January 29, 2004
Mr. Sukeshiro Terata
Akita Prefectural Governor
Akita Prefectural Government
Akita-shi Sanno 4-1-1
T010-8570, JAPAN
Dear Mr.Terata,
Zoocheck Canada and the Winnipeg Humane Society(WHS)
recently learned of a Japanese zoo's interest in acquiring
polar bears from Canada and their request to the Province
of Manitoba for polar bear cubs from Churchill region. Please
be advised that we are strongly opposed to any shipment
of polar bears to Japan and have written to the Premier
of Manitoba and other members of government expressing our
opposition to this request.
As you know, polar bears are highly intelligent,
far ranging, cold weather carnivores that usually do not
do well in captivity. Even when they are provided with sizeable,
complex enclosures, they are still prone to the development
of aberrant behaviours, such as pacing, head weaving, rocking
and stereotypic swimming, or sitting, lying and sleeping
for abnormally long periods of time.These behaviours, which
are the result of a poor environment and lack of stimulation,
are often more pronounced in wild caught animals.
Zoocheck has several concerns about the shipment
of polar bears to Japan. There are already dozens of polar
bears housed in Japanese zoos, the majority of them in outdated,
grossly substandard conditions. The suffering of one or
several of those bears could be alleviated somewhat by their
transfer to a new,more appropriate enclosure.From an animal
welfare perspective, that makes more senses than importing
additional bears from Canada.
Zoocheck and the WHS also believe the reason
for the request to Manitoba relates more to visitors numbers
and revenue generation than anything else. Polar bear cubs
are very appealing and far more marketable to the general
public than adult bears.Their economic impact on the zoo
that brings them in however, may be short-lived. By the
time the bears reach tow years of age,much of their appeal
will gone. Utilizing bears for this kind of commercial purpose
is not acceptable.
We are also concerned about Japan's very weak
animal welfare laws. If at some point in the future, the
zoo decides that new, younger bears are wanted, they could
sell, trade or donate the Manitoba bears to another less
appropriate facility. If the bears do end up in a substandard
situation, there is little that concerned Japanese citizens
(or Canadians) could do to address any welfare problems
they experience. Zoocheck and the WHS are strongly opposed
to any transfer of bears to Japan.Should this plan to acquire
Canadian bears proceed, we will do everything possible to
oppose it.
Sincerely,
Julie Woodyer
Campaigns Director
Zoocheck Canada
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Vicki Burns
Executive Director
Winnipeg Humane Society |
