Tag Archives: animal welfare

Earth

Guinea Pigs Are Not Disposable Pets

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The decidedly disturbing headlines around small pets like guinea pigs and rabbits underscore an escalating ‘disposable pet’ mentality, with certain factors exacerbating the problem. Case in point, this guinea pig rescue in Nova Scotia, Canada.


With the holidays looming, shelters are bracing for yet another spike in guinea pig surrenders in particular. Industry sources speculate there may be tens of millions of guinea pigs worldwide, yet shelter data point to troubling trends with some shelters seeing numbers more than triple since the pandemic. One facility reportedly took in over 650 guinea pigs in a single year! Sadly, this species is all too often treated as disposable.

Surveys show that roughly 7 million U.S. households own “small animals” like guinea pigs and roughly another 1 million Canadian households. The holiday season, when guinea pigs are frequently purchased as gifts, intensifies problematic ownership as many families underestimate the care required … only to relinquish these pets weeks or months later.

Clementine Schouteden, CEO of Kavee—the world’s leading guinea pig habitat brand, points out the following key issues:

  • Families should use a checklist to decide if they are truly ready for a small pet like a guinea pig or rabbit
  • Note the hidden costs and long-term commitments families often overlook before bringing home a guinea pig or rabbit
  • There are emotional and developmental benefits guinea pigs and rabbits can bring to children when cared for responsibly
  • Rising surrenders are straining shelters already overwhelmed with cats and dogs
  • Reach out to shelters and advocacy groups for recommendations on reducing post-holiday pet abandonment
  • Be aware that guinea pigs require larger, safer enclosures than most pet stores provide
  • Better guinea pig housing, enrichment, and education can prevent health issues and neglect
  • Common health problems are often tied to poor diets or improper housing—now how to spot them early
  • Consider simple changes that can make homes safer and more enriching for guinea pigs and rabbits
  • Be a proud part of the growing movement to elevate small pet care standards to the same level as cats and dogs

Market Trends

The small pet category may be niche, but the market data tells a compelling story.

The U.S. pet industry overall is projected to hit $157 billion usd/ $218.6 billion cad in 2025, up from $151.9 billion usd/ $211.5 billion cad in 2024, with $33.3 billion usd/ $46.4 billion cad of that dedicated to supplies, habitats, bedding, and related essentials (APPA). Within that, ~7.7 million North American households own small animals such as guinea pigs, rabbits, and hamsters (Forbes), representing a sizable and under-served customer base. Globally, the rodent pet accessories market is valued at $1.2 billion usd/ $1.7 billion cad in 2024 and forecasted to double to $2.5 billion usd/ $5.2 billion cad by 2033 (Verified Market Reports), while the guinea pig cage market alone is worth $455 million usd/ $633.6 million cad today and on track to reach $715 million usd/ $995.7 million cad by 2033 (Growth Market Reports). Complementary comfort products like cuddle cups are also on the rise, already a $134.7 million usd/ $187.6 million cad global market growing at a 7.4% CAGR.

Add to this the growing concerns in shelters and rescues about guinea pig welfare (HumanePro), and the momentum is clear: consumers, advocates, and regulators alike are demanding safer, higher-quality, and more enriching products. The fact that species-specific U.S. data for guinea pig habitats and accessories is still sparse only underscores the opportunity for Kavee to lead with content, education, and product innovation—filling a gap that few others have recognized, let alone acted on. For the Silo, Merilee Kern.



Schouteden’s journey is a masterclass in spotting underserved markets and scaling with vision. Below, she shares how a single decision transformed her entrepreneurship path, how her eCommerce brand is reshaping an overlooked corner of the pet industry and what’s next for small pet care innovation.

MK: Clementine, let’s start at the beginning. What inspired you to create Kavee?

CS: It really began with my own guinea pigs. In March 2015, I adopted Bagpipe, a long-haired Peruvian and Livingstone, a short-haired Agouti. Later, Efendi joined the family. I couldn’t bring myself to put them in a tiny pet shop cage as it just didn’t feel right. Instead, I had a friend build a large wooden cage and I set up play areas in my flat so they could explore. Watching them thrive in a spacious environment showed me how much better life could be for small pets.

MK: What sets Kavee products apart from traditional cages?

CS: We’ve always designed for the animals first. Our C&C cages are modular, easy to clean and expandable. We encourage pet parents to go larger than outdated minimums. For example, while many guidelines say a 2×3 cage is fine for two guinea pigs, at Kavee we recommend 2×4 for sows and 2×5 for boars, since they need more room to coexist peacefully. Our fleece liners, accessories and enrichment toys also bring comfort, safety and playfulness into their habitats.

MK: Kavee has grown from a startup to an international brand. What has that journey looked like?

