Kangaroo injured in road incident near Ottawa dies, sparking call for more zoo inspections
On Saturday morning, the zoo's Facebook page reported that Willow had died.
Author of the article:Joanne Laucius
Publishing date:May 09, 2021 • 1 day ago • 2 minute read • Join the conversation
This photo and the following message were posted on Reddit: "Be careful: kangaroo heading towards Rockland on the highway between Rockland and Wendover."
This photo and the following message were posted on Reddit: "Be careful: kangaroo heading towards Rockland on the highway between Rockland and Wendover." Reddit
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Animal protection advocates are calling for more inspections of roadside zoos after a female kangaroo named Willow was injured on a highway east of Ottawa.
The incident happened late Friday afternoon near the Papanack Park Zoo, which is located just south of Wendover, about 50 kilometres east of Ottawa.
The zoo did not respond to requests from this newspaper for more information. However, on its Facebook page on Friday afternoon, the zoo thanked people for their concerned phone calls about the kangaroo. “She is with us now.”
On Saturday morning, the zoo’s Facebook page reported that Willow had died.
“It is with deep sadness Willow has crossed the rainbow bridge and she was under veterinarian care,” said the posting. “Thank you for all the phone calls and messages.”
Jodee Bolton was driving west toward Ottawa on Highway 17 at about 4:15 p.m. on Friday when she saw oncoming vehicles flashing their lights in warning.
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Bolton was surprised when she saw a kangaroo cross the road. While still moving, the animal was obviously seriously injured, with blood and visible exposed bone, said Bolton.
Multiple vehicles were stopped by the side of the road, said Bolton. She stopped her car and got out to see if she could prevent the kangaroo from suffering further injury.
Bolton said she saw three people approach the kangaroo. A man captured the kangaroo by holding the animal against his chest. The people then wrapped a coat around the kangaroo and said a vet was going to meet them.
Reports of the incident have circulated widely on social media, drawing both support for the zoo, which has been closed due to COVID-19 measures, and criticism over the province’s lack of zoo regulation.
The zoo, which changed hands in 2014, came under fire in 2016 when a 300-pound lion named Zeus was euthanized after he escaped from his enclosure.
At the time, the zoo’s co-owner, Kerri Bayford, said there was no other choice because tranquilizing Zeus would have taken too long and put the public at risk.
Animal rights advocate Liz Wheeler said she’s concerned about roadside zoos that operate as businesses and are not members of Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA), which has a program that includes onsite inspections.
CAZA has 28 members, with 11 in Ontario.
Animals have minimal protection in Ontario, said Wheeler.
“My biggest issue with the Papanack Zoo is that they are a for-profit attraction. They don’t have a conservation agenda,” said Wheeler. “It’s just one thing after another.”
In Ontario, provincial animal welfare inspectors are directly accountable to the chief animal welfare inspector, who is accountable to the solicitor general.
The province urges Ontario residents who see an animal that is in distress, abused or neglected to call 1-833-9-ANIMAL to report the concern. Incidents may be investigated by a provincial inspector or police.
On Saturday morning, the zoo's Facebook page reported that Willow had died.
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