Vancouver, August 17: People hoping to visit the Greater Vancouver Zoo were turned away at the gates Tuesday morning.
A brief message shared by the facility on Instagram and Facebook stories addressed the closure with no details.
“Important announcement for all zoo guests. The Greater Vancouver Zoo will remain closed for today,” the post said, with a picture of the closed gates.
“Thank you for understanding!”
At the zoo, RCMP and conservation officers were seen in a parking lot. By the afternoon, guests were being turned away at the front entrance of the zoo, which was gated.
Over the years, the zoo has been the subject of several complaints and criticisms. Most recently, allegations of animal cruelty put forward by the Vancouver Humane Society were investigated by the SPCA.
In March, a statement from the Greater Vancouver Zoo about the allegations said it was “made aware of an opinion piece” about the facility.
“The Greater Vancouver Zoo takes the health and welfare of animals very seriously,” the statement said.
“As a (Canada Accredited Zoo and Aquarium, and World Association of Zoos and Aquariums) facility we meet and exceed all provincial and federal requirements.”
Back in 2019, the humane society filed a similar report alleging animal cruelty.
According to a study conducted by Research Co. last year on behalf of the humane society, just under half of B.C. residents support keeping animals in permanent captivity for entertainment and education. However, 89 per cent are against the international trade of exotic and wild animals for the purpose of keeping them on display in permanent captivity.