CS: In the early days, it was just me packaging orders on weekends while still working full-time as a consultant. Within six months, demand grew and I partnered with an “impact employment” group to provide jobs for people with disabilities. That freed me to scale the business. By 2018, I left consulting to run Kavee full-time. Since then, we’ve expanded into four online stores, grown a passionate team and provided spacious homes for over 50,000 guinea pigs.

MK: Beyond products, you’ve built a strong educational and advocacy component. Why is that important?

CS: Kavee is not just about selling supplies; it’s about changing perceptions of small pets. Too often they’re seen as “starter pets” for kids, but they’re intelligent and sensitive. Through blogs, social media and the Kavee Rescue initiative, we provide guidance on diet, grooming, habitat design and more. Our team even answers customer questions about gardening for guinea pigs! That level of community engagement makes a real difference.

MK: What role does sustainability and ethical business play in Kavee’s mission?

CS: It’s at the core of what we do. Our products are designed to last, reducing waste. We carefully source safe, durable materials and we support inclusive hiring practices. Since 2023, our Kavee Rescue partnership has been another way to give back. Ultimately, if I wouldn’t use it with my own pets, it doesn’t go to market.

MK: Looking ahead, where do you see Kavee and small pet care evolving?

CS: The future lies in rethinking standards. Minimum cage guidelines are outdated and pets deserve larger, more enriching spaces. I also see small pets becoming mainstream companions for professionals and singles, not just families. At Kavee, we’ll continue innovating, expanding product ranges and advocating for animal welfare globally.

MK: What were the biggest challenges you faced as a female founder in the pet care industry?

CS: Breaking into a space that historically overlooked small pets was challenging enough, but as a female founder, I also had to fight to be taken seriously. Early on, suppliers and partners often assumed this was just a “side project.” Proving the demand, scaling internationally and building a team showed that Kavee was not just a niche brand but a movement.

MK: Was there a moment when you realized Kavee had truly “made it”?

CS: Yes. When I saw our first international orders come in, especially from the U.S., it hit me that we were filling a huge gap worldwide. Another milestone was when customers started sending photos of their piggies “popcorning” in our cages. Knowing our products were directly improving lives was the moment I felt Kavee had arrived.

MK: How do you balance innovation with customer feedback?

CS: We listen closely to our community. Many of our product upgrades, such as folding coroplast bases or fleece liners with new absorbent layers, came directly from customer suggestions. I believe true innovation happens when you combine design expertise with real-world feedback from the pawrents using the products daily.

MK: What advice would you give aspiring entrepreneurs who want to turn a passion into a business?

CS: Start small, test your idea and don’t be afraid of imperfect beginnings. Kavee began with one cage model and a very simple website. What made the difference was consistency, passion and being deeply connected to my “why,” which is improving small pet welfare. If you keep that clarity, growth will follow.

MK: As a female founder, what role do you think women play in shaping the future of entrepreneurship?

CS: Women bring unique perspectives to business, often blending empathy with innovation. In my case, it was about seeing the overlooked needs of small pets that weren’t being met and creating meaningful solutions. I believe more women in leadership will mean more industries reimagined with compassion, creativity and long-term impact at the core.

MK: How do you use your platform to inspire or empower other women in business?

CS: I make it a point to be visible and open about the realities of building a company from scratch. Sharing the challenges as well as the successes helps other women see that it is possible to turn a passion into a thriving business. I also mentor aspiring entrepreneurs, especially women, because representation and encouragement can be the push someone needs to take that first step.

MK: Looking back, what’s the most rewarding part of building Kavee?CS: Without a doubt, it is knowing we have improved the lives of thousands of animals. Every time I hear a story about a guinea pig who went from lethargic in a tiny cage to playful and thriving in a Kavee habitat, it reminds me why this journey matters. That impact is priceless.

From rescuing mice and birds as a child in rural France to transforming the global small pet industry, Clementine has proven that passion paired with innovation can create lasting change. Through Kavee, she’s redefined what it means to care for guinea pigs and rabbits. In the process she’s raising standards, fostering community and inspiring pawrents to think bigger.

In Clementine’s words: “Quite simply, if your piggies aren’t running around in their cage, something isn’t right.”

Thanks to her efforts, thousands of piggies—and the humans who love them—are finally getting it right.

Earth

Marineland Canada’s Possible Closure Raises Concerns About Remaining Animals

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NIAGRA FALLS, Ontario (June, 2025) — In Defense of Animals joins concerned organizations and activists in urging the Canadian government to protect the remaining animals at Marineland Canada as the beleaguered park officially announced the sale of its rides. The organization is calling for transfer permits to be denied that would send them to similar substandard facilities where they would continue to be bred and exploited for entertainment. 

Shocking new footage captured this month by TideBreakers has exposed many marine animals languishing in rapidly deteriorating tanks as the park is demolished around them, intensifying concerns for their safety and wellbeing.

