In the September 23rd edition of the Vancouver Sun, the reporter quotes the SPCA's vet, "(Dr) Burton declined to reveal Loki's location out of concern that someone might attempt to steal or release the animal. He expected Loki would likely be moved in a couple of days to the Greater Vancouver Zoo (GVZ) or a Langley facility that cares for big cats."
Given the recent negative attention received by the Greater Vancouver Zoo over Tina the elephant and her sub-standard living conditions, how can the BCSPCA even consider sending Loki there? The zoo has been highly criticized by Canadian zoo authorities over the conditions that all its animals, including the big cats, are kept in. And recently a young male tiger died under the zoo's care. Anyone who has followed Tina's story during her first month at the Tennessee Elephant Sanctuary, knows that she suffered from several health conditions that were caused by improper care while at the GVZ. Besides her diseased and infected feet,which have almost healed now under her new care-givers expert watch, Tina had an eye condition which caused her eye to be painful and it wept continually. The sanctuary remedied that during her first week there. Tina was also grossly overweight due to an improper diet, and she's just lost 100 lbs during her first month in Tennessee. In addition, Tina bobbed her head almost continually while at the GVZ, a sign of stress and boredom, and this behavior has diminished greatly since her move. These ailments were a direct result of Tina's poor living conditions, improper diet, and inadequate medical care provided by the GVZ.
While nobody has ever accused the GVZ of intentionally abusing Tina or the other animals, ignorance is no excuse when it affects the health and well being of the animals in its care.