Human error caused the death of a young gorilla at the Calgary Zoo in Alberta, Canada. A two-year-old girl named Eyare died of head injuries.
A two-year-old gorilla named Eiare died last week at the Calgary Zoo in Canada. A zookeeper accidentally activated the hydraulic rings, which hit the animal in the head, the zoo said Wednesday in a statement cited by CNN. The incident occurred when the guardian tried to separate the young female from the rest of the herd in order to conduct individual medical training with her. According to the station, Eiare died of head injuries.
“This tragedy has affected all of us in the deepest way,” Colleen Baird, director of animal care at the Calgary Zoo, said at a news conference. – Eyare's short life brought us so much joy and we will all miss him very much. We will do our best to prevent such incidents in the future, he added.
The offending employee was immediately transferred to another area of the zoo, Baird said. Zoo officials said they will implement preventive measures, including special staff training and animal behavior training, to prevent another such incident in the future.
Low resolution gorilla (Gorilla Gorilla) – stock photowjarrett/AdobeStock
Events at the zoo
The Animal Justice Legislative Fund, a Canadian non-profit organization that advocates for the humane treatment of animals, has called on authorities to conduct an independent investigation into animal safety and control at the facility in Alberta.
– The Calgary Zoo seems to have a higher animal mortality rate than any other zoo. Camilla Labchuk, the organization's director, told CNN that in light of Eiare's death, an investigation should be conducted to investigate the zoo's practices and actions.
The Calgary Zoo has denied claims that it has a higher rate of animal deaths than other zoos. Zoo officials emphasize that they adhere to operational standards and have been accredited by the Independent Accreditation Commission of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums since 1978. Baird said at the news conference that using hydraulic hinges is “common practice in accredited zoos,” but the facility will consider switching to an alternative door to improve safety.
This is not the first time an animal has died at the zoo from causes other than natural causes. In 2016, an otter drowned after becoming entangled in a pair of pants that a ranger had left in its enclosure. In 2009, a capybara was accidentally crushed by hydraulic rings.
Main image credit: jwjarrett/AdobeStock