Marineland has faced widespread scrutiny and multiple investigations for failing to provide adequate care for the animals confined there. Since 2019, 18 belugas, one orca, and one dolphin have died. Dozens of marine and land animals remain trapped in the now for-sale park, including31 belugas, four dolphins, three seals and two sea lions. 

Marineland Canada has long been a focus of national and international criticism for its treatment of marine mammals, particularly its population of beluga whales and orca Kiska, who passed away in 2023 after decades in solitary confinement. A series of government investigations, public protests, and evolving legislation have steadily increased pressure on the park to shut down.

For the past couple of years Marineland Canada has been seeking new ownership. Earlier this year, Marineland was permitted to split the park into four parcels to secure mortgages intended to fund the relocation of the marine animals. However, there are no safeguards requiring the animals to be moved to appropriate facilities. One potential destination reportedly under consideration for the belugas is Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in Zhuhai, China — a facility criticized for its poor conditions and animal exploitation. 

Such a transfer would violate both the spirit and intent of Canada’s federal Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act (Bill S-203), which prohibits cetacean captivity and breeding.

“The possible permanent closure of Marineland represents a turning point for how we treat animals,” said Hannah Williams, Cetacean Consultant for In Defense of Animals. “However, the government must step in to ensure these animals are properly cared for and prevent permits from being granted that would consign them to somewhere even worse. In Defense of Animals is calling on the Canadian government to ensure all remaining marine mammals at Marineland Canada are transferred to sanctuaries — not another marine park where they will suffer continued exploitation.”

For the Silo, Hannah Williams.

Earth

San Francisco Zoo Report: Urgent Need for Habitat Improvements

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SAN FRANCISCO (November, 2024) — A report “daylighting” serious animal welfare, management and infrastructure failings at San Francisco Zoo was presented yesterday by the San Francisco Joint Zoo/Recreation and Parks Committee Animal Welfare Advisors, Jane Tobin and Joseph Spinelli DVM. The report contains a “complete list of habitat and welfare issues as well as facilities recommendations,” and critiques unsafe infrastructure, mismanagement, and misplaced priorities, while offering actionable solutions to address the zoo’s deep-rooted issues. 

Tobin explained, “This is an opportunity for people to understand, like, where are we with the state of the zoo? Having an audit like this does definitely daylight a lot of issues.” Tobin raised a variety of “habitat issues, oversight issues, acquisition plan issues,” and urged the zoo to prioritize habitat updates and genuinely engage with public concerns, reminding it of its duty to respond to public records requests and update its “really out of date” Memorandum of Understanding, last updated in 1993.

The report, which was prepared in consultation with current and former zoo staff, the San Francisco Animal Commission and animal welfare organizations including In Defense of Animals, SF Zoo Watch and Panda Voices, details “many of the Zoo’s enclosures are extremely outdated and fail to meet the criteria outlined above from an animal welfare perspective” with some exhibits approaching 100 years old. Tobin shared in the meeting, “It has been a really long time since we’ve seen any infrastructure updates, habitat construction, renovations, and short or long-term plans, and I think that you might ask the questions, well, how does that impact animal welfare? A great deal.”

Report co-author Dr. Spinelli has a long history with San Francisco Zoo and has served as an animal welfare advisor on the Joint Zoo Committee since 2009. He said, “For the future, I haven’t heard of a strategic plan for improving the quality of the spaces for the animals.”

Tobin drew attention to many animals in temporary habitats “well beyond their deadline,” citing one case in which animals have been without a permanent enclosure for six years. She said, “Animals should have a permanent habitat ready upon arrival and a financial impact analysis report would be wonderful so that the committee can fully understand with that acquisition what impact it would have on the care of the current animal inhabitants and the existing strategic plan.”

Concerning highly-controversial plans to acquire giant pandas, the report states, “The arrival of the giant pandas would make the already poor situation of the current animals living at the zoo even worse, diverting attention and resources away from doing basic repairs and building exhibits for other animals.”

Report Highlights:

  • Update the MOU: Modernize the 1993 agreement to include robust animal welfare standards and appoint non-voting advisors, such as veterinarians and animal welfare experts, to ensure ethical oversight.
  • Reject the Panda Plan: Halt the multi-million dollar panda exhibit and focus resources on improving the welfare of current animals and fixing infrastructure.
  • Infrastructure Overhaul: Redesign outdated enclosures to meet modern ethical and safety standards.
  • Transition the Zoo: Implement a rescue and rehabilitation model instead of trading and breeding programs.
  • Establish Oversight: Create an independent commission focused on animal welfare with robust authority.

