Greater Vancouver Zoo

Infobox zoo
zoo_name=Greater Vancouver Zoo
logo=GreaterVancouverZoo.jpg
logo_width=140px
date_opened=August 20, 1970 (as Vancouver Game Farm)
location=Aldergrove, British Columbia, CAN
area=120 acres
num_animals=600
num_species=135
members=CAZA
website=http://www.gvzoo.com/The Greater Vancouver Zoo is a zoo located in Aldergrove, British Columbia. It is the first zoo in the world to own Segways.

History Of The Zoo

Vancouver Game Farm era 1970-95

In the late 1960s, world traveler and businessman, Pat Hines purchased land in Aldergrove, British Columbia for 120 acres to construct a game farm, which was his dream. At first Hines, registered the business as the World Wide Game Farm Ltd., but on August 20, 1970, the site was opened to the public as the Vancouver Game Farm. The first animal to arrive at the Game Farm was a llama named "Dennis" who arrived from Mount Vernon, Washington in the United States. Soon after the arrival of Dennis, animals of every size, description and background began to fill the newly constructed paddocks. Pat Hines would operate the Game Farm with his wife, Ann Hines and other family members along with hired employees. When the Hines' daughter Eleanor married her husband Hugh Oakes, the young couple would eventually take over the management of the facility from Pat and Ann Hines until 1991, when it was sold to new owners.

Further stories of the Greater Vancouver Game Farm and the Hines family is told in a book called, "From Rabbits to Rhinos, Gophers to Gnus" which was written by Pat Hines, himself and was published in Okanagan Falls, BC by Rima Books.

Greater Vancouver Zoological Centre era 1995-99

Under new ownership, the Game Farm experienced many changes including a new name. The new ownership changes to the facility reflected the changing expectations of zoos by the general public. In 1995, the new ownership renamed the Vancouver Game Farm as the Greater Vancouver Zoological Centre since it is part of the Greater Vancouver area rather than being a part of Vancouver. Other than the name change, many improvements to the facility also took place with the construction of new animal enclosures, interpretive miniature train rides, a picnic park with covered gazebos & BBQ's, expanded landscaping, a remodeled entrance, more parking spaces, interpretive and educational programs and activities. In 1998, the "North American Wilds" exhibit would open and provide a narrative Safari bus ride for visitors through one area where carnivores like the American Black Bears and Vancouver Island Wolves live together; and travel into another habitat where grazers like the Roosevelt Elk, Mule Deer and American Bison roam. But after four years, there would be more upcoming changes to the zoo.

Greater Vancouver Zoo era 1999-present

In 1999, the facility went through another ownership change and eventually changed the name of the Greater Vancouver Zoological Centre to the much simpler Greater Vancouver Zoo. With the ownership change more enhancements occurred with the Zoo's focus and facilities. During this period, the Zoo (like with most zoos and aquariums these days) focused more towards conservation and to increase their educational programs.

One of the Zoo's conservation efforts occurred in 2000, when the Greater Vancouver Zoo joined the Oregon Spotted Frog Recovery Program, which at the time, was the only species to receive an "emergency listing" as an endangered species in Canada [cite web|url=http://www.gvzoo.com/node/136|title=Greater Vancouver Zoo recovery project] . To this day, the Greater Vancouver Zoo is still actively involved with this program as staff releases these frogs into the wild, after it weighs, measures, and tags them. Furthermore, many animals have been rescued over the years and eventually released back into the wild, but some animals like "Shadow" their local Grizzly Bear could not be returned, because she was abandoned as a young cub and was not able to learn the skills to survive in the wild. In addition, the majority of the Zoo's reptiles, exotic birds, various cat species and many others were taken in for numerous reasons, such as being rescued from the illegal pet trade or being abandoned as pets.

