Nearly 100 wild and exotic animals are currently being held unlawfully at the facility. Numerous wolves, pythons, camels, kangaroos, and monkeys are now set to be rehomed.
An exciting win for captive animals! Nova’s Ark, a roadside zoo
masquerading as an animal-assisted therapy camp, has withdrawn its
request to be exempt from a Whitby, Ontario bylaw that bans keeping
exotic animals. Nearly 100 wild and exotic animals are currently
being held unlawfully at the facility. Numerous wolves, pythons,
camels, kangaroos, and monkeys are now set to be rehomed.
In 2018, the Town of Whitby took the bold and responsible step to
ban keeping many exotic animal species. Ontario’s exotic animal laws
are some of the worst in the country, which is why many local
municipalities have passed laws to prohibit the ownership of these
animals.
But Nova’s Ark ignored the bylaw and accumulated dozens of animals
illegally. They got caught, but instead of following the law, they
thought the law shouldn’t apply to them. Nova’s Ark requested an
exemption, which would defeat the very purpose of the bylaw.
Town staff recommended no exception for Nova’s Ark, but several
councillors seemed to be siding with the roadside zoo.
Animal protection groups Zoocheck and World Animal Protection
organized an urgent campaign to stop Nova’s Ark, and Animal Justice
joined the fight by submitting a letter and mobilizing local
supporters to contact the Town of Whitby, requesting that the
exemption be rejected. Nova’s Ark was clearly feeling the heat, and
took it upon themselves to withdraw the request before a council
meeting this week.
While we celebrate this win, we will continue to keep our eyes on
Nova’s Ark. It’s not yet clear where the animals will now live, and
we will be working to make sure they are sent to sanctuaries, and
not simply other zoos where they will be displayed for
entertainment.
Ontario is the Wild West for Exotic Animals
In Ontario, zoos in the province don’t need to be licensed, and
there are no laws regulating the breeding, keeping, and exhibiting
of exotic and wild animals for entertainment. Authorities can’t even
shut down a zoo—no matter how bad the conditions—because the laws
are so inadequate.
In 2022, Animal Justice conducted the largest-ever zoo exposé in the
country, visiting nearly every zoo in Ontario [Crisis
of Cruelty in Canada’s Zoos]. Our video footage
revealed widespread suffering, injuries, death, and troubling
threats to public safety. Please join us in pushing for national
laws to tackle Canada’s zoo crisis! Together, we can create a kinder
future for the countless animals behind bars for our entertainment.