Yvan Jayne, from Marseille, France, stays on True Grit during bareback rodeo semi-final action at the Calgary Stampede in Calgary, Alta., Sunday, July 17, 2016.
Image Credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
September 01, 2023 - 11:59 AM
Over two-thirds of Canadians believe that animals should be taken out of rodeos, a new study reveals.
In a new survey conducted by Research Co. the results of which were released today, Sept. 1, 65% of British Columbians said they're opposed to animals in rodeos, while 27% said they are in favour of the practice and a remaining 8% said they're undecided.
“Since 2019, the proportion of Canadians who approve of the use of animals in rodeos has fallen by 10 points,” Research Co. president Mario Canseco said in a media release. “Majorities of women (73%) and men (59%) are currently opposed to this type of entertainment.”
However, not all forms of animal entertainment are so vehemently opposed. In BC, 36% of people said that they are in favour of keeping animals in zoos or aquariums with only 53% disagreeing.
The vast majority of British Columbians (81%) are also in favour of farming animals for meat and hunting animals for food (67%). With only 16% saying they disagree with eating animals and 28% they are opposed to hunting them.
Most British Columbians surveyed (80%) agreed that animals should not be killed by trophy hunters, while 11% disagreed and 5% are unsure.
A similar percentage also say animals should not be killed for their fur (78%). However, British Columbians find less issue with this practice than trophy hunting with 16% saying they are in favour of using animal fur.
The division in opinion also seemingly correlates with political beliefs as Canadians who voted for the Conservative Party in the 2021 federal election were more likely to be in favour with trophy hunting (20%) than those who supported the Liberal Party (15%) or the New Democratic Party (NDP) (13%).
Age is also a distinguishing factor. Young people in Canada, between the ages of 18 to 34 are more likely to be against zoos and aquariums (63%) than their older counterparts aged 35-to-54 (54%) and aged 55 and over (53%).
To read more about Research Co.'s findings, visit their website here.
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