Thoughts on the raptor program » Greater Vancouver Zoo

Thoughts on the raptor program
24-09-2008

I find myself troubled by the recent issues with the raptor show at the GV Zoo. More specifically, by the attack on a four-year old kid by one of the Harris hawks, as detailed here...

Boy attacked by raptor at Greater Vancouver Zoo, woman says

...and the pointless death of Skye, their golden eagle, detailed here...

Another tragedy for Greater Vancouver Zoo

More troubling than the incidents themselves is the pattern I've seen emerging behind them. My impression of the owner of the raptor show, Gary Worley, is that he may be taking some unnecessary risks, especially in the latest case. Look at what happened.

(1) He chose a four-year old child to pull a hawk lure along the ground.

(2) He selected Morgan, a bird with a long history of aggression and unpredictable behavior, to chase the lure.

(3) He asked the kid to pull the lure further along the ground AFTER Morgan had latched on to it. Given her history, I'm not at all surprised she reacted as she did.

Does this strike anyone else as particularly crazy, or is it just me? Mr. Worley claims to have 30 years experience, and the title of "Master Falconer." Shouldn't someone with that background have been thinking this through a bit more?

In the case of Skye, I find myself asking two things.

(1) Why was she being free-flown in proximity to open (at the top) enclosures with large predators?

(2) Why did the zoo not have chain-link mesh over the top of the lion enclosure?

It's not like the raptor show just arrived yesterday. Mr. Worley has had his little side-show there for at least three, possibly four or more, years.

I would be curious to know what other readers here think of these incidents. My own opinion is that the zoo should cut their losses and cancel the raptor show contract, especially considering that they just regained their CAZA accreditation this last February.

Happy travels.

24-09-2008

The Greater Vancouver Zoo is a struggling organization that has had many detractors over the years. I have bashed it numerous times and so will abstain from listing its negatives at the present...but to say that I'm surprised that it finally regained its CAZA accreditation this year is putting it mildly. The raptor show should probably be put on hiatus for the winter, if it hasn't already been set aside until next summer. The Harris hawk in question would probably best be utilized in a cage rather than in the show.

Yep... CAZA Earlier this year
24-09-2008

It came as a surprise to me as well and, from what I've heard, it came with a real laundry-list of conditions they had to meet to stay accredited.

Let me make clear -- I'm not bashing the zoo per se. My biggest set of complaints is with the (contract) raptor show, and its owner. Mr. Worley may have 30 years experience in the falconry field, but it sure seems to me like he's pulling some stunts that even a first-year falconer's apprentice would know were Just Plain Wrong.

Anyway... Yes, CAZA accreditation was regained in February. Here's a link to the press release.

02/01 ~ Zoo Receives CAZA Accreditation | GREATER VANCOUVER ZOO

As for Morgan, the Harris hawk involved -- The suggestion was made, more than once, by Mr. Worley's former colleague, that she should be in breeding instead of doing shows. She's simply got too much of a 'wild' streak to be safe for any degree of handling, especially around kids.

That suggestion was ignored. Multiple times, and in the face of hard evidence that Morgan was consistently nasty to work with.

I don't know if the show is year-round or not. I would hope not. Winters in the Fraser Valley can be pretty nasty.

Happy travels.