![]() ![]() "Elephant rides and things like that are an artifact of the past," said Ashe. Even trained handlers can only be in the same space as an elephant in specific circumstances. Instead, the AZA calls for protected contact - there must be a barrier between guests and elephants at all times. "We had significant record of injury, and in some cases death, associated with elephants, and so the principal concern was with the safety of elephant care professionals." ![]() "It was dangerous," said AZA CEO Dan Ashe of the rides. Six of those sites are in Canada, including the Calgary Zoo, Toronto Zoo and Vancouver Aquarium. and physical attributes, while operating in a way that's safe for the animal, visitors and handlers."īut it also lists animal rides as "appropriate educational programming." U.S. group says elephant rides dangerousĬAZA's American counterpart, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), hasn't allowed any of its 241 accredited facilities to offer elephant rides since 2011. ![]() "My understanding is that it was an accident, that it was not an attack."ĬAZA's policy for using animals in educational programming says members should strive to treat animals with dignity and in a way that shows their "natural intellect. (Supplied by Ministry of Labour)ĬAZA's standards are also recognized by British Columbia and Saskatchewan, but not Ontario, he said.ĭespite the ministry's findings, Facette disagreed with its characterization of the incident. The animal would then walk around an oval track. The rides, which were halted in 2019, had involved visitors going up a platform to climb onto an elephant's back. The charity represents 28 facilities across Canada, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which is involved when animals are transported to the country, recognizes its policies, according to CAZA executive director Jim Facette. Instead, zoos turn to CAZA for those standards, which have long allowed elephant rides. African Lion Safari was a founding member and displays the CAZA logo on its website. Under the act, inspectors ensure animal care, welfare and handling standards are met, but "the ARA does not prescribe or regulate the kinds of interactions people can have with animals," spokesperson Christa Roettele said in an email. The Ministry of the Solicitor General inspects most zoos and aquariums in Ontario, but says African Lion Safari falls under the Animals for Research Act (ARA), which is overseen by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. "Had a decision been made to end elephant rides and shows long before, this incident could have been prevented." Regulations a provincial patchworkĪnimal welfare rules vary across Canada, with a patchwork of provincial regulations. But Canadian campaign director Melissa Matlow wonders why it took a "tragedy" to make the change. (Dan Taekema/CBC)Įnding elephant rides was welcomed by World Animal Protection, which had been calling for their halt. But he was left seriously injured, with his head bleeding.Īfrican Lion Safari is a sprawling zoo and park that covers about 305 hectares in rural Hamilton. He crawled under the massive animal, clambering to safety. by using her trunk repetitively hit, spin and push the handler against the wooden railings of the platform stairway behind him."Ī ministry inspector found that as the handler fell to the ground, Maggie pushed him into a corner. zoo accreditation association.Īccording to the 117-page report, which is heavily redacted in sections, Maggie "became aggressive and began attack . The ministry investigation raises questions about why such rides are still permitted by Canada's Accredited Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA), even though they've been banned for a decade by the leading U.S. Now, CBC News has obtained an Ontario Ministry of Labour report that sheds light on what exactly happened during the last-ever elephant ride at African Lion Safari.Īctivists and zoo accreditation bodies believe African Lion Safari was the only site in Canada offering elephant rides. Maggie stood nearly three metres tall and weighed more than 3,900 kilograms.īorn in Burma, the Asian elephant was ridden for 25 years by visitors to African Lion Safari, a zoo and theme park in Flamborough, Ont., in rural Hamilton.īut on June 21, 2019, Maggie lunged at her handler as the last rider was dismounting. ![]()
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