BC SPCA calling on government to bring issue of wildlife trade and zoonotic disease to G20 Leaders Summit

The BC SPCA has joined activists in calling on the Canadian government to end the global trade of wildlife.

The organization is working with a coalition led by World Animal Protection to address the spread of zoonotic diseases to help prevent future pandemics, and to protect animals from suffering.

The coalition is asking the government to bring the issue to the G20 Leaders Summit this November.

“The science is clear that zoonotic diseases from wildlife are a serious threat and account for at least 70% of all new diseases,” says Dr. Andrea Wallace, manager of wild animal welfare for the BC SPCA.

“Live wildlife markets have played a significant role in the current pandemic as well as the previous SARS epidemic, and are responsible for the poor treatment and exploitation of wild animals.”

She adds that live animal markets, in which many animals come into close proximity with each other and with people, provide the ideal conditions for a virus in one species to be transferred to another, including humans.

“We are calling on the Canadian government to bring this issue to the G20 Leader’s Summit in November 2020 and urge other countries to support the closure of live wildlife markets as well as end the international trade of wild animals and their products,” says Wallace.

She says the coalition is also asking the Canadian government to address Canada’s contribution to the issue by curbing the import and domestic trade of wild animals and products.

Millions of wild animals are captured, bred and traded each year around the world for food, traditional medicine and as pets.

The BC SPCA is urging Canadians to join the effort by learning more about the wildlife trade, signing the World Animal Protection petition and writing to members of Parliament to voice your support.