Zoo forms committee to boost animal welfare
One of the Calgary Zoo’s biggest critics says the organization is on the right track with its new committee dedicated to bolstering animal welfare protocols.
Zoocheck Canada was pleased to hear the zoo had formed the Calgary Zoo Welfare, Ethics and Research Committee, and in particular, that it had named Joy Ripley, former director and president of the Alberta SPCA and former director and president of the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies, to the group.
“I do think this is a good sign,” said Julie Woodyer, Zoocheck Canada’s campaigns director. “I’m cautiously optimistic hearing this news.”
The new committee blends the existing Animal Welfare Committee and the Biological Research Committee to form a single group that will look at animal welfare protocols, international research, and work around the ethical treatment of animals.
In addition to the six existing group members, Ripley and three other external members have been invited to join the group.
Bill Fisher is a community member from the wildlife conservation sector who serves as chair of the Banff Community Foundation and was previously the vice- president of operations with Parks Canada’s Western and Northern Canada area.
Michael Quinn is a post- secondary institutional representative who serves as the associate vicepresident of research, scholarship and community engagement at Mount Royal University.
And Terry Hunt is currently a Calgary Zoo board of trustees member and coach in professional skills program at the University of Calgary’s faculty of veterinary medicine.
Committee chair Lisa McDonald said there wasn’t any particular incident that sparked the formation of this new committee.
“The field of animal welfare is changing rapidly and evolving. New developments and realizations in scientific research are being made all the time,” McDonald said.
“We realized it was important to get that feedback from external members so we’re seen as being top in the field, but also seeking out opinions of well- known and respected members of other groups that are very knowledgeable.”
In the past, the zoo had been plagued with a number of animal deaths and bizarre incidents, including dozens of rays dying in a tank, a capybara killed by an electric door, a mountain goat getting entangled in a toy, and a gorilla brandishing a knife.
But in the last few years, the zoo has seemingly taken a turn for the better, with fewer incidents and deaths.
In a news release, the zoo said it’s been revising its current animal care management and welfare protocols over the past four years, and they are recognized as “among the most comprehensive in the world.”
Last year alone, the zoo spent more than $ 2.5 million to improve animal care facilities.
“While we are very proud that we are recognized leaders internationally, we recognize the science of animal welfare is continually changing so we must always be adapting,” said Dr. Clément Lanthier, the zoo’s president and CEO, in the statement.
“We aren’t content to simply meet existing standards; our goal is to constantly raise the bar. Achieving optimal animal welfare is a complex process and through the work of this committee we will continue to reach for those high standards.”
McDonald said there are regular zoo processes in place to deal with concerns raised by members of the public or staff members, but her committee will assist when someone is not happy with that process.
The committee will meet twice a year, but will also keep in regular touch and share information through email or Skype.