â–º Listen Live
â–º Listen Live

Animal activist group wants Stratford’s swans moved to sanctuary

An activist group says Stratford is abusing the swans that call it home.

The group #EndZoosInCanada wants to see the city build a waterfowl sanctuary for the birds to live in until they die because they say the current method the city uses of clipping the birds wings is cruel and doesn’t allow the birds to fly away if they want when they are young.

The group held a rally calling for the end of the practice on Sunday and have another planned for later this month and they say they also aren’t happy with the annual Swan Parade because it treats the birds as decorations.

President of #EndZoosInCanada Stephen Perrin lives in Stratford and says the taxes that residents pay towards the current method of controlling the swans should instead go to a sanctuary.

“I know it will cost money but there’s already money being put into it, in fact this has been going on for 40 years and I can’t believe that this has been happening for so long.”

City staff in Stratford say they wont be building a sanctuary and they say the swans are clipped to follow the Canadian licensing standards and to stop non-native species being spread.

Stratford’s Manager of Parks and Forestry, Quinn Malott, says the birds are well taken care of and they could leave the area if they want.

“They have it very good around Lake Victoria, there’s lots of nesting areas, lot’s of open water, lot’s of fresh grass, so they don’t leave.”

There are currently 21 swans in Stratford that can be seen in the Victoria Lake area over the summer.

Casey Kenny
Casey Kenny
A graduate of the Broadcast Journalism Program at Loyalist College, Casey has worked in newsrooms across the country for 20 years. Stops along his radio adventure include Ottawa, Calgary, Vancouver, North Bay, Stratford and now Kemptville. Casey is also a veteran play-by-play announcer and is the Voice of the Kemptville 73's Hockey Team. A proud uncle of eight nieces and nephews, Casey is happy to call Kemptville home now.

Continue Reading

cjcs Now playing play

chgk Now playing play

- Advertisement -

Related Articles

- Advertisement -

Latest News

Summer road projects to note in St. Marys

A number of asphalt resurfacing projects got underway this...

Book signing for Stephen Lewis’ new book at Stratford Perth Museum

Lewis said one of the reasons he wrote the book is because Manuel is "woefully underrepresented" in his field, while being an integral part of moving "a whole musical movement forward."

Furniture auction underway at Stratford General Hospital

Volunteers at Stratford General Hospital are running a furniture...

Driver and passenger arrested after West Perth campground incident

An impaired driving investigation has resulted in charges against...

Special air quality statement for Stratford, Perth County

Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a special air quality statement for the region. Many communities throughout Perth County are impacted.
- Advertisement -