The zoo audit follows a San Francisco Chronicle investigation and series of articles exposing zoo mismanagement, as well as a catalog of current concerns raised by animal advocates including the zoo’s reckless plans to import giant pandas from China by 2025. An In Defense of Animals’ alert exposing the issues at the zoo and urging the cancellation of the panda plans has gained over 14,000 supporters.

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“We are grateful for the recommendations report from the Joint Zoo/Recreation and Parks committee animal welfare advisors which illustrates extreme issues that must be fixed at San Francisco Zoo,” said Brittany Michelson, Campaign Specialist for Captive Animals at In Defense of Animals. “These recommendations should be taken seriously and implemented immediately.” 

Justin Barker of SF Zoo Watch said, “I think we need to get real about the zoo. 97% of the union staff don’t have confidence in the management, yet you stood by the CEO. We have major infrastructure issues. Stop painting the rosiest picture.”

Interjections from angry docents during the meeting were quelled by Commissioner Larry Mazzola who admitted, “communication is important and it might have been lacking until today.”

However, after the meeting, several zoo docents hurled verbal abuse at Barker. They brandished a photo of the zoo’s langur exhibit, one of the poorest habitats cited in the report, calling out, “You are complaining about this? How dare you!”

They also made public comments in the meeting urging all concerned to “move on” and suggested incidents were isolated to the deadly tiger escape 15 years ago. The audit is the latest of a mountain of evidence exposing current failings from zoo staff, media, and animal welfare organizations. The committee heard today how two additional animals were reported to have died last month from unsafe conditions — a penguin who died with a mold-caused infection, and a pelican who is presumed to have died from predation owing to an unsafe enclosure.

Notable zoo safety incidents include:

  • 2007 – The escape of Siberian tiger Tatiana, who killed a visitor before being shot
  • 2011 The theft of squirrel monkey Banana Sam
  • 2014 – The crushing of baby lowland gorilla Kabibe by a hydraulic door malfunction
  • 2020 – The theft of endangered lemur Maki
  • 2020 – The deaths of two wallaroos and a red kangaroo who were killed when a predator entered their unsafe enclosure
  • 2023 – The death of Handy Harry, a young penguin struck and killed by a guillotine door
  • 2023 – The near-death of a keeper when a grizzly bear chased her owing to a door malfunction
  • 2024 – The death of a sacred ibis due to unsafe, filthy conditions in the birdhouse by aspergillosis — an infection caused by mold
  • 2024 – Two further deaths of a penguin and pelican possibly caused by mold and predation in October

These incidents represent only a fraction of the zoo’s long history of neglect and unsafe conditions. A significant number of keepers have resigned, citing management’s negligence towards both animal and staff safety.

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San Francisco is grappling with an $800 million usd/ $1.12 billion cad budget shortfall that has already led to deep cuts in public services like health and education. Amid this crisis, the zoo’s plan to acquire pandas — estimated to cost $70 million usd/ $98 million cad over 10 years — is financially irresponsible. While private fundraising might cover initial construction, long-term care for pandas requires significant ongoing resources, including specialized facilities, experienced staff, and regular flights to supply fresh bamboo.

If the zoo incurs expenses that far exceed the revenue generated from panda exhibitions as has happened at other zoos hosting pandas — most recently in Finland and previously in Scotland — the mounting costs may lead to a shortage of bamboo supply and poor bamboo quality, compromising the welfare of the pandas, as happened at the Memphis Zoo which led to pandas’ ill health and death.

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Adding to these concerns, the proposed habitat — rumored to be a repurposed big cat exhibit near predators — is severely unsuitable for pandas, who are highly sensitive to noise and smell. This plan exemplifies the zoo’s misplaced priorities, diverting attention and resources from fixing crumbling infrastructure and addressing the welfare of its current inhabitants.

Members of the public are encouraged to sign the alert urging decision-makers to halt the panda plan: https://idausa.org/sfpanda

Supplemental-

The Humane Future of Zoos? The Hologram Zoo is a thing.

Earth

Canada’s 2020 Panda Return Is Red Flag For San Francisco Zoo

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And more recently Finland’s Panda Return is a Red Flag for San Francisco Zoo’s $70 Million USD/ $94.3 Million CAD Panda Gamble
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Currently, there are no giant pandas here in Canada but Canada has “hosted” giant pandas on several occasions, including a long-term loan agreement that began in 2014. Those giant pandas spent five years at the Toronto Zoo before moving to the Calgary Zoo in 2018. They were returned to China in 2020 due to difficulties in finding bamboo- the giant panda’s main food source.

SAN FRANCISCO (Sept, 2024) — In Defense of Animals, SF Zoo Watch, and Panda Voices are calling on Mayor London Breed and the San Francisco Zoo to immediately abandon their reckless and costly plan to acquire giant pandas.

