Humane society trades barbs with Winnipeg zoo over ethics of stringray petting exhibit

The Winnipeg Humane Society is raising ethical concerns and urging the Assiniboine Park Zoo to shut down a travelling stingray-petting exhibit, but the zoo is standing by its track record of care for its animals.

"There is no evidence that these creatures enjoy large-scale human interaction, nor do they like being confined to very small pools," the Humane Society said in a statement Wednesday.

"Stingrays allowed in these 'touch tanks' also have their barbs trimmed, which is not a medically necessary procedure. To make matters worse for these poor creatures, these stingrays are being constantly moved from location to location, like a travelling circus, adding stress and affecting their welfare in pursuit of profit."

The zoo defended its decision to showcase the creatures at Stingray Beach and was blunt in its response to the humane society's request.

"No, we won't be closing down the exhibit," said spokeswoman Laura Cabak. "We believe that this is a great addition to the zoo [and] we believe that we can apply the same standard and high-quality of care to the animals in this exhibit that we do to the rest of the animals in our zoo."

She said the Assiniboine Park Zoo is held to the "highest standards for animal welfare" and is one of 200 zoos, education, conservation, research and wildlife organizations certified through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

"We respect the work of the Winnipeg Humane Society but do not agree with their position regarding the Stingray Beach exhibit and the role of modern zoos," Cabak said.

"We are subjected to a thorough and rigorous accreditation process to ensure we are meeting standards that are constantly being reviewed, scrutinized, and re-evaluated based on the latest research regarding wildlife and the welfare of animals in human care."

The exhibit opened in mid-May and is expected to be at the zoo for at least a year. It houses cownose and southern stingrays in a shallow saltwater pool where visitors can reach in and touch them, as well as feed them.

Windows along the sides of the pool offer underwater views.

It was temporarily shut down on June 26 because of a spike in aggressive "natural mating behaviour" that left three rays dead and another three injured. The ones that died had suffered abrasions that became infected, said Chris Enright, head of veterinary services at the zoo.

The exhibit has since reopened.

On its website, the zoo says the rays are typically docile "and seem to enjoy human interaction and contact."

They have the choice "to take part in an interaction or to choose to swim off in a different direction," said Enright.

"That's really been key to our concept when we developed this, to allow a lot of choice and control to the animals."

Zoo criticizes humane society

A zoo spokesperson said the humane society first raised concerns with zoo management around noon on Wednesday, just before the society sent out its news release.

"Before today, the Winnipeg Humane Society had not contacted us or raised their concerns, which would have been the place to start if they were truly concerned about animal welfare," Cabak said.

In its news release, the Humane Society called itself a friend of the zoo and said it greatly respects zoo staff, but it noted that being a friend sometimes means asking tough questions or telling unpleasant truths. 

"Respect does not mean being quiet when animals are hurting," the release said.

But it should mean speaking to the organization about your concern first, before going to the media, Cabak suggested.

"If they consider us a friend or a partner, of course we would have appreciate that opportunity to respond to them directly," she said

Rays deserve better, says humane society

The Humane Society applauded the move by the federal government last month to ban the captivity of dolphins and whales, and said stingrays are as deserving of the same consideration.

Cownose rays travel far and tagged ones have been recorded swimming from Chesapeake Bay — an estuary in the states Maryland and Virginia — to central Florida and back in an annual cycle, the Humane Society said.

"That is over 740 miles or over 1,000 kilometres each way. So confining a wild animal which is hard-wired to swim long distances is simply wrong," the news release says.

"Touching a wild animal does not advance education, not with current technology allowing us to enter virtual realities and materials which can mimic the texture of any skin."

Sharing 'wonders of nature'

Enright admitted wild stingrays can travel long distances but that's often due to a limitation of resources — food and mating opportunities.

"An example is a domestic cat. When it's feral and living entirely on its own, it will maintain a territory of five square kilometres," he said. "I'm sure the [humane society] would agree a domestic cat does not need five square kilometres to be a cat.

They live perfectly happily in a 1,200-square-foot bungalow."

The zoo maintains its team of trained scientists, veterinary and education staff are passionate about what they do, and the research component of zoo operations provides an opportunity to better support wildlife, assist conservation efforts and increase understanding of wild animals.

"Through up close animal encounters, educational exhibits and displays, and programs, we strive to share the wonders of nature with zoo visitors in a way that inspires them to preserve it for the future," a statement from the zoo reads.

The humane society has sent a letter to the Assiniboine Park Conservancy CEO Margaret Redmond, asking her to cancel the exhibition, and is urging members of the public to do the same and email it to info@assiniboinepark.ca.