Tue, May 6, 2008
Will there be blood?
Zoo board to decide fate of reindeer calf

By BEN SPENCER, SUN MEDIA

A reindeer and calf rest in the field at the Toronto Zoo's Eurasia
exhibit where, for the first time in the zoo's history, newborn calves
were euthanized for being male. Rural Ontarians have been offering their
farms ever since the story broke, but the fate of the new male reindeer
has yet to be decided. (Michael Peake/Sun Media)

Stop the slay ride.

The latest addition to the Toronto Zoo's death row could soon be on the
end of a lifesaving call from the warden.

The fate of the tiny baby boy reindeer -- born late Sunday night -- will
be decided at an emergency meeting of zoo officials within days.

Here's hoping Christmas comes early for little Rudolph.

"We are once again looking at the options," Robin Hale, acting CEO at
the Toronto Zoo, said.

"That fate has yet to be determined," he said yesterday.

Heartbroken Ontarians have been offering their farms to the baby
reindeer since the Sunday Sun revealed on Sunday that the Toronto Zoo
had euthanized two healthy baby bulls.

Pooran Singh, who owns a six-hectare hobby farm in Castleton, said he
will happily take the reindeer if it means him being spared a date with
Dr. Death.

But Hale said while the relocation of the reindeer is always the first
option, finding suitable farmers with the necessary permits is nearly
impossible.

ADVERTISED FOR 3 YEARS

Two 4-year-old male reindeer have been advertised on a surplus list for
the past three years.

"It is our responsibility to ensure that any animals are only
transferred to authorized accredited facilities that satisfy the
standards of animal care," Hale said.

City Councillor Michael Thompson, who is on the board of the Toronto
Zoo, is rooting for little Rudolph.

He is not surprised by the outpouring of sympathy from the public.

"If there are people out there who are willing to take care of these
animals, I don't think that we should be looking at any other options,"
Thompson, who represents Scarborough Centre, said.

Councillor Raymond Cho, chairman of the Toronto Zoo board, admitted the
policy is upsetting but is confident the zoo is acting in the reindeer's
best interests.

Another alternative to euthanizing the calves might be the Bergeron's
Exotic Animal Sanctuary at Picton, in Prince Edward County.

"It made me sick to the stomach when I read in the Sun that they
intended to kill these animals," Pat Bergeron said.

ROOM AT THE SANCTUARY

"Can't they neuter the males? Keep them separated from females? Their
only solution seems to be to put them down." She and husband Joe said
they'd make room for the reindeer at the sanctuary.

"They are herd animals, and we have goats and could manage them."

In the past, Toronto Zoo gave the Bergerons a blind lynx rather than
have it put down.

"Our animals live a long time," she said. "They have good lives -- which
Premier McGuinty recognized when he gave us a certificate thanking us
for humane treatment of animals."

This winter, a wolf, Akila, died at the ripe age of 15, as did a black
jaguar, also age 15.

"Always sad, but they died quietly, at a good age after a long life,"
Pat said. "Some people seem to think killing unwanted animals is more
humane than letting them live peacefully with those who want them."

http://www.torontosun.com/News/TorontoAndGTA/2008/05/06/5481681-sun.html