Manitoba elk lack proper care: humane society

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Published: July 16, 1998

Manitoba’s elk industry came under fire last week, with the Winnipeg Humane Society calling for a review of how the animals are captured and tended.

The humane society describes the elk industry as out of control in Manitoba. To support that allegation, the society cited cases where elk died during roundups or while having their antlers removed.

The humane society has asked the province to support it in a joint review of Manitoba’s elk industry.

“The least we can do is reduce the stress and suffering being experienced by the animals,” said Vicki Burns, executive director of the Winnipeg Humane Society. “These deaths are not acceptable.”

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The call for a review of the elk industry was described as “alarmist” by Marvin McCallister, a veterinarian with Manitoba Agriculture. He views the humane society’s actions as an attempt to rally public support against elk farming.

The province’s rules for handling elk in captivity were prepared with input from the Canadian Humane Society. McCallister described those rules as more than adequate: “They’re extremely good and they’re probably more rigid than anywhere else in Canada.”

Provincial legislation covers everything from the capture of wild elk to the harvesting of their antlers. No one can legally start an elk farm unless licensed to do so by the province, said Emerson Trout, Manitoba’s elk specialist. Proper design of the pens is among criteria that must be met before a licence is issued.

A separate licence is also needed by anyone cutting off the elks’ antlers, a process referred to as de-antlering. Applicants for the licence must complete a course where they’re taught the proper way to remove antlers, Trout said. They must then pass an exam and undergo an assessment of their skills by a vet.

The high market value of elk also offers an incentive for producers to provide their animals with proper care, McCallister said.

“The loss of a single animal can represent several thousand dollars. These fellas recognize the value of their animals and are taking extremely good care of them.”

Despite those assurances, Burns believes a review should be done to ensure the province’s guidelines for the elk industry are adequate. The humane society also wants to know if the guidelines are being enforced.

“From the humane society’s perspective, there’s a serious problem whenever animals are suffering and dying, especially when we know it’s preventable.”

Cases in point

To support her request, Burns compiled a list outlining the deaths of more than a dozen elk. The most recent deaths occurred this summer, she said, when three animals died while being de-antlered at an elk farm in Minitonas, Man.

Another died in the Stonewall area during the de-antlering process when it ran into a fence and broke its neck.

Six female elk also died in April during a roundup to test for disease at an elk farm near Elphinstone, Man., Burns said. Post-mortems showed the animals died of capture myopathy, a physiological reaction caused by extreme fear and stress. Four male elk died from the same cause at the same location last fall during a roundup, according to information released by Burns. And last winter, several male elk died after being confined in a trap.

After reviewing the list compiled by the humane society, McCallister said there were some inaccuracies. Two elk died at Minitonas, not three, he said. The elk at Stonewall died before being de-antlered, and the deaths cited at Elphinstone occurred last year.

There are about 1,200 elk held in captivity in Manitoba, said McCallister. He believes the elk industry’s record is “extremely good” in terms of limiting deaths that occur during handling. “It’s just as good or better than any domestic operation.”

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Ian Bell

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