Unsafe Cages
During the spring of 2005, the WSPA commissioned Dr. Ken Gold, a zoo professional with more than 25 years experience working at some of the top zoos in the world, to investigate the conditions of 16 Ontario zoos. Dr. Gold found 79% of the exhibits lacking important safety features. As many as 45% of the exhibits assessed were critically deficient from a public safety standpoint; these are accidents waiting to happen.
At a more than a few roadside zoos, tigers and other potentially dangerous animals were kept behind flimsy, low barriers without proper overhangs to prevent escapes
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Protruding wires pose both a hazard to the animals and the public.
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The gates of some exhibits were not locked securely; some were not even locked at all.
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According to Dr. Gold, a number of dangerous animals could potentially escape from their exhibits. Indeed, zoo escapes happen quite frequently. Within one year of Dr. Gold’s investigation, six animals have escaped from zoos and private owners in Ontario and these are only the incidents reported by the media.
Although the Ministry of Natural Resources issues permits for keeping native wildlife in captivity, no provincial ministry inspects zoos to ensure they are safe. In fact, Ontario is one of the few provinces that does not attach any safety requirements to its zoo licences to safeguard zoo visitors, staff and neighbouring communities.
Many roadside zoo exhibits do not have adequate stand-off barriers to prevent public contact with potentially dangerous animals.
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Some people may not believe monkeys to be dangerous animals but they can bite, scratch and carry dangerous diseases. It is believed that 80-90% of adult macaques can carry the Herpes B virus, which can lead to fatal brain diseases in humans.
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Some exhibits did not have any stand-off barriers allowing visitors to reach
into the cage to touch or feed the animals. |
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