Reports
Our comprehensive reports library serves as a repository of knowledge, driving informed action and policy changes for the betterment of animal welfare worldwide.
Media centre
Meet our experts
Our Canada office has a team of experienced individuals with knowledge on a wide range of subjects.
To find out more or schedule an interview, please contact our media team.
Melissa Matlow
Campaign Director (she/her)
Melissa Matlow has a BSc in Ecology and a Masters in Environmental Studies and has been a regular media commentator on animal welfare and environmental issues for more than 20 years, starting out as a regular guest on CP24’s former shows: Animal House Calls with Ann Rohmer and Hunter’s Gatherings with Bob Hunter. She has visited zoos, dolphinaria, farms and slaughterhouses to assess and document animal welfare concerns and has expertise, conducted research and developed policy recommendations on zoo standards, the commercial wildlife trade, responsible tourism, farmed animal welfare standards, farmed animal transport regulations, humane and sustainable food policy and how Canada’s animal protection laws compare to other jurisdictions. Melissa was honoured to be featured alongside Dr. Jane Goodall and other experts in responsible tourism, in the award-winning documentary The Last Tourist, She's been a guest on TVO's The Agenda discussing the need to regulate zoos and has been interviewed by all major Canadian media outlets on a variety of animal welfare issues.
Lynn Kavanagh
Farming Campaign Manager (she/her)
Lynn holds a B.A. in Philosophy and an MSc in Animal Behaviour and Welfare from the University of Guelph. She oversees World Animal Protection’s farming and food systems campaign, working to change government and corporate policies to improve animal welfare, and raise public awareness about the plight of farm animals in Canada. In her work advocating for a more humane and sustainable food system, Lynn promotes and advocates for increased plant-based production and consumption for animals, human health and the environment.
Lynn has written and contributed to numerous reports and articles on farm animal welfare and related issues, including highlighting the lack of regulatory and legal protections for farm animals in Canada, the poor treatment of end-of-life dairy cows, and the welfare of farmed fish. She has also conducted several media interviews on various farm animal welfare issues.
Erin Ryan
Wildlife Campaign Manager (she/her)
Erin holds a BSc in Applied Biology and MSc in Applied Animal Biology from the University of British Columbia and is a Registered Professional Biologist (RPBio). As the Wildlife Campaign Manager at World Animal Protection Canada, she spearheads national efforts to end the exploitation of wild animals in places like roadside zoos and the commercial wildlife trade. Erin works closely with government, industry and other stakeholders to shift public perception and influence legislative change from a compassionate and evidence-based approach.
Her areas of expertise include zoo standards, the commercial wildlife trade, responsible tourism, humane wildlife control and Canada’s animal protection laws. Erin has been interviewed on many formats (tv, radio, podcast, etc.) by major Canadian media outlets on a variety of wild animal welfare issues.
We’re always happy to respond to media inquiries and can arrange comment and interviews with our campaign and policy experts.
Contact our media team for any inquiries:
Beth Sharpe, Communications Director
1 416 369 0044 x111
Toll-free: 1 800 363 9772 x111
BethSharpe@worldanimalprotection.ca
In the news
- October 2025 | The New York Times: A Marine Park in Canada Warns That It May Euthanize 30 Beluga Whales
- October 2025| CBC: Federal government denies Marineland request to export belugas
- September 2025 | BlogTO: Marineland plan to sell beluga whales amid animal 'fire sale' draws concerns
- September 2025 | Daily Hive: Opinion: B.C. needs to do more than ban exotic cats
- July 2025 | Flamborough Today: Baby elephant at African Lion Safari raises concerns from animal welfare group
- July 2025 | CityNews: Senior wildlife specialist reveals the truth of roadside zoos
- April 2025 | Global News: Federal Candidates to Debate Animal Welfare
- March 2025 | CityNews: Seizure of animals from Ottawa Valley zoo renews calls for regulations on captive wildlife
- March 2025 | The Guardian: Canada’s Marineland to rehome its whales and dolphins as it seeks a buyer
- December 2024 | Durham Post: Jungle Cat, Nova’s Ark unfazed by bill on roadside zoos
- November 2024 | Toronto Star: What more will it take to shut down Marineland?
