dictation's Diaryland Diary

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In the nick of time she was rescued

*picture* *picture* (at the bottom, like the proverbial childhood bowl)

Remember Tina? (Will I ever let you forget?)

Well her former home, the Greater Vancouver Zoo has lost its accreditation (finally!) with the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums. That's right, the zoo will have to take the sign down that gives the public the impression someone in authority actually approves of this dump.

But just watch them keep the sign up and just watch the public keep going there. Really, I hope and pray people finally get it through their heads that patronizing this place equals cruelty to animals.

Here's the article.

Fraser Valley zoo loses its accreditation

Nicholas Read
Vancouver Sun

Wednesday, April 28, 2004

The Greater Vancouver Zoo in Aldergrove has been kicked out of the organization that sets animal-care standards for Canada's zoos and aquariums.

And the president of the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA) is urging people to think twice about visiting the controversial facility.

"If you care about how animals are cared for in a particular facility, I think it would matter a great deal to know that the facility you were visiting was accredited by CAZA or not," Bruce Dougan said Tuesday in a phone interview from Moncton, N.B., where he is based.

CAZA refused to allow the zoo to renew its membership in the association because the zoo failed to correct a number of problems found with its animal-care facilities.

However, Dougan refused to identify what the concerns were, saying they are a confidential matter between the association and the zoo. Earlier this year, the association threatened to withdraw the zoo's accreditation because of concerns about the way the zoo's hippos, Gertrude and Harvey, are looked after.

During last winter's heavy snowfall, no provision was made to keep the hippos warm, and when the pond in their enclosure froze over, concerns were raised that they could crash through the ice and drown, as two previous zoo hippos did in 1983.

In January of this year, Dougan said: "Something has to be done there. To be an accredited member of this association you have to provide adequate care for animals. If they cannot do that, they cannot be a member of this association."

Asked if the hippo enclosure was one of the reasons the zoo is no longer accredited, Dougan replied: "I can't specifically say what those concerns were, but I don't think there's any secret that the hippo enclosure was in the news."

Practically, said Dougan, a suspension of its accreditation means the zoo will no longer be allowed to exchange animals with other zoos, something necessary for maintaining breeding programs and if surplus animals are born.

Zoo animal-care manager Jamie Dorgan did not reply to phone messages Tuesday from The Vancouver Sun, but said earlier this year that maintaining CAZA accreditation was important to the zoo.

"CAZA has certain concerns and requirements of all zoos across Canada, so it's important to maintain its standards," Dorgan said.

Animal-welfare groups, which criticized the zoo for its treatment of Tina, an ailing Asian elephant that was sent to a sanctuary in Tennessee last year, were not surprised by the news.

"I think anyone who cares about the way animals are treated should be very concerned about what's going on at the Greater Vancouver Zoo," said Julie Woodyer of Zoocheck Canada.

"The zoo has lost its last shred of credibility," said Peter Fricker of the Vancouver Humane Society. "It has now been exposed for what it is -- a shoddy warehouse where hundreds of animals are kept in sub-standard conditions."

Last year, Zoocheck and the humane society produced a report on various problems at the zoo. They condemned it as being outdated and of little educational value.

They also urged it to stop breeding the species it now holds, to redevelop its property to provide more and better space for native species, and to turn itself into a sanctuary for indigenous animals if those animals cannot be released into the wild.

Other problems included:

- Keeping birds in cages where they are unable to fly.

- Allowing enclosures to become water-logged in wet weather so animals have to stand in puddles.

- Keeping bears and wolves in the same enclosure, creating stress for both.

- Keeping year-old lion cubs with their adult parents.

Since then, a new wolf enclosure has been built for the zoo's Arctic wolves, but no other problem has been addressed, Fricker said.

I can't tell you how gratifying it is to know Tina is healing and healthy and happy in a genuine sanctuary where love means treatment and nourishment, proper nutrition, trees, pastures, miles of land to walk, peace and quiet, nights under the stars, pachyderm friends to bond with, swimming holes carved from nature, freedom, and fun elephant style. As well as human pats and kisses and hugs.

Tina (left) shortly after her arrival at the magnificent Sanctuary. She's standing outside the barn the elephants can leave and enter as they please 24/7. In this photo she is still puffy from edema and her toenails are rotten from years of standing on hard ground in a small enclosure. The puffiness has noticeably decreased and her feet are almost completely healed now. She is also VERY relaxed and at ease and still very attached to the barn. Jenny and Shirley are in the background.

8:02 p.m. - 28 April 2004

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