Uproar Over Zoo Killing Reindeer Calves

The Toronto Zoo has come under criticism by farmers after the Toronto Sun reported it had euthanized two healthy male reindeer calves.

The weekend report quoted zoo officials as saying male reindeer are hard to sell and have health issues but at least two rural farmers familiar with the animals said there were other options.

Tony Porter told the Sun he has 12 reindeer on his farm and would have welcomed two more had he been approached.

There are some impediments selling bulls but it’s not disease, he said, adding by killing males, the zoo risks having no animals for breeding.

Farmer Phyllis Mathison also said she’d take any further male calves even if it means getting up very two hours for feeding.

Both Porter and Mathison told the Sun they didn’t understand why the zoo didn’t offer the calves to another zoo or seek foster human parents, the newspaper said.

There was no immediate response from zoo officials to the report.