic requirements, such as adequate and appropriate sanitary conditions, and the ability to engage in natural behaviours is seemingly not met by most of the zoos. These conditions are not acceptable. These animals need a quality of life, not merely to be kept alive. I want Ontario to do better.

I urge you to prioritize this issue and to support the development and implementation of a mandatory provincial zoo licensing system for facilities housing wild animals according to the highest animal welfare and public health and safety standards.

Sincerely,

{user_data~First Name} {user_data~Last Name}

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