Texas zoo inspections reveal incidents involving animal treatment, escapes, deaths

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – An in-depth take a look at some main Texas zoos by way of inspection stories gives a historic take a look at incidents on the Dallas Zoo during the last decade, and it seems to put one North Texas zoo within the highlight however not for causes you would possibly anticipate. 

The US Division of Agriculture licenses and inspects zoos. The I-Group requested inspections, citations, and complaints for 5 Texas zoos together with Dallas, Fort Price, Austin, San Antonio, and Houston. 

We obtained greater than 400-documents referencing animal therapies, escapes, and deaths.

DALLAS ZOO

In 2011, the information reference a chimp and a spider monkey escape on the zoo which led the USDA to notice two citations: “Dealing with of Animals” and “Worker” points involving employees numbers and coaching. The inspector states “The licensee have to re-evaluate the present workers, coaching, and supervision within the nice ape space. He additionally tells the Zoo to “appropriate the issue permitting animals to flee.”

In 2014, the inspection report states a “keeper error allowed a feminine lion to flee her enclosure….” The inspector cites the zoo for “Dealing with of Animals” stating “This facility wants to make sure these occasions do not occur sooner or later.”

The paperwork present the USDA has visited the zoo no less than 14 instances since 2011. In keeping with the I-Group’s evaluation, inspector discovered non-compliant objects at 14% of the visits.

COMPARED TO OTHER TEXAS ZOOS 

In the identical time interval, our evaluation reveals inspectors discovered non-compliant objects throughout 23% of their visits to the Austin Zoo. 

In San Antonio, non-compliant objects had been discovered throughout 25% of their visits.

And on the Houston Zoo, non-complaint objects had been famous at 50% of their inspections.

The vast majority of the objects at Austin, San Antonio, and Houston all concerned citations referencing “Facility” or “Sanitation Points.” 

FORT WORTH ZOO 

The information point out the Fort Price Zoo is the one of the zoos with just one quotation within the ten-year evaluation. 

In 2011, an inspector reported an “Out of doors Housing Amenities” quotation concerning the dimensions of the lemur exhibit and its means to guard the animals. The inspector acknowledged, “Extra shade must be supplied for these animals.”

The I-Group reached out to the Fort Price Zoo to learn how it has maintained this almost excellent file. 

A spokesperson wouldn’t speak on the file however despatched us the next assertion:

“…all accredited establishments have devoted employees and animal care groups dedicated to the protection and safety of their friends, employees and animals. I can solely communicate for our Zoo, which has an exemplary employees that works onerous every day to take care of our file. I’d give credit score to our employees, particularly our prime animal administration staff with 150+ years of mixed expertise.”

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ZOOKEEPERS

Subsequent, the I-Group turned to the American Affiliation of Zookeepers to get a greater understanding of the a whole lot of paperwork we obtained and to dive deeper into how these zoos examine to one another.

“While you’re subjected to a USDA inspection and the vet is available in… it’s totally subjective,” says Ed Hansen. 

Hansen is the CEO of the Affiliation. He is been a zookeeper for greater than 45-years.

Referring to the Dallas and Fort Price Zoos, Hansen stated each are top-rated exhibitors. “I’ll let you know that each of these are high quality establishments, well-run establishments and nicely revered within the trade.” 

Hansen stated he ran a small zoo with 15 acres and a small employees. “We would typically have two to a few points that we could not instantly resolve or two or three points that wanted additional investigation.”  

He says the citations within the paperwork the I-Group confirmed him are “widespread.”

“In bigger zoos, once we are caring for anyplace from 500 to 1,000 animals on any given day, there’s going to be one thing that is lower than inspection requirements.” 

The I-Group requested Hansen if the Dallas Zoo has a great file. He stated, “…completely! An excellent file.”

ANIMAL WELFARE COMPLAINTS

The paperwork the I-Group obtained reveal the Fort Price Zoo additionally had zero “Animal Welfare Complaints” from 2011 to 2021, the final 12 months for which information can be found. 

Animal Welfare Complaints are these prospects, advocacy teams, or attorneys sometimes file with the USDA. 

The paperwork we obtained comprise three Animal Welfare Complaints filed in opposition to the Dallas Zoo.

Amongst them, in 2016, 4 complainants detailed their considerations about 5 African elephants which had been flown into Texas. 

The USDA discovered no “no non-compliant” objects after investigating this concern.

In 2021, a grievance filed by an individual who claimed to be a Dallas Zoo member raised considerations concerning the security of animals. The complainant supplied texts and emails, allegedly from zookeepers, referencing a listing of animals which had died in the previous couple of years. The checklist included giraffes, chimpanzees, and a zebra. 

Following an investigation into this grievance, the USDA inspector discovered no non-compliant objects, no wrongdoing. 

He acknowledged, “Data for all deaths since 2019 had been reviewed throughout a latest inspection. In keeping with the information, all deaths related inside sickness had been recognized in a well timed method and satisfactory vet care was supplied. Among the deaths had been accidents that might not be foreseen.”

“MALICIOUS ACTS”

Hansen is fast to say the thriller on the Dallas Zoo is just not one that might have been “foreseen.”

“This falls outdoors of a zoo inspection…. These are malicious acts.”

He separates the findings within the USDA inspections from what has just lately taken place on the Dallas Zoo.

“…an animal welfare difficulty is totally completely different than what you are coping with right here. That is one thing utterly completely different. That is malicious conduct and damaging of metropolis and zoo property and now theft of an endangered species.” 

SPARKING SAFETY AND SECURITY CHANGES WORLDWIDE

On the identical time, Hansen says change is required and it’s seemingly coming. He says zoos are already working to forestall these acts sooner or later.

The veteran zookeeper says exhibitors all over the world have their eyes on Dallas proper now. “I assure zoos throughout the nation and possibly even additional …are taking steps to heightened consciousness.” 

Hansen says zoos will particularly be on alert about suspicious exercise. “You already know…those that say they’re misplaced they usually’re in locations they aren’t purported to be.”

HOW TO FILE AN ANIMAL WELFARE COMPLAINT

Zoos might quickly be asking in your assist additionally.

For those who go to a zoo and see any suspicious exercise, you’ll be able to file a grievance with the USDA right here.

USDA RESPONSE TO I-TEAM INVESTIGATION

“Right now, we can’t have the ability to accommodate your interview request. Additionally, we do not increase past what’s already included within the inspection stories.”