![]() The Ministry of the Solicitor General inspects most zoos and aquariums in Ontario, but says African Lion Safari falls under the Animals for Research Act (ARA), which is overseen by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. "Had a decision been made to end elephant rides and shows long before, this incident could have been prevented." Regulations a provincial patchworkĪnimal welfare rules vary across Canada, with a patchwork of provincial regulations. But Canadian campaign director Melissa Matlow wonders why it took a "tragedy" to make the change. ![]() (Dan Taekema/CBC)Įnding elephant rides was welcomed by World Animal Protection, which had been calling for their halt. But he was left seriously injured, with his head bleeding.Īfrican Lion Safari is a sprawling zoo and park that covers about 305 hectares in rural Hamilton. ![]() He crawled under the massive animal, clambering to safety. by using her trunk repetitively hit, spin and push the handler against the wooden railings of the platform stairway behind him."Ī ministry inspector found that as the handler fell to the ground, Maggie pushed him into a corner. zoo accreditation association.Īccording to the 117-page report, which is heavily redacted in sections, Maggie "became aggressive and began attack . The ministry investigation raises questions about why such rides are still permitted by Canada's Accredited Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA), even though they've been banned for a decade by the leading U.S. Now, CBC News has obtained an Ontario Ministry of Labour report that sheds light on what exactly happened during the last-ever elephant ride at African Lion Safari.Īctivists and zoo accreditation bodies believe African Lion Safari was the only site in Canada offering elephant rides. The park said the elephant had never shown aggression toward staff.Maggie stood nearly three metres tall and weighed more than 3,900 kilograms.īorn in Burma, the Asian elephant was ridden for 25 years by visitors to African Lion Safari, a zoo and theme park in Flamborough, Ont., in rural Hamilton.īut on June 21, 2019, Maggie lunged at her handler as the last rider was dismounting. Norton had turned his back to the elephants to get an elephant hook, which is a long pole with a hook on the end. One elephant swung its head around, knocked Norton to the ground and leaned its head on him as he lay there. Norton, a McMaster University natural sciences student, was trying to stop two elephants from fighting in an outdoor pen. In 1989, 21-year-old Omer Norton was killed at the park. This isn't the first time an elephant has injured a person at the park. The website says the park has been part of important research on Asian elephants and has participated in breeding 30 species that are considered endangered and 20 species that are considered threatened. Online, African Lion Safari touts its work in conservation and breeding wildlife, and lists its elephant herd as one of its major attractions. The 750-acre park is home to a herd of 16 Asian elephants, the largest herd in any North American zoological facility, according to its website. "At this time we have no further details to share as we are actively gathering information."Ī man in his 30s was airlifted to Hamilton General Hospital with serious injuries. "African Lion Safari can confirm that we had an incident this afternoon involving one of our elephants and an employee, who has been transported to Hamilton General," she wrote. Park general manager Trish Gerth provided CBC News with a statement just before 4:30 p.m. Police spokesperson Jackie Penman said details about the elephant involved and what led up to the incident would have to come from the ministry and park.Ī spokesperson for Ornge air ambulance said their London-based helicopter transported a man in his 30s to Hamilton General Hospital with serious injuries. The Ministry of Labour says it's assigned an investigator to the case. ![]() The Ministry of Labour has been contacted.- police tweeted about the attack just before 3:40 p.m., saying a patient has been airlifted to hospital. ![]() The patient has been airlifted to hospital. Hamilton Police have responded to a call at African Lion Safari in #HamOnt after a trainer was attacked by an elephant. ![]()
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