From smuggling busts to animal escapes, Canada’s wildlife trade issues are anything but tame. Here’s what this year’s incidents reveal about the urgent need for change.
It’s been another wild year of challenges involving the trade and captivity of wildlife, made possible by a patchwork of inconsistent regulations.
In 2024 alone, we tracked 36 separate incidents, ranging from zoonotic disease outbreaks and wildlife trafficking to escapes and attacks. Keep in mind this number is likely much higher as many incidents go unreported. This data paints a clear picture: Canada is struggling to manage the growing problems with the trade and captivity of wildlife.
Here are just a few of the wild things that happened in Canada in 2024:
- Wildlife smuggling incidents, including:
- In an audacious case of wildlife trafficking, authorities intercepted a shipment of baby eels (elvers) worth half a million dollars at Toronto Pearson Airport.
- A woman was caught attempting to smuggle 29 protected turtles wrapped in socks inside a duffle bag across the Canada-United States border by kayak!
- In a wild sting operation, an undercover conservation officer caught an Abbotsford man buying illegal wildlife parts including bear paws.
- A Calgary man was fined $35,000 and banned from owning animals for two years after attempting to import turtles and turtle eggs in packages labeled as “children’s building blocks”.
- Salmonella outbreaks from exotic pets: Canada faced multiple salmonella outbreaks linked to pet geckos and snakes this past year. These cases infected dozens across several provinces, sparking a public health scare.
- Marineland’s mysterious future: Marineland, known for its controversial practices, announced ownership changes this past year. During the 2024 zoo season, the park only displayed their belugas, raising concerns about the future of its other animals, including dolphins, penguins, sea lions and many land animals.
- Reptilia vs. London: The roadside zoo Reptilia sparked a legal firestorm after being caught keeping prohibited species in London, Ontario. The case became a flashpoint for the inadequacies of Ontario's exotic animal laws.
- Many wild animals escaped captivity: This year saw numerous escapes, including an emu who was found near a highway in Calgary and a 5-foot-long corn snake that was discovered slithering around an apartment building.
- Tragic losses of captive wild animals: Sadly, several captive wild animals passed away this year, including:
- Baffin, the polar bear, who died from an injury sustained during rough play with his cage mate.
- Jenga, the giraffe, who died at only 8-years old – a fraction of the typical lifespan of a giraffe in the wild.
- Clara, a sea lion, who passed away after living at West Edmonton Mall for over 20-years.
- Eyare, a two-year-old gorilla, who died from injuries caused by human error, sparking calls for greater accountability in zoo operations.
- Illegally kept exotic animals were confiscated: Among the animals seized this year were a 9-foot Burmese python and a Cuvier’s dwarf caiman.
These incidents are more than just headlines – they’re urgent warnings. From public health risks to the ethical concerns surrounding captivity, the consequences of the poorly regulated wild animal ownership and trade in Canada are undeniable.
Our wildlife incidents map provides a broader look at this pervasive issue, showing how these events are happening across Canada and highlighting the need for immediate action.
The solution?
Stronger regulations at all levels of government to protect wild animals, reduce risks to humans and ensure Canada does its part to combat illegal wildlife trade.
Banner photo: Sasha Rink / World Animal Protection