(TheProudRepublic.com) – Another tragic animal death at a Canadian zoo exposes the dangers of keeping wild animals in captivity, as a hydraulic door at the Calgary Zoo killed a two-year-old gorilla named Eyare.
This devastating incident highlights the risks of confining creatures like gorillas to artificial environments. It also raised serious questions about whether zoos can ever truly prioritize animal welfare over profit and entertainment.
The young gorilla died after being struck by a hydraulic door that a staff member mistakenly activated during a routine training session. Despite immediate lifesaving efforts, including CPR, Eyare succumbed to her injuries.
Shockingly, this is not the first time the Calgary Zoo has experienced animal deaths due to hydraulic door malfunctions.
Previous incidents involved the deaths of a capybara and a spider monkey, revealing a disturbing pattern of safety failures. These repeated tragedies suggest systemic issues with the zoo’s operations and animal care protocols.
While the zoo claimed to have an average annual animal death rate of 3%, mostly due to age or disease, a 2010 review found that animal deaths at the facility nearly doubled from 2000 to 2009.
Executive director of Animal Justice Camille Labchuk said, “It’s not like there’s a complete data set out there, but I would say the Calgary Zoo seems to have an unusually high death rate.”
She continued, “The Calgary Zoo appears to have a higher rate of animal deaths compared to other zoos, and in light of Eyare’s death there should be a systematic review of the zoo’s operations and practices, conducted transparently by the government or another outside party.”
In response to this latest tragedy, the Calgary Zoo has announced plans to assess and redesign door controls to prevent similar incidents.
The staff member involved has been removed from the workplace and will undergo additional training before returning to work.
However, these reactive measures do little to address the fundamental issues surrounding animal captivity and the inherent risks of confining wild creatures in artificial environments.
Furthermore, animal rights activists are calling for an independent review of the zoo’s operations, echoing concerns about the facility’s track record.
The Calgary Zoo’s membership in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) has done little to prevent these tragic incidents, raising questions about the effectiveness of industry self-regulation.
While zoos often assert to prioritize conservation and education, these facilities can never truly replicate the natural habitats and social structures that animals like gorillas need to thrive.
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