Jungle Cat World
43°59′37″N 78°36′28″W / 43.99361°N 78.60778°W / 43.99361; -78.60778
Date opened1983
LocationOrono, Ontario
No. of animals178
No. of species60
Websitewww.junglecatworld.com

Jungle Cat World, originally named "Orono Exotic Cat World," is a wildlife park that was established in 1983.[1] It is located in Orono, Ontario, Canada, approximately 45 minutes east of Toronto off of Highway 35/115. Jungle Cat World is open year round and is home to more than 150 animals.

The zoo has faced accusations of mistreatment of their animals by the World Animal Protection Association and other animal rights organizations.[2]

The park was formerly accredited by the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).[3]

Features

Jungle Cat World's Night Safari Program is for guides and scouts. It is a guided tour around the wildlife park at night, animal presentations and sleepover in the cabins. This allows the public an opportunity to observe some of the activities of the nocturnal animals.[4] "Behind the Scenes" is a private forty-five-minute program with an Animal Coordinator. It offers hands on experience and a photo opportunity with three of the animals at the zoo.[5] Jungle Cat World also has a bed and breakfast lodge.

Safari Zoo Camp

Jungle Cat World has offered an overnight summer camp called Safari Zoo Camp since 1995.[6] Between the end of June and the end of August, approximately 300 campers,[7] from ages 6 to 17, come each year to experience one of the nine Zoo Camp sessions. Situated on the Jungle Cat World property, the campground and sleeping quarters are located outside of the zoo's perimeter. Safari Zoo Camp allows campers to gain hands-on experience zoo keeping and handling animals and reptiles.[8] Senior campers have the opportunity to present and feed animals during the feeding tours and to present and handle animals at Wildlife Safari Outreach Presentations in the surrounding community. In 2011, Safari Zoo Camp was named as one of the top ten greenest summer camps in North America.[9] The camp has also been accredited as a member of the Ontario Camps Association.[10]

Education

Jungle Cat World was founded as a tourist attraction to show exotic animals, primarily for recreation. Over the years, the park has taken a much more active role in educating visitors. Every day, a zookeeper leads an educational feeding tour around the wildlife park, during which the large cats, wolves, and primates are fed.[11]

Accusations of Animal mistreatment

World Animal Protection and other animal rights groups have accused Jungle Cat World of mistreating their animals. The park is known for its opportunities for selfies and photo ops with wildlife including baby lions and tigers. Melissa Matlow, the campaign director for World Animal Protection in Canada described these photo ops as "not educational and...cruel.” The report also found that Jungle Cat World forces tigers to be awake during the day to perform even though tigers are nocturnal and separate tigers from their mother.[12][13]

The Animal Alliance Of Canada has been a frequent critic of Jungle Cat World. In a 2016 report, they found exhibits overgrown with weeds and animals pacing in stereotypical fashion.[14]

In 2018, the park lost its WAZA accreditation and later resigned from the Canadian Association of Accredited Zoos and Aquariums following inspections.[15]

One animal has escaped from the zoo in the past. In 2011, a wolf escaped and was shot by a local resident.[16]

References

  1. ↑ "About Us". junglecatworld.com. Jungle Cat World. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  2. ↑ "Hundreds of zoos and aquariums accused of mistreating animals". National Geographic. Archived from the original on May 15, 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  3. ↑ "About Us". junglecatworld.com. Jungle Cat World Wildlife Park. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  4. ↑ "Programs: Night Safari". junglecatworld.com. Jungle Cat World Wildlife Park. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  5. ↑ "Programs: Behind the Scenes". junglecatworld.com. Jungle Cat World Wildlife Park. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  6. ↑ "Safari Zoo Camp: Parents". zoocamp.com. Safari Zoo Camp. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  7. ↑ "Campers". zoocamp.com. Safari Zoo Camp. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  8. ↑ "Activities". zoocamp.com. Safari Zoo Camp. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  9. ↑ Sigler, Lauren. "The Greenest Summer Camps". Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  10. ↑ "Annual Camps Guide" (PDF). ontariocampsassociation.ca. Ontario Camps Association. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  11. ↑ "Programs: Feeding Tour". junglecatworld.com. Jungle Cat World Wildlife Park. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  12. ↑ "Jungle Cat World chided for offering selfies with wildcats". Peterborough Examiner. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  13. ↑ "Orono's Jungle Cat World offers 'cruel, outdated activities' according to a global report on zoos". Durham Radio. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  14. ↑ "Wasted Lives and Roadside Zoos". Animal Alliance of Canada. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  15. ↑ "Some of the World's Top Zoos and Aquariums are Mistreating Animals". TravelPulse. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  16. ↑ "Escaped wolf from Jungle Cat World fatally shot | The Star". thestar.com. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
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