Speaking up for captive wildlife by urging for amendments to Bill S-15
News
On April 11th, we testified in support of Bill S-15 to the Senate Standing Committee of Legal and Constitutional Affairs and shared our reasons why big cats should be included in the bill.
Bill S-15, as it is currently written would end the use of great apes and elephants for entertainment purposes. The bill was introduced on behalf of the government in the Senate and after several Senator speeches about the Bill were given in the past months, it was finally the turn of animal protection organizations and others to share their opinion.
Bill S-15 is currently at the committee stage where experts are called to provide insight and analysis.
Michèle Hamers, our wildlife campaign manager, represented our organization as part as a panel with Humane Canada and Zoocheck. She spoke to the committee about the importance of this Bill, why non-native big cats should be included and the critical need to improve the definition of conservation research, and diligently responded to Senator questions during the question-and-answer period that followed.
On May 9th, the last testimony was heard. Now it’s up to the Senators to decide if they will change anything in the bill before sending it to the House of Commons.
The amendments that World Animal Protection and a wide coalition of animal protection groups, Canada’s largest zoos and the Jane Goodall Institute are asking for are:
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Include big cats (such as lions, tigers and jaguars) into the bill and give them the same protections as great apes.
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Improve the definition of conservation research, making sure that any conservation research that is done on great apes or big cats will indeed benefit the population in the wild.
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Add a mechanism that other species can be added over time as science evolves and evidence demonstrates that the captivity of that species is harmful and serves no purpose (other than entertainment).
World Animal Protection and other animal protection groups are also calling for a phase out elephant captivity in Canada.
We will continue to watch all proceedings about this bill closely. Once the bill goes to the House of Commons, we will need your help to convince your Member of Parliament that this Bill must pass.
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