The recent forced closure of Three Hills’ controversial GuZoo Animal Farm is a bold move by the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA) to push the Alberta government to force accreditation on all provincial zoos, says Doug Bos, owner of Innisfail’s non-accredited Discovery Wildlife Park.
Bos added that while he agrees in principle with accreditation to ensure health and safety standards for all animals he said any forced fast tracking will jeopardize the survival of his zoo and possibly Alberta’s other two non-accredited operations, the Alberta Birds of Prey Centre in Coaldale and Drumheller’s Reptile World.
“I know darn well CAZA is pushing the government to make us accredited,’ said Bos, adding there is a huge expense hike with necessary increased staffing along with infrastructure improvements. “It would cost us tens of thousands of dollars. There is a lot more hassle as well. The paper work doubles.
“We are working towards it (accreditation) but we can’t seem to get any closer,” added Bos. “We can’t do the changes at a faster rate. They (CAZA) up the standards and the list doesn’t get shorter.”
Earlier this month the Alberta government ordered GuZoo Animal Farm, which has been under attack from animal activist groups for years, to close its operations following a CAZA inspection that noted several ongoing deficiencies with the welfare of the animals at the zoo, which is located seven kms northwest of Three Hills.
Immediately following the order to close GuZoo there were counterattacks on CAZA for its accreditation requirements, which some have termed as just unnecessary bureaucratic paperwork.
However, Robin Hale, president of CAZA, said in the agency’s current newsletter “accreditation matters because animals matter.
“All of us in this industry share the responsibility for the care of the animals in our facility, whether we are keepers, curators, administrators, managers, marketers, educators – our basic responsibility is to ensure that the animals are managed in the best possible way in the best possible conditions,” said Hale. “Without that fundamental, none of the rest of our responsibilities are possible of achievement.”
Bos said he met with staff earlier this month who were worried the Innisfail zoo might be next to face CAZA inspectors and unfairly meet the same fate as the Three Hills facility.
“I am (worried) to some degree as well,” said Bos, whose zoo has never faced a comprehensive CAZA investigation. “But I told them that as long as we do what we have said we are going to do we should pass any inspection.”
Meanwhile, Bos said he has had preliminary discussions with GuZoo owner Lynn Gustafson to possibly acquire some of his stock of animals, reported to be more than 170.
The Innisfail zoo is particularly looking for large cats and a camel following the multiple deaths to natural causes of its own stock over the past year.
However, Bos said the GuZoo owner is seeking substantial financial compensation for his two female lions and camel. He added the Three Hills cats are up to nine-years-old and Innisfail zoo is already on a waiting list for lion cubs. Bos added Gustafson is seeking $30,000 for his pair of camels, an amount the Innisfail zoo owner feels is unreasonable.
He said he will continue discussions with Gustafson but added he must be fiscally prudent as more animals, even after purchase costs, do result in additional long-term expenses, including those for extra staff, increased cost for food and infrastructure improvements to create more space.
“If you double your inventory it does not mean you automatically double your gate receipts,’ said Bos.