Finland today announced it will return its pandas to China eight years ahead of schedule citing their unaffordable upkeep, following Edinburgh Zoo’s recent decision to not renew its panda contract owing to the extreme cost. Despite these clear warnings, San Francisco’s panda plan — estimated to cost an astounding $70 million usd/ $94.3 million cad over 10 years — has not been abandoned, even as the city witholds funds for vital public services, and the San Francisco Zoological Society struggles with repeated crises.

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Mayor Breed’s plan to import pandas to the crisis-stricken San Francisco Zoo has been strongly opposed by animal advocates. Photo: JackPhoto.com/In Defense of Animals

“Finland’s decision to return its pandas early due to soaring costs should be a wake-up call for San Francisco,” said Brittany Michelson, Campaign Specialist for Captive Animals at In Defense of Animals.

“Finland and Edinburgh were financially better prepared and better managed, yet even they couldn’t sustain their panda exhibits. San Francisco is already in financial trouble, and this panda plan is another disaster waiting to happen.”

“San Francisco City and San Francisco Zoo share the same policy — let residents suffer while running after doomed vanity projects,” said Justin Barker of SF Zoo Watch. “The zoo and the city have cut off funding for the most vulnerable while privileging the doomed panda plan.”

“The fact that the Ahtari Zoo in Finland is returning giant pandas JinBaoBao (Lumi) and HuaBao (Pyry) nearly nine years before their contract ends shows the huge challenge and the financial issues zoos face when hosting giant pandas,” said Taciana Santiago, Co-Founder of Panda Voices. “The popularity of these bears often overshadows the costly expenses and highly-specialized care these very sensitive animals demand. If these conditions are not met, the pandas’ wellbeing will be sacrificed, like we sadly observed with pandas YaYa and LeLe, who suffered at the Memphis Zoo until 2023. We hope San Francisco Zoo, which already faces substantial financial issues, can learn from these experiences and stop their unsustainable and cruel plans to host giant pandas.”

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LeLe died and YaYa became extremely ill at Memphis Zoo. Photos: Panda Voices

Despite its crumbling infrastructure and multiple languishing infrastructure projects, the San Francisco Zoo is moving forward with plans to house pandas.

Meanwhile, other zoos like Finland’s Ahtari and Edinburgh have already concluded that panda programs are financially unsustainable. Worse yet, the San Francisco Zoo has failed to address major animal welfare and labor issues, ignoring serious concerns raised by staff over unsafe conditions and multiple preventable animal deaths. Last week, the zoo’s board retained its leadership, despite an overwhelming 97% vote of no confidence from union members.

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The century old San Francisco Zoo has deferred maintenance and let upgrade projects languish for years. Photo: In Defense of Animals 

“Bringing pandas into an environment where the current animals are already suffering is not only reckless but cruel,” added Michelson. “The San Francisco Zoo is in no state to care for these highly sensitive animals when it can’t even meet the needs of those already in its care.”

At a time when Mayor Breed is pausing $33 million usd/ $44.5 million cad in spending for crucial community services such as housing support and violence prevention, diverting millions more toward a panda exhibit is unconscionable. The estimated costs for the panda acquisition far exceed the $25 million usd/ $33.7 million cad the mayor plans to raise from private donors:

  • $35 million usd/ $47.2 million cad or more for new exhibits and holding facilities.
  • An annual loan fee of $1-2 million usd/ $1.4 -2.7 million cad to China for the pandas.
  • $1.5-3 million usd/ $2-4 million cad per year for food, veterinary care, staff, and maintenance.

“Pandas have pushed yet another world-class zoo beyond its financial limits,” added Michelson. “San Francisco Zoo has proven, time and again, that it cannot manage its finances, fix infrastructure issues, or protect its animals. Adding pandas to this mix is a recipe for disaster.”

In Defense of Animals, Panda Voices, and SF Zoo Watch urges the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and Mayor Breed to immediately halt the panda plans and prioritize addressing the zoo’s current crises. The panda plan has faced opposition from San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin and nearly 14,000 concerned citizens have already flooded the inboxes of Mayor Breed, city officials, and the San Francisco Zoo, urging them to abandon this dangerous plan. Concerned citizens and animal lovers can take action by sending an email at www.idausa.org/sfpanda. For the Silo, Brittany Michelson.

Featured image- Giant pandas Panpan (right) and Yueyue are shown in a Jan., 2019 handout photo from the Calgary Zoo. The first giant Panda twins born in Canada. Handout photo by The Calgary Zoo.

Culture

Wild Horses And Burros Spared From Slaughter

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WASHINGTON, DC- In Defense of Animals welcomes the decision made by appropriations leaders in Congress in the United States to reject budget language that would have led to the mass slaughter of North America’s imperiled wild horses and burros and the reintroduction of equine slaughterhouses in the US.

