The Federal Gov’t Runs a Zoo About as Well as a Website

The National Zoo, which is run by the Smithsonian and subsidized by federal dollars, has a recent history of mismanagement that ends up getting animals killed. Escaped animals, putting two different species together to let them battle to the death and getting animals when there is no customized enclosure for them are just some of the recent problems at the National Zoo.

From CBS here:

A CBS News investigation has learned that behind the scenes, there are insider allegations of mismanagement involving animal care. Five sources with more than 35 years’ combined experience at the National Zoo have raised concerns to CBS News about recent animal injuries, deaths and escapes.

They say problems began last year when the zoo decided to double the population of the Cheetah Conservation Station, adding a half dozen new species but no extra space. Besides cheetahs, the CCS also houses zebras, gazelles and other species.

The CCS’ new animal mix didn’t always work out. Issues identified by the zoo sources include two newly acquired hornbill birds that were kept in an indoor shack for seven months because their exhibit yard wasn’t ready. Only after a volunteer complained were the birds allowed in an outdoor space. But the wallaby that had to share its yard with these new arrivals became frightened, according to sources, bloodied its nose and spent much of its time frightened and hiding.

One of two new red river hogs quickly became malnourished and died of an infection. The other hog, along with oryxes and sitatungas (two types of antelopes), sometimes became overly aggressive when mixed together, and some were injured in vicious fights.

Two animals in the CCS, a Dama gazelle and a pregnant kudu (another type of antelope), died when they got spooked on separate occasions and ran into barriers in their confined spaces, breaking their necks.

The gazelle death happened last month after a zebra attacked a veteran zookeeper. The commotion apparently frightened the gazelle, which is on the endangered species list. Zoo sources say it wasn’t found for hours. The pregnant kudu died last June. Zoo sources say as the animal lay suffering with a broken neck, workers were unable to quickly locate necessary veterinary records.

Zoo sources also expressed concern about two escapes from the CCS: a vulture whose wings were allegedly not properly clipped and a red panda who managed to climb out of its exhibit. Both animals were later recaptured and zoo officials say the failures that allowed the escapes have been fixed.

I’ve lived near the National Zoo for several years, and they do have some pretty good exhibits, but I’ve seen better privately owned zoos around the country. And those Giant Pandas are stupid and totally not entertaining to anyone. Plus, no matter which way you go in the National Zoo, you are walking uphill the whole way.