Michael Bernard/Humane World for Animals

Help ban the captivity of wild animals for entertainment in Canada

Across Canada, big cats, elephants and great apes are suffering in captivity. Reports of inhumane treatment, inadequate housing, and lack of protection for these animals are frequent and disturbing. Federal legislation (Bill S-15) was put forward by the previous government to end this suffering and prevent them from being exploited for human entertainment. Lawmakers recommended including big cats such as lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars and cheetahs as well. Unfortunately, the bill died on the order paper due to the recent federal election.

With a new government now in place, it’s critical that this legislation be reintroduced without delay to ban the new captivity and use in entertainment of great apes, elephants and non-native big cats in Canada.

Ask decision-makers to bring back government legislation to protect these incredible animals today.

Your message

Subject*

Prime Minister

Mark

Carney

Canadian Government

Minister

Julie

Dabrusin

Canadian Government

Dear Prime Minister Mark Carney and Minister Julie Dabrusin,

I am writing to convey my strong support for reintroducing government legislation to protect elephants, great apes and non-domestic big cats (lions, tigers, cheetahs, leopards and jaguars) from exploitation and suffering in captivity.

In 2019, Canada passed Bill S-203, banning the captivity of cetaceans for entertainment. However, wild animals that suffer similarly in captivity have not yet been awarded the same protection.

Big cats, elephants and great apes are prime examples of such animals, and yet they are kept in captivity for entertainment across the country. Disturbing reports of inadequate housing, neglect, inhumane treatment and lack of protection for these animals are frequent and disturbing.

Bill S-15, an Act to Amend the Criminal Code and WAPPRIITA, was introduced in an effort to help address this problem. Unfortunately, it died on the order paper with the recent federal election. Now, I am calling on you to urgently reintroduce legislation to prohibit the captivity of elephants, great apes and big cats, including a mechanism for the Governor in Council to add protection for additional wild species in the future.

Elephants in captivity in Canada spend significant time confined indoors in the winter, have been cruelly used for performances and exhibit a multitude of physical and psychological illnesses as a result of their captivity. Captive great apes are highly intelligent and self-aware and can similarly exhibit serious mental and physical illnesses in captivity. It is estimated that captive lions and tigers have approximately 18,000 times less space than their wild counterparts, and experts have stated that they are among the animals least suited to captivity.

In 2025, Humane World for Animals rescued seven desperate lions from a deplorable roadside zoo in Quebec. The shocking conditions in which these lions were found underscore the urgent need for federal legislation to ensure that future generations of these majestic creatures no longer suffer for our entertainment.

Canada has an opportunity to better align federal animal welfare policies with public values and become a global leader in protecting captive wildlife. Can I count on you to reintroduce government legislation to protect elephants, great apes and big cats from a lifetime of misery in captivity?

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