“For the love of  North America’s heritage, for the respect of wild horses and burros, we are thrilled that Congress has rejected this sick horse slaughter plans,” said Marilyn Kroplick M.D. President of In Defense of Animals. “In America, Congress has sent an important message that it will not have the blood of sentient beings on its hands. This is a victory for animal advocates and the majority of  North Americans who want solutions, not slaughter.”

In its 2018 spending request, the Trump Administration asked to authorize the killing and sale to slaughter of tens of thousands of captive wild horses and burros and the destruction of up to 50,000 free-roaming equines the BLM claims are “excess” on public lands. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke and his pro-slaughter allies actively pushed the killing plan, aiming to reduce the number of wild horses to 27,000, the same number that triggered the passage of the 1971 Wild Horses and Burros Act to prevent their extinction.

The Administration also proposed funding inspections for equine slaughter in the US, a step that would bring back the days of horse meat markets and threaten the US food supply with unregulated contaminants.

Advocates and animal welfare groups pushed back hard. Thousands of In Defense of Animals supporters and other advocates jammed Congressional phone lines with calls and sent tens of thousands of emails to maintain federal protections for these heritage animals. In Defense of Animals and nearly 100 civic organizations presented a Unified Statement (read full PDF click here) outlining principles and recommendations for humane, cost-effective, on-range management of America’s wild horses and burros.

In response to constituent pressures and the united voices of advocates, the Senate chose to keep protections in place. The language released today for the Omnibus spending bill for 2018 contains no language authorizing horse slaughter or wild equine killing. The Omnibus budget is scheduled to be put to a vote soon.

But the fight is far from over. The Trump Administration’s FY 2019 budget request again calls for Congress to approve “unlimited sales” and mass killing of wild horses and burros in holding facilities and on the range.

“The battle is won, but the fight is far from over,” said Kroplick. “We will never back down or stop fighting for wild horses to remain on public lands.”   For the Silo, Charlotte Roe.

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization with over 250,000 supporters and a 30-year history of fighting for animals, people and the environment through education, campaigns and hands-on rescue facilities in India, Africa, and rural Mississippi.

IN DEFENSE OF ANIMALS • 3010 KERNER BLVD. • SAN RAFAEL, CA 94901 • 415-448-0048

Culture

Zoos Are Consumers Of Elephants Not Conservers

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In Defense of Animals has released its respected annual list of the Ten Worst Zoos For Elephants for 2016, exposing the shocking hidden suffering of elephants in zoos in North America. The list reveals captivity-related deaths, abuse with weapons, grossly inadequate conditions, families ripped apart, elephants torn from Africa and shipped to US zoos, elephants forced to wash cars, and even elephants found playing with a car battery.

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“2016 was a shocking year for zoo elephant suffering”, said In Defense of Animals President, Dr. Marilyn Kroplick. “In our zoos, elephants’ rights are violated, they are stripped of their dignity, and submitted to disgusting abuses. We owe it to elephants to stop exploiting them. It is time to shut down archaic and barbaric zoo exhibits, and retire elephants to sanctuaries where they can live in peace.”

 

Zoos all over the US and one zoo in Canada appear on the worst list, with Oklahoma City Zoo shamed as the #1 Worst Zoo. Tragic captive elephant Chai was found dead outside the Oklahoma elephant exhibit on a very cold January morning in 2016, at just 37 years old. She had lost 1,000 pounds since she was shipped in from Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. Gut-wrenching footage reveals Chai in a severely emaciated and weak state, being hoisted on a crane after she was unable to stand up. After her death, Chai was found to have been suffering from a bacterial infection and untreated pus-filled abscesses, marking a gross failing of the zoo to provide basic animal care.

 

Chai’s only friend Bamboo survives her, and has since had two inches of her tail bitten off by another frustrated elephant in their prison-like pen. Bamboo has been kept in either in solitary confinement with the aggressive female, or in the occasional company of a young male; none of these circumstances constitute even reasonable social companionship. Yet Oklahoma Zoo callously describes this sad elephant inmate as doing “great”.

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Chai and Bamboo are not the only victims of Oklahoma Zoo’s mismanagement. Baby elephant Malee died at in late 2015 at the age of just four. She was likely killed by the same herpes virus the zoo knew Chai and Bamboo had been exposed to.

 

All these tragedies may have been avoided by sending Chai and Bamboo to a sanctuary home that offered to accept the pair when Woodland Park Zoo shut down its elephant exhibit in 2014.

 

Shockingly, Oklahoma City Zoo is among half of all the captive facilities shamed on the Ten Worst Zoos List that are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, showing how little AZA certification stands for. In 2016, the Association’s own study found social aspects of elephant lives to be of paramount importance to their wellbeing, yet 20% of AZA accredited zoos with elephant exhibits have only two elephants. Some AZA certified zoos are even keeping highly social elephants in isolation, such as the Bronx Zoo, where Happy the female elephant is tragically separated from two other females.

