On a blog written by Born Free USA's Canadian Representative, Barry Kent MacKay, he makes accusations and statements against the Bowmanville Zoo. The zoo becomes his example to society of how the zoo industry and business are digging themselves in a deeper hole.
Barry Kent MacKay is the founding director of Zoocheck-Canada, Animal Alliance of Canada and Species Survival Network. He also helped start a federal political party in Canada dedicated to protecting animals and the environment. He is a man whose experience and devotion of animals leads him to make certain comments about Bowmanville Zoo.
According to some, Bowmanville animals are a true legacy of a Canadian family business. At the moment, Michael Hackenberger, trains two sons on how to train animals. The cycle of animal exploitation is being passed on as a hereditary trait to the future leaders of the largest North American suppliers of trained animals for entertainment productions. In an article from last year done by Jennifer Pagliaro for TheStar.com, Hackenberg was portrayed as a rescuer of certain animals. Articles like this one, deceive the public of what the mission of a rescue and sanctuary is for animals. Bowmanville animals are not just captive animals, but also captive nomadic animals hired for circuses, propaganda events, photo shoots etc.
The case of Canada’s oldest elephant, Limba, has been one of the target campaigns of the animal advocacy group KARA. Limba is one of the captive animals rented out by Hackenberg. At the moment KARA is less than 500 signatures away from 30,000 people demanding the retirement of the elephant. “To her exploiters Limba is but a symbol of profit. As sentient beings, we should recognize that Limba has worked long enough for the Bowmanville Zoo. After all those years of service and the large sums of money she brought to her exploiters it is imperative that she rests before her death” states the petition found on change.org.
Marie Claude Gagné, co-founder of KARA, has been on top of the news of Hackenberg wanting to bring another elephant to still make profit. KARA broke the news about the idea of bringing an elephant from the United States on February 26, 2013. The group In Defense of Animals became active on the topic of the acquisition of the American elephant. They called for the support of animal activists and asked for them to urge Canadian and United States Authorities to prohibit export of a circus elephant from the U.S. to a Canadian zoo. “IDA strongly believes that this proposed transfer in the name of breeding and conservation is speculative, unsubstantiated, and a ruse,” said Nicole Meyer, Director of IDA’s Elephant Protection Campaign. “It is clear that Carson & Barnes Circus wants to rid itself of this elephant and that the Bowmanville Zoo plans to use him as a moneymaker, as it already does with the zoo’s sole female elephant, Limba” explains Nicole Meyer for IDA.
It is appreciated that Mr. MacKay has used his blogs to give a voice to the captive animals at the Bowmanville zoo. His posting mean well but it is discouraging that he has mentioned all that is wrong with Bowmanville Zoo, but has failed to mention what other animal activists are doing to fight and trying to accomplish. Why not promote the petition and campaigns started by KARA or IDA’s campaigns to help animals? Nonetheless, the word is getting out to the public. As animal activists we all want the same thing…freedom for the animals.
To sign the Petition for Limba click here
To Like KARA on Facebook click here
To Like IDA on Facebook click here
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