A wildlife rescue in Ottawa is seeking approval from the province to transfer a blind baby moose to the Toronto Zoo for permanent care in captivity to avoid euthanizing it. The two-month-old moose, named Cedar by the staff at Holly’s Haven Wildlife Rescue, was discovered on a rural road this month. Lynne Rowe, the operations director at Holly’s Haven, mentioned that Cedar was found wandering in a field, seemingly searching for its mother who was nowhere in sight.
Following veterinary assessment, it was determined that Cedar is blind in one eye and has partial vision in the other, making it unlikely for him to safely survive in the wild. Rowe emphasized that Cedar would be highly vulnerable to predators if released back into the wild and would not have a good chance of survival.
The wildlife rescue is not equipped to house animals permanently, as they are licensed to rehabilitate and release animals back into the wild. Cedar’s current size of approximately 60 kilograms will significantly increase as he matures, posing challenges in terms of space and resources for long-term care.
Rowe contacted the Toronto Zoo, which has an available moose enclosure, to inquire about accommodating Cedar. The zoo expressed willingness to accept Cedar, pending approval from Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources to classify him as unreleaseable. Without this classification, euthanasia may be the only option for Cedar.
The Toronto Zoo’s CEO, Dolf DeJong, mentioned that the zoo’s preference is for Cedar to be releasable back into the wild. However, further assessments by veterinarians and animal care experts are required to determine the most suitable course of action for Cedar. DeJong highlighted that while euthanasia is a last resort, it might be considered if Cedar’s long-term comfort in captivity is uncertain.
Cedar appears to be adapting well to captivity, showing signs of calmness and potential for adjustment to a larger enclosure at the Toronto Zoo. DeJong expressed hope that Cedar could find a permanent home at the zoo if deemed appropriate for his well-being.