Nigel Dennis/Alamy Stock photo

End the captivity of great apes, elephants and big cats in Canada

Across Canada, hundreds of big cats and dozens of elephants and great apes are suffering under horrible conditions in captivity. Reports of inhumane treatment, inadequate housing, and lack of protections for these animals are frequent and disturbing.

The government has introduced Bill S-15 to put an end to the suffering of elephants and great apes and prevent them from being exploited for human entertainment. Law makers are considering including big cats in this legislation as well, and need your encouragement. If adopted, this legislation would ban the new captivity and use in entertainment of great apes, elephants and non-native big cats in Canada.

Ask decision-makers to support Bill S-15 and protect these wild animals today.

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Dear Senators and political decision makers,

I am writing to convey my strong support for the amendment and adoption of Bill S-15 into legislation to protect elephants, great apes and big cats from exploitation and suffering in captivity.

Across Canada, there are hundreds of big cats and dozens of elephants and great apes being kept in captivity. Reports of inhumane treatment and lack of protections are frequent and disturbing. Bill S-15 will prevent these highly intelligent wild animals from being exploited for human entertainment.

Bill S-15 does not currently include non-native big cats, such as lions and tigers, but should be amended to include them because, like elephants and great apes, big cats have significant biological, social, and behavioural needs which are wholly unsuited to captivity, especially in Canada. 

Elephants in captivity in Canada spend significant time confined indoors in the winter, have been cruelly used for performances, and exhibit a multitude of physical and psychological illnesses. Captive great apes are highly intelligent and self-aware and can similarly exhibit serious mental and physical illnesses. It is estimated that captive lions and tigers have approximately 18,000 times less space than their wild counterparts, and experts have stated that they are among the animals least suited to captivity.

This legislation will support the fulfillment of Government commitments made in the Minister of Environment and Climate Change’s Mandate Letter to protect captive wildlife and to curb global wildlife trafficking. Canada has an opportunity to better align the federal government’s animal welfare policies with public values and become a global leader in protecting captive wildlife, with this legislation serving as a model for other countries.

We must prevent elephants, great apes and big cats from suffering needlessly for human entertainment. I am therefore calling on you to support the advancement of Bill S-15, with the inclusion of big cats, to help ensure this legislation’s passage into law.

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