 

Zoos are consumers, not conservers, of elephants. Captive elephants are dying faster than they can reproduce, leading zoos to steal young elephants from the wild, which destroys the elephant societies zoos claim to be conserving. Behind the scenes, zoos in the US and Canada are condemning Earth’s largest land mammals to lifetimes of deprivation, disease, despair, and early death. It is time to end our shameful exploitation of elephants in American zoos.

 

10 WORST ZOOS:

1. Oklahoma City Zoo, Oklahoma

2. Natural Bridge Zoo, Rockbridge County, Virginia

3. Honolulu Zoo, Hawaii

4. Edmonton Valley Zoo, Alberta, Canada

5. Oregon Zoo, Portland, Oregon

6. Buffalo Zoo, Buffalo, New York

7. Wildlife Safari, Winston, Oregon

8. Pittsburgh Zoo, Pennsylvania

9. Milwaukee County Zoo, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

10. Fort Worth Zoo, Fort Worth, Texas

 

HALL OF SHAME

Buttonwood Park Zoo, New Bedford, Massachusetts

DISHONORABLE MENTION

Bronx Zoo, Bronx, New York

For the Silo, Toni Frohoff, Ph.D.  For more information, please visit http://www.idausa.org/tenworstzoos2016

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization with over 250,000 supporters and a 30-year history of fighting for animals, people and the environment through education, campaigns and hands on rescue facilities in India, Africa, and rural Mississippi.

 

IN DEFENSE OF ANIMALS • 3010 KERNER BLVD. • SAN RAFAEL, CA 94901 • 415-448-0048  Please mention thesilo.ca when calling.

Earth

Niagara Falls Ontario Marineland Shamed As Worst Aquarium In Canada

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International animal protection organization, In Defense of Animals, today released its list of the Ten Worst Tanks for Dolphins and Whales in North America, with Ontario’s Marineland shamed as the worst aquarium in Canada, and second overall.

The facility is listed as having the ‘starkest contrast’ between a ‘solitary orca and beluga whale hoarding’ while Canada’s Vancouver Aquarium appears in ninth place. The Ten Worst Tanks list exposes and represents the misery and suffering of the oceans’ most intelligent and complex mammals in captivity. Whales and dolphins are subject to astonishing rates of premature death, captivity-related injuries, forced removal of babies from mothers, and solitary isolation. Many are confined to swimming endless circles in cramped tanks, deprived of healthy social groups, and forced to endure invasive reproduction techniques, polluted water, dangerous transport, and brutal exploitation of their sociable natures through “swim” and “petting” programs.

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Marineland Beluga With AilmentThe list was selected from over 60 facilities from southern Canada to Mexico where almost 1,000 whales and dolphins are held captive for public display. “Forcing an orca to live in solitary confinement while hoarding so many beluga whales is Marineland’s tragic dichotomy, and a horrific example of cetacean captivity. It plumbs the depths in its exploitation of intelligent and sensitive animals,” said In Defense of Animals President, Dr. Marilyn Kroplick. “Even with the most modern technology, veterinary care, and infrastructure, cetaceans still suffer intensely in captivity and exhibit surprisingly high mortality rates.Please help protect dolphins and whales in the wild where they belong, by pledging to never visit facilities that imprison them.”

40+ yr old Orca "Kiska" has been in solitary confinement since 2011.
40+ yr old Orca “Kiska” has been in solitary confinement since 2011. photo: Natalie Lucier

Marineland’s Shame: Marineland holds Canada’s last captive orca, 40 or so year-old Kiska, who was ripped away from her family and native Icelandic waters when she was a baby. Kiska has outlived at least seventeen other orcas with whom she has shared the tank over the years. She has also been used to breed for new exhibits, enduring the death of every last one of her five children at Marineland, none of whom lived longer than six years. One of them, Kanuck, was apparently separated from her prematurely and “stored” in a warehouse, where he died at age four. Since 2011, Kiska has been kept in solitary confinement, which has no doubt caused great suffering for this highly social and intelligent cetacean. The last orca Kiska knew was a male named Ikaika, who was “loaned” to Marineland by SeaWorld for breeding in 2006.

SeaWorld became “concerned about Ikaika’s physical and psychological health” and stated that Marineland was “not meeting its obligations in veterinary care, husbandry, or training.” Citing these concerns, SeaWorld successfully sued Marineland in 2011 for Ikaika’s return, leaving Kiska alone once more. Kiska’s physical and psychological condition appears to be poor. Observers point to her severely worn down teeth from self-injurious and compulsive gnawing, dorsal fin deterioration, signs of being underweight, and intermittent bleeding from her tail as indicators of greatly compromised health. Behaviorally, Kiska exhibits lethargy, self-isolation in a tiny medical pool adjacent to the main pool, and repetitive stereotyped behaviors; strong indications of severe psychological distress, depression, and despondency. Kiska is not the only animal suffering at Marineland.