- October 2024 | CTV News: Chains falling behind on plant-based offerings
- September 2024 | Global News: Activists call for Boogie the monkey to be removed from Ontario roadside zoo
- June 2024 | Yukon News: Animals on the lam: Welfare group documents exotic animal escapes, attacks
- June 2024 | CTV News: Animal welfare group alerts exotic animal escapes
- April 2024 | CTV News: Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
- April 2024 | Yahoo: Travel companies operating in Canada complicit in Taiji dolphin hunts, new report reveals
- March 2024 | CBC: Marineland guilty of charges over its care of 3 young black bears
Press releases
- October 8, 2025 - World Animal Protection Calls on Premier Ford to Stop Passing the Buck on Marineland as Crisis Escalates
- October 1, 2025 - World Animal Protection Applauds Ottawa's Leadership in Denying Beluga Export Permit
- September 23, 2025 - World Animal Protection Calls for Full Transparency and Urgent Accountability Following Reports of Marineland's Export Application
- May 29, 2025 - Landmark Bill Re-Introduced in Ontario to Protect Captive Wildlife and Regulate Zoos
2024 archive
- December 4, 2024 - Landmark Bill Introduced in Ontario to Protect Captive Wildlife and Regulate Zoos
- November 20, 2024 - New Report: Sustainable farming and growing plant-based food sector is key to fighting climate change
- October 24, 2024 - New report: Ranking the top restaurant chains on meat reduction policies and plant-based offerings
- October 4, 2024 - Power of Animals Campaign Launches on World Animal Day With 2.8 Million Dollar Transformational Gift
- June 27, 2024 - Growing calls for stronger Provincial oversight as Marineland opens its doors this weekend
- May 16, 2024 - Mapping Canada's captive wildlife problem
- May 2, 2024 - Marineland announcement gaslights Canadians on its animal welfare record while falling short for innocent belugas that remain in its care
- April 9, 2024 - Travel companies operating in Canada complicit in Taiji dolphin hunts, new report reveals
- March 26, 2024 - Enough is enough - Marineland must be shut down
2023 archive
- December 4, 2023 - Kangaroo found safe raises concerns over system of wildlife trade and roadside zoos in Canada
- November 7, 2023 - World Animal Protection troubled by news Canada is on track to miss 2030 targets
- September 19, 2023 – Stronger animal welfare provisions key to lowering the use of antimicrobials in animal agriculture
- July 18, 2023 – 'Anyone can own a zoo in Ontario' Highlighting why Ontario ranks dead last in zoo regulations
- May 18, 2023 – Municipal leaders join World Animal Protection and Toronto Zoo in calling for tougher regulations and meaningful enforcement around captive wildlife
- May 8, 2023 – Deeply disturbing reports of further animal deaths at Marineland require urgent investigating and tighter regulations
- February 28, 2023 – New report highlights how the system fails to protect dairy cows
- February 15, 2023 – Major travel companies receive failing grade for selling exploitative animal experiences abroad
2022 archive
- December 14, World Animal Protection is calling on COP15 to address biodiversity and pandemic disease risks from the wildlife trade
- November 9, World Animal Protection calls on Canada to recognize role of factory farming in climate crisis
- September 28, Few regulations, many problems: World Animal Protection releases new investigation into roadside zoos in Ontario
- August 18, Canada's 2030 climate targets achievable if Canadians move to more plant-based lifestyle
- June 29, Marineland controversy grows as World Animal Protection urges Groupon to stop profiting from venues that exploit animals
- May 18, Canada's dangerous 'roadside' zoo season is upon us
- April 7, Health toll from industrial farming to soar as demand for cheap meat skyrockets
- March 23, As Marineland returns to court, new polling shows vast majority of Ontarians support overhaul of Animal Welfare Legislation
- March 22, World Animal Protection celebrates introduction of Animal Welfare Legislation in the Senate
- March 11, Say 'no' to exploitative animal tourism and 'yes' to supporting wildlife
- March 3, World Animal Protection celebrates UN resolution in a step towards recognizing animal welfare's role in global climate crisis, biodiversity and pandemic risk
2021 archive
- December 21, Global Charity Reminds People to Think of Animals During the Holiday Season & Beyond
- December 1, Top Eco & Animal-Friendly Tips to Go Green this Holiday Season
- October 29, The impact of animal agriculture is a major climate culprit that needs more attention at COP26
- September 27, Small lifestyle changes can make a big and positive difference in the lives of animals and the health of the planet
- September 3, Animal welfare is an election issue and voters must continue to speak out for animals says charity
- August 11, New polling shows Canadian voters are very concerned about the impact of industrial farming
- July 27, Canadian fast-food companies failing when it comes to chicken welfare says new global report
- June 30, New report from World Animal Protection says cruel, fake animal rescue videos still prevalent on YouTube
- May 21, G20 leaders urged at Global Health Summit to take bold action to prevent future pandemics
- May 6, Canadians urge the government to curb the global wildlife trade to prevent another pandemic
- April 7, A new report finds waterways near industrial farms in Canada could be a public health threat
- April 1, Retail Council of Canada backtracks on animal welfare commitments
- March 31, Sobeys and Loblaws among those lagging on improving animal welfare says new global report
- March 26, World Animal Protection releases new report on Canada's role in the global commercial wildlife trade
- January 27, World Animal Protection Supports New Whale Heritage Sites
- January 19, World Animal Protection calls on PetSmart to stop selling wild animals
2020 archive
- December 4, Exotic pets may suffer during the holiday season warns global charity
- November 19, Canadians demand G20 leaders stop the wildlife trade to prevent another pandemic
- October 16, World Animal Protection highlights the threat of superbugs on World Food Day
- October 2, We should all speak up for animals on World Farm Animals Day
- September 30, World Animal Protection says UN leaders must curb the global wildlife trade to protect biodiversity and stop future pandemics
- September 28, More action needed to end rabies by 2030 deadline says World Animal Protection
- September 23, More support needed to help mother pigs have better welfare conditions says global charity World Animal Protection
- July 27, Music icons join World Animal Protection in calling for a ban on the global wildlife trade to help stop another pandemic
- June 26, New footage from World Animal Protection shows cruel elephant training for tourist entertainment
- May 12, World Animal Protection Calls on G20 Leaders to Help Prevent Another Pandemic
- April 21, World Animal Protection Says COVID-19 Shines Light on a Broken Food System and Animal Welfare
- April 17, World Animal Protection Launches Emergency Appeal for Elephants in Thailand Facing Starvation Due to COVID-19
- April 7, World Animal Protection Calls on WHO to Ban Wildlife Markets to Save Human Lives
- April 2, Cruel Bear Bile Industry Thrives Despite Pandemic Risks Says World Animal Protection
- March 23, World Animal Protection Calls for International Ban on Wildlife Trade Due to COVID-19
- March 10, Canada Flunks on Animal Welfare Says Global Report from World Animal Protection
- January 15, Global charity, World Animal Protection, says fast food chains are failing when it comes to chicken welfare
- January 10, International Australian Bushfire Recovery Appeal launched for animals
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