Ownership of zebras officially transferred to Saskatoon zoo

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A small herd of zebras who have been guests of the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo will be staying on permanently.

The zoo has been caring for the five zebras since they were seized in June 2023 from a property near the hamlet of Candiac, Sask. by provincial conservation officers.

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Zebras are a restricted species under the provincial Captive Wildlife Act and cannot be kept as pets in Saskatchewan.

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Nicholas Hazell entered guilty pleas in November 2023 at a provincial court circuit point in Indian Head to two counts of importing and holding zebras in captivity between Feb. 1 and June 14, 2023 without either a licence issued under the provincial Wildlife Act or a captive wildlife licence under the provincial Captive Wildlife Regulations.

He was given until the end of March 2024 to pay $2,800 in fines and surcharges.

The province committed to spend $120,000 in 2023-24  to set up a habitat at the zoo and covered the upkeep costs for the animals while the matter was still making its way through court. With the legal proceedings wrapped up, the province offered to transfer full ownership of the animals to the zoo.

Zebras do not grow thicker winter coats like horses or other animals adapted to colder climates, so they’ve spent the bulk of the winter indoors. Zoo staff said in a media release that they expect the animals to spend more time outdoors with the arrival of warmer weather.

“Our team has done such an incredible job working with the zebras since they came into our care,”  zoo manager Jeff Mitchell said in a media release. “We are excited for the community to come out and learn more about these magnificent animals.”

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Saskatoon’s zoo is the only facility in the province that’s accredited by Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA), so it was the only place in the province that could take the zebras.

Saskatchewan’s Captive Wildlife Regulations sets out which species are allowed and which are restricted. Among restricted species, there is Division 1 (species that have never been legal as pets in Saskatchewan or are considered overtly dangerous, such as lions or crocodiles), and Division 2 (species that are not considered overtly dangerous but pose other risks).

An owner could continue to keep a Division 2 species for the rest of the animal’s life only if they had it in their possession before June 1, 2021 and had notified the ministry by Nov. 30, 2021.

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