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Home to
politeness, universal healthcare, and many incredible national
parks, Canada is often a beacon of possibility, spearheading
important measures before other countries — such as the United
States — are willing to act. That's why it's so upsetting to
learn that Canada is a "major contributor" to the
international trade in wild animals, including exotic
pets, cruel hunting, and grotesque "trophies." This is even
true during the COVID-19 pandemic, a global tragedy that should have
taught us how exploitation of wild animals imperils our
collective health.
Not only does Canada participate
in the import and export of wild animals, it doesn't even keep
track of this trade. On top of that, no one single agency
oversees wildlife imports — and traded animals are usually
not sufficiently screened for dangerous
pathogens. Sources suggest that in the five years
from 2014 to 2019, upwards of 1.8 million wild animals
from 76 different nations were ultimately imported into
Canada. This includes imports from areas that were
known to be "emerging hotspots" of viruses and diseases. If
Canada wants to protect animals and its people's health, it
needs to plug the gaps in its leaky, patchwork system of
regulations. Sign the petition to demand that the Canadian
government strengthen its laws against the global trade in
wild and exotic animals!
Thank you,
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Miranda
The Care2 Petitions Team
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P.S. Respect
for wildlife = health. But Canada hasn't acknowledged this
calculus yet. Sign the petition to demand that Canadian
lawmakers regulate the international wildlife trade before it
causes the next global pandemic! |
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