Allegations of animal cruelty at Vancouver Aquarium, Greater Vancouver Zoo being investigated by SPCA
Investigations have been opened against two Metro Vancouver attractions following allegations of animal cruelty.
The B.C. SPCA confirmed Thursday it's received a report from the Vancouver Humane Society on conditions at the Vancouver Aquarium and the Greater Vancouver Zoo. In light of the complaint, the SPCA said it has opened an investigation.
The SPCA didn't give details on its investigation, but the Vancouver Humane Society alleged video taken this year shows "a hippo floating listlessly in a barren indoor pool; a lion endlessly pacing along the fence that separates him from his captive pride; African penguins, unable to escape public view, standing for long periods of time huddled around a door in their enclosure."
The society said it used that video as part of its report to the SPCA.
A spokesperson from the Vancouver Aquarium said they were advised of the investigation Thursday morning.
"We take this very seriously, as ensuring the highest standards in animal care, health and wellbeing are the aquarium’s founding principles," a statement from the aquarium said.
"No formal inquiry has been received related to this matter; however, we have reached out to the BC SCPA and are currently working with them to arrange a walk-through of our facility."
A statement from the Greater Vancouver Zoo said it was "made aware of an opinion piece" about the facility.
"The Greater Vancouver Zoo takes the health and welfare of animals very seriously," the statement said.
"As a (Canada Accredited Zoo and Aquarium, and World Association of Zoos and Aquariums) facility we meet and exceed all provincial and federal requirements."
The humane society said keeping wild animals in captivity may stop them from expressing natural behaviours, adding that it's been monitoring conditions at the two attractions for several years.
"The conditions and behaviours that we noted in a number of animals, we felt it necessitated a report to the SPCA," Vancouver Humane Society's Emily Pickett told CTV News Vancouver.
"It's the repetitive, abnormal behaviour that we're quite concerned about … zoos and aquariums just can't replicate the size and complexity of an exotic animal's habitat."
Animal law lawyer Rebeka Breder pointed out that an animal cruelty conviction can come from more than just physical factors.
"Suffering includes much more than seeing a broken leg or something physical like that, suffering definitely includes psychological suffering," Breder said.
“I do think there’s a legitimate case to be made here,” she added.
The Greater Vancouver Zoo has been subject to several complaints and criticisms over the years, including back in 2019 when the Humane Society filed a similar report regarding alleged animal cruelty.
“Ultimately we’d like to see regulations changed, so that we prohibit the keeping, breeding and transporting of all exotic species for permanent captivity,” said Pickett.
According to a study conducted by Research Co. last year on behalf of the humane society, just under half of B.C. residents support keeping animals in permanent captivity for entertainment and education. However, 89 per cent are against the international trade of exotic and wild animals for the purpose of keeping them on display in permanent captivity.
The Vancouver Humane Society has launched an online petition calling for changes to captivity rules in B.C. So far, more than 2,000 people have signed it.
Results from the Research Co. poll were gathered through an online survey between Sept. 27 and 29, among 800 adults. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Maria Weisgarber
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Video shows suspect setting Toronto-area barbershop on fire
Video of a suspect lighting a Richmond Hill barbershop on fire earlier this week has been released by police.
'I have the will to live': N.B. woman needs double lung transplant
A New Brunswick woman suffering from sarcoidosis, a disease that limits your lung capacity, is in need of a double lung transplant.
The kids from 'Mrs. Doubtfire are all SUPER grown up now, and we're not OK
The adorable trio of child actors from the 1993 classic comedy 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' which starred the late and great Robin Williams, are all grown up and looking back on their seminal time together.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.
Boeing is on the verge of launching astronauts aboard new capsule, the newest entry to space travel
It’s the first flight of Boeing’s Starliner capsule with a crew on board, a pair of NASA pilots who will check out the spacecraft during the test drive and a weeklong stay at the space station.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.