CEO John Holer has also amassed approximately 46 beluga whales, five bottlenose dolphins, 28 black bears and approximately 500 fallow deer. An undercover investigation by Last Chance for Animals in 2015 reportedly exposed belugas suffering from a litany of physical ailments, including eye abnormalities, hypersalivation, regurgitation, and a condition in some of the females causing them to rub chronically against the tank until blood was visible in the water. Lacerations and deep teeth-rake marks indicating inescapable stress-related aggression from other belugas were also noted on many of the belugas. We are also concerned about signs of severe eye irritation perhaps caused by chemically-treated water.

Later in 2015, the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) made a non-public finding that questioned some of Last Chance for Animals’ claims of abuses at Marineland. But Julie Woodyer of Zoocheck has filed a new complaint with the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals documenting continued violations of the Captive Animal Care Standards at Marineland.

In Defense of Animals President, Dr. Marilyn Kroplick.
In Defense of Animals President, Dr. Marilyn Kroplick.

We urge the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to act urgently to enforce minimum standards at Marineland. Belugas have certainly not evolved for millions of years to be packed into a tank – and orcas are among the most social and family-oriented species on the planet.

10 WORST TANKS: 1. SeaWorld, San Antonio, Texas; San Diego, California; Orlando, Florida 2. Marineland, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada 3. Puerto Aventuras Dolphin Discovery, Mayan Riviera, Quinta Roo, Mexico 4. Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta, Georgia 5. Miami Seaquarium, Miami, Florida 6. Six Flags Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico 7. Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, Gulfport, Mississippi and Unnamed new facility planned by same owner also in Gulfport, Mississippi 8. Mirage Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada 9. Vancouver Aquarium, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 10. Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, Illinois

Dishonorable Mention: Dophinaris, Scottsdale, Arizona

Honorable Mention: National Aquarium, Baltimore, Maryland

The Ten Worst Tanks list was produced over the past year by multiple cetacean experts and scientists to represent the myriad horrors faced by cetaceans in captivity. Facilities were examined and investigated in-person; through review of government records, veterinary records, and death reports; and via image and data documentation.  For more information please visit: www.idausa.org/10WorstTanks

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization located in San Rafael, Calif. dedicated to protecting animals’ rights, welfare, and habitats through education, outreach, and our hands-on rescue facilities in India, Africa, and rural Mississippi. For the Silo, Toni Frohoff, Ph.D.

Politics

Ontario Amendments Aim To Improve Care For Marine Animals

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Marineland prostesters at Niagara Falls, Ontario. Summer 2012.

Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services, has announced Ontario is proposing legislative amendments to improve care for marine mammals at aquariums and zoos and strengthen animal welfare enforcement.

Ontario is proposing legislative amendments to improve care for marine mammals at aquariums and zoos and strengthen animal welfare enforcement.

Recent reports on the care and treatment of marine mammals https://www.thesilo.ca/protest-at-marineland-niagara-falls-gains-momentum-as-animals-umwelt-is-questioned/
have raised concerns over the welfare of these species. The McGuinty Government takes these concerns seriously, that’s why it is launching a three-point plan that will:

-Propose legislative amendments to the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) Act
http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_90o36_e.htm
to improve provincewide enforcement of animal protection measures in the Act. They would also strengthen the governance of the OSPCA.
-Create new regulations to further protect marine mammals in captivity. Explore options for the licensing of zoos and aquariums.

Ontario will continue to work with the OSPCA and other animal welfare partners to fulfill these commitments. The government is also releasing the Animal Welfare Task Force’s report. The task force was established in response to the OSPCA-commissioned Meek-Lesage Review into animal sheltering in Ontario.

QUOTES

“There is no place in our province for those who abuse animals. That’s why our government is continuing to fight for the protection of animals by working with our stakeholders to further strengthen the legislation to make sure all animals can live free of abuse and neglect.”
– Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services

FACTS

•The OSPCA Act was last amended in 2009 to be the strongest animal welfare legislation in Canada.
•There are over 60 zoos in Ontario, which is more than the number of all other provinces combined.
•The Animal Welfare Task Force is made up of government ministries and stakeholders with connections to animal shelters, including the OSPCA.
•The task force concluded animals are well served by Ontario’s animal shelters but has recommended improvements in public health, the operation of shelters, and animal worker health and safety.

LEARN MORE

Read the report of the Animal Welfare Task Force
http://www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/english/publications/AWTF/awtf_report.html

Visit www.ontario.ca/safety