The Calgary Zoo has come out in support of Alderman Brian Pincott's motion to ban the possession of shark fins in the city.

The zoo's head of conservation, Dr. Axel Moehrenschlager says humans are having a devastating effect on the shark population with one third of sharks now threatened by extinction.  He also says the practise of shark finning is extremely cruel, citing video that shows sharks having their fins cut off while still alive, then being thrown back into the ocean to die. Moehrenschlager says some people may question whether it's the city's jurisdiction to ban such products.  But he says  the key idea behind these bans is to reduce demand, so the culling of sharks will stop.