National Zoo Having Problems?

Post by **Luna Manar** » Fri Feb 27, 2004 12:45 am

This has me very worried.
There is no shortage of funding for this zoo...so if there is a problem and this is not just coincidence, it is the fault of the staff and the way the zoo is run. What do you think?

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(CBS) A pygmy hippopotamus was found dead Monday morning at the National Zoo, one of several animal deaths in recent months at one of the world's best known animal parks.

Zookeepers discovered the nine-year-old female in her exhibit area, located in the same building that houses elephants, giraffes, and Nile hippos.

The 600-pound animal showed no signs of disease and seemed normal up until her death, zoo spokesman Robert Hoage said.

The pygmy hippo, a native of Western Africa which is about one-eighth the size of the better-known Nile hippopotamus, can live 40 years or longer in zoos.

A necropsy found pulmonary congestion and a buildup of fluid in the hippo's lungs, Hoage said. A pathology report is expected in a few weeks after further tests.

The pygmy hippo was the last of the specials born at the National Zoo, reports the Washington Post and was the only one kept at the Elephant House.

The loss of the hippo is the latest in a series of mammal deaths at the zoo. But Hoage said the hippo's death does not appear to be related to the others.

Earlier this month two red pandas - animals unrelated to the famed Chinese giant pandas - died after rat poison pellets were buried in their yard.

Late last year, zookeepers had to put down an eight-year-old cheetah and a 24-year-old bobcat. Both were suffering from kidney disease, although officials say the cases were unrelated.

In October, a lion was found dead in its cage one day after it had a complete checkup. A preliminary necropsy found the death was due to an unexplained buildup of blood and fluid in his lungs.

And in September, a gray seal and a giraffe died the same week. The giraffe died of digestive problems which officials said were similar to the symptoms that killed its mate seven months earlier. Digestive problems were cited as the cause of death for the seal.

Zoo officials also have noted with about 3,100 animals at the park, some are born and die everyday.

"Some of these deaths were sad, but not all of them were surprise deaths," said zoo director Lucy H. Spelman. "Animals live and die, but when we lose an animal, it's my job to make sure we're paying the best attention to details."

The Post also reports that a new curator will be appointed to oversee all operations involving animal care.

phantom · Post by **phantom** » Fri Feb 27, 2004 1:19 am

Clearly something is amiss here. With near unlimited funding they should be catching these illnesses. Especially with the red pandas. What was up with that? Every animal should be given the best care. I thinik the SSP docents and heads need to consider removing endangered species from the zoo until a complete investigation can be completed and the results point to what is going on. Maybe I'm being hasty here since there is not much concrete evidence but with these animals we cannot afford to take any risks. We must do what's best for them and right now the zoo has serious questions that need to be answered. Until those questions can be satisfactorally answered, perhaps we should move the more endangered animals.

Capt.Rutlinger · Post by **Capt.Rutlinger** » Fri Feb 27, 2004 3:50 am

there are some strang deaths
but if you have 3100 animals it's normal that every so often an animal dies

Post by **Raindragon** » Fri Feb 27, 2004 6:15 am

Hmm, that is very peculiar. I also think the zoo sould be investigated. It seems odd that these animals are all dying of similar diseases and, as phantom said, with a good amount of funding these animals shouldn't be dying like this

Post by **superlion** » Fri Feb 27, 2004 1:01 pm

yeah... rat poision? What were they thinking? anyway, I visited the national zoo a couple years ago, and I have to say that it didn't seem very well run. They need to get some pointers from another zoo that has been more successful in terms of pest control and hygeine and diet... like the San Diego Zoo...

Post by **Jay** » Fri Feb 27, 2004 8:46 pm

I saw this story on the CBS nightly news on the 26th. (The report was fast, but I thought they said the zoo director resigned. Unfortunately, the nightly news on PBS didn't cover it. They try to provide news with both sides of a topic.) I didn't start a topic here because it is difficult to not talk about politics. I'll try to talk in general terms.

The last time I was at the zoo, the first George Bush was President. The zoo looked like things were kept up quite well. As I mentioned elsewhere, it was my third favorite zoo behind San Diego and Toronto. Superlion and Okapi have both said that the zoo did not look like it was kept up a couple of years ago.

When I went to the zoo, the zoo was run by the Smithsonian Institution. I don't know if that is still true, but the zoo's web site still has links to other museums run by the Institution. In addition to various trust funds, the Institution gets contributions from individuals, companies, and the federal government.

Now for the political part. Republicans generally believe that more money for these types of things should come from individual and company contributions rather than the government. Democrats generally believe the government should have significant responsibilities in such matters. I don't want a political discussion so I won't say which I prefer. I will say that all political parties have a different set of priorities than what I have.