With the emphasis of creating a more educational environment, new educational programs were introduced by the Zoo. In 2005, the "Radical Raptor Birds of Prey" show was created where Eagles, Owls, Hawks and Falcons performed educational free flying presentations at the Zoo's amphitheatre. Since then, the Zoo has introduced a one week summer camp program for children (ages 10-14) to handle and learn about the many Birds of Prey species since 2007. [cite web|url=http://www.gvzoo.com/node/195|title=Greater Vancouver Zoo The Eagle has Landed] In 2006, the Zoo opened their indoor "Animalasium – Educational Training Centre" to teach the public about conservation and education concerning animals and their environments. In addition, the centre will also be used for various other functions such as birthday parties, group sessions and guest speaker events. [cite web|url=http://www.gvzoo.com/node/173|title=Indoor “Animalasium - Educational Training Centre” opens up!] Furthermore, the Zoo offers Educational Walking Tours for school groups that is based on a B.C. Ministry of Education curriculum. [cite web|url=http://www.gvzoo.com/node/22|title=LEARNING CAN BE A TRULY WILD EXPERIENCE!]

Other than making improvements towards its conservation and educational programs, the new ownership of the Zoo also completed building new enclosures for the Grizzly Bear, the Arctic Wolf, the Camels, the Mountain Sheep, and the Hippopotamus, while making improvements to the Giraffe enclosure. On August 23, 2008, the Zoo introduced a pair of Musk Ox to their new 32,000 sq. ft enclosure that is situated around the Arctic Wolf, the Arctic Fox, the Reindeer, the Emperor and Snow Goose enclosures to complete their new Arctic Section exhibit. [cite web|url=http://www.gvzoo.com/node/232|title=GET CHILLED! - Official Opening of the Arctic Section] In addition, the Zoo has also made new upgrades towards their buildings, animal nurseries and electricity outlets, while digging up new water wells. Furthermore, the Zoo has also built new perimeter roads for service vehicles and a new staff room, while promising to make further improvements towards its animal enclosures, conservation efforts, education and environmental aspects.

However, many believe that the Zoo is not doing enough to improve its facilities, which have caused local organizations to claim that it is abusing animals.

Accusations of cruelty & Incidents

In 1997, two reports by Zoocheck Canada and UK veterinarian Samantha Lindley called onthe Greater Vancouver Zoo to improve the conditions for the animals it holds, such as Rhinos and big cats. In 2003 few improvements had been made. [cite web|url=http://www.vancouverhumanesociety.bc.ca/files/GVZC%20report.pdf|title=Broken Promises]

On May 31, 2006, the Crown Counsel of British Columbia laid formal charges against the Greater Vancouver Zoo, in accordance with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, for failing to provide adequate facilities for a baby hippo acquired in October 2004. This was the first case of a major Canadian zoo being charged with cruelty to animals. [http://www.spca.bc.ca/media/GreaterVancouverZoo_May312006.asp BC Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals] ] However, in January 2007, the case was stayed as crown counsel believed, with the opening of a new habitat for hippos, that the charges were no longer in the public interest. This was not seen as vindication for the Greater Vancouver Zoo, nor a statement that charges were unjustified. [ [http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2007/01/24/bc-hippo.html Cruelty charges over hippo treatment dropped] ] The Zoo eventually lost its CAZA accreditation over this incident for two years.

In May, 2008, someone broke into the Zoo when it was closed and broke into the Spider Monkey enclosure and killed Jocko (the male monkey) and kidnapped Mia (the female monkey). The case is still unsolved and there is currently a $3,000 reward for Mia's safe return. [ [http://www.gvzoo.com/node/215|title=Reward being offered for kidnapped monkey] ]

In June, 2008, the Zoo made headlines when Skye, a female Golden Eagle, was killed by a lioness after having landed in the lion enclosure following a run-in with a group of crows. [ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080630.wbceagle30/BNStory/Front/?page=rss&id=RTGAM.20080630.wbceagle30]

Two months after the incident with Skye, a four year old boy was attacked by a Harris Hawk when he volunteered in the Radical Raptors Birds of Prey show. The four year old boy was seriously injured after the hawk had mistakened the boy's head as a perch. After the incident, the zoo removed the Harris Hawks out of their bird show and would re-evaluate of whether or not to allow volunteers into close contact with birds of prey. [ http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=badb5df3-3b71-454f-9a6b-6a62ea8ac14b ]

References

External links

[http://www.gvzoo.com/ Greater Vancouver Zoo]