Greater Vancouver Zoo: B.C. group launches boycott

[Kreskin]

B.C. group launches zoo boycott over giraffe's death

An animal protection group is organizing a boycott of the Greater Vancouver Zoo after the recent death of a baby giraffe.

Liberation B.C. spokesperson Jan Olson said members of the group planned to protest in front of the zoo on Sunday over what she alleges is a long list of broken promises from the facility located in the Fraser Valley community of Aldergrove, east of Vancouver.

more - http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/07/09/zoo-boycott.html

I have mixed feelings about the GV Zoo. I have been there many times over the years and never once thought the animals were neglected. However, the elephant that was there for years had obvious mental problems - spending most of it's life walking backwards and rocking its head. Still, I didn't think much of it. Then the hippo issue and now the giraffe issue.

The protest will create more damage imo. The bad press alone, without a protest, must be financially destroying the zoo and putting the remaining animals in more peril. I'm not a big fan of keeping animals in captivity but I thought this giant-sized property was a good place. The whole thing is a shame.

Greater Vancouver Zoo - MEDIA ADVISORY


Date: July 5th 2006

Greater Vancouver Zoo loses their baby Giraffe despite round-the-clock efforts

Aldergrove - It is with great sadness that the Greater Vancouver Zoo has to report on the loss of our baby giraffe. Our female giraffe, Eleah, began to give birth early in the morning of Wednesday June 21 and after much deliberation; it was decided to intervene since it was clear she would not be able to deliver without assistance.

Because of a very difficult birth, vigorous attempts were made by the keepers and our Veterinary, Dr. Burton, to revive the calf. After many hours of intensive care and against all odds the calf began to respond. From being completely unable to stand or even hold her head up, with help she was able to stand and soon walk on her own. A round-the-clock watch was set-up to care and observe for the baby giraffe, keepers took turns watching and getting minimal sleep. For a couple of days she got stronger then she leveled out, but was never able to nurse normally and had to be force fed. She continued to hold her own for the first week and then Thursday June 29th, she took a turn for the worse. She became less and less responsive and was rushed to the Veterinary Hospital...sadly, she passed away quietly in the arms of those of cared and loved her dearly.

The post mortem results indicated several rib fractures and pneumonia. "How she lived eight days, let alone improved during that time, was unimaginable, given the trauma she experienced at birth and can only be attributed to the continuous support and dedicated care provided by the keepers and staff at the Greater Vancouver Zoo", Dr. Burton (Veterinary for the Zoo).

It is difficult to adequately describe, and even possibly understand, the profound sense of loss experienced by those who had a part in trying to save her. The emotional highs and lows that such a loss causes to those of us who shared her brief time on earth may soften over time, but they will never, and should never, be forgotten.

Media Contact:

Jody Henderson
Marketing & Promotions Manager
Phone: 604.856.6825 x 33
Fax: 604.857.9008
Email: jhenderson@gvzoo.com

To learn more about the good things we do at the Zoo visit us at: www.gvzoo.com or better yet come visit us in person.

http://www.gvzoo.com/Codes/pressrelease.html#july052006

What are your thoughts on this zoo, or keeping animals in any zoo?

 

[Twila]

RE: Greater Vancouver Zoo

Kreskin, I kind of agree with you.

Although some of the animals could have used more room (tigers, lions, cougar) and 1 tiger did die of urinary tract infection (easily treated, hard to diagnose) I wouldn't say they're neglected.

I think they're will always be people who detest the idea of animals in cages, no matter the size. And I can' fault them. in a perfect world animals would be free....and man would be caged.

side note.
I watched the news report about this and one visitor thought the protestors were from the SPCA which he renamed the Society of Professional Complainers Association. Made me laugh.

 

[SaintLucifer]

Bwaaaaaaaaahhhhaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhaaaaa!! People protesting the practice of keeping animals in cages yet they stop on their way home to pick up a KFC or McDonald's dinner! Bwaaaaaaahhhhhhaaaaaaahhhhhhhhaaaaaaa! Duh?

 

[Twila]

RE: Greater Vancouver Zoo

You know, SJ, there is no intelligence test required to be a protestor......

 

[SaintLucifer]

Re: RE: Greater Vancouver Zoo

You know, SJ, there is no intelligence test required to be a protestor......

Who is 'SJ'?

 

[Twila]

RE: Greater Vancouver Zoo

SL. Sorry. I meant SL...I was eating and typing. A bad combination....

 

[#juan]

I was there last week.

The place has grown. Most large animals don't have cages. They have an acre or three. Even that Hippo that was in the news a few weeks back has a lovely big lake and room to wonder around. I could see lots of work in progress and it looks like they are doing pretty well.

 

[Kodiak]

I haven't be to a zoo enviroment in years, I always leave feeling sad. Not that the animals are in cages but that there is not enough room on the planet for all of us to live freely. From the discription of the birth they were lucky that the mom didn't die as well. How many births do not go well in the wild? We will never know how many animals die in birth and don't make it through the birthing process in the wild. If you took stats on sucessful births at zoos would it equal sucessful wild births? I don't think that this is a question that could be answered with honesty.
I would said in the case of the hippo, the zoo acquired her before they were ready to house her. The SPCA made the stink about her living conditions just weeks before she was moved out of the pen she was in to the improved location that #juan saw her in. (Yes they had brought up allegations before but what hit the media with such force was weeks before she was moved. And one must remember that the SPCA was bringing up the allegations as the hippos new housing was been built) Maybe that would be an approach, you can not acquire a new species before you have the approval of the SPCA. They would regulate the housing and care. (free of charge of course, just mediators for the animals)
We all know that keeping wild animals in pens no matter how well you try to simulate their natural enviroment is a no win situation. It takes alot of money and extreme dedication from the keepers and that is not always enough no matter how hard you try.

 

[Twila]

RE: Greater Vancouver Zoo

Well said Kodiak.

I would feel better if the SPCAs's allegations came from an organization free of allegations of abuse themselves and financial controversy.......

Zoo's are regulated (sort of ) by an independant party.