So, the government funding for the Institution has gone down in the past. I do not know if it is still going down and I also do not know if the funding is less than what is needed. But I do believe this is part of the problem.

The next part of the problem is somewhat related to money. I have yet to see any job position that did not have incompetence somewhere. Many times, people just go to work and treat it simply as a paycheck. Many company and organization leaders often think "anyone can be taught to do anything, so get rid of the higher paid people". This typically makes things worse and is probably the case at the zoo.

Finally, these problems are, unfortunately, self-perpetuating. If you were a fantastic worker, which would you prefer: working at San Diego Zoo or the National Zoo? I would take the San Diego Zoo. (But then, there isn't any amount of money that would make me work and live in Washington, DC.)

I am also in favor of an investigation and moving out endangered species. But, sadly, I do not believe that the results of an investigation will improve the situation at the zoo. The underlying issues are too big. However, the results might help keep things from becoming bad at other places.

OK, end of rant.

Capt.Rutlinger · Post by **Capt.Rutlinger** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 4:21 am

maybe they could try to search some sponsors or sell the zoo to a other organisation

Post by **jwa1107** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 11:01 am

corporate sponsors are great to find, but not the answer to any zoo's financial problems; in most cases public zoos still are heavily dependent on tax dollars and municipal bonds to keep the zoo running (dollarwise).

at the Dallas Zoo they have several corporate sponsors:
a tiger exhibit sponsored by Exxon, a chimpanzee exhibit by Kimberly-Clark, a cheetah exhibit by Cheetos, a JCPenney sponsored 'discovery house' in the children's section with backyard animals... (note that all of those companies have a major presence/headquarters in the Dallas area)

but there are just as many exhibits or buildings sponsored by private donors or endowments

and still the majority of the budget comes from the city, which is dependent on politicians - and the voters who put them in office!

phantom · Post by **phantom** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 12:43 pm

Unfortunately not all zoos get support from the city. My local zoo, Cheyenne Mountain, is one of 5 zoos in the nation to receive no support from the city. the zoo depends entirely upon visitors, members, private donations, and grants. But we find a way to continue to keep healthy animals as well as build new exhibits and upgrade old ones. That is what upsets me about the national zoo. They have good money resources yet can't keep the animals healthy. my zoo is always concerned about the budget yet the animals always stay healthy. We haven't had a death of any animal for quite some time and when we do the cause of death is almost always of old age.

Post by **okapi_07** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 7:46 pm

ive heard a lot about the national zoo in the last couple of months like Jay said the director is resigning and will be gone at the end of 2004 also the zoo is beinf suspended by the AZA it normally offers 5 year accerdidation periods but is only accredidting the zoo one year at a time and will probably not be accredited anymore if the condition doesnt improve i feel sorry for some of the animals that have to live there when i was there the conditions didnt seem very bad( the exhibits just seemed very out-dated) except for the bison exhibit that was nothing but a small square of fence full of mud with no grass at all

phantom · Post by **phantom** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 10:36 pm

I heard the AZA was considering suspension with the National Zoo. I know several SSPs have taken the National Zoo off their lists as potential breeding sites for endangered species. That is one sad bison exhibit you mention Okapi07. Denver Zoo had a nice exhibit for bison but I haven't been there in 5-6 years or so.

Capt.Rutlinger · Post by **Capt.Rutlinger** » Sun Feb 29, 2004 11:49 am

Is there no possibility to sell the zoo to a private organasation/ enterprise?

skwirlinator · Post by **skwirlinator** » Mon Mar 01, 2004 1:20 am

As a taxpayer it's my zoo too! I don't want to sell it, I want it fixed. Too bad I can't hire someone to go fix my zoo. Too bad I can't fire someone for the conditions in my zoo! I can't even visit my zoo! But I surley don't want to sell it!

SHIFT+4 is not the issue.

Too bad M$ won't send all the Zoo staff there a copy of ZT. Give them the link to ZKL and we could do something...maybe...

The National Zoo, My/Our Zoo is supposed to be the Icon of Zoos!
Is there a Real Zoo Forum? Maybe I could start rallying the owners around the plight! There's enough of us.

I recently heard something about animal murders. It's not my National Zoo is it!
I hope ZooKeepers around the world hear my cry!

Post by **Luna Manar** » Mon Mar 01, 2004 2:17 am

Heehee, I echo skwirlinator's sentiment...let's start a ZT crusade and promote good zookeeping skills everywhere!

phantom · Post by **phantom** » Mon Mar 01, 2004 12:09 pm

The animal murders in a zoo that you've been hearing about Skwirlinator are going on somewhere in Brazil if I remember correctly. Anyone know for sure? I know it's defintiely not the national zoo here in U.S.A