|
Rated the #1 Family Friendly Zoo in America you might be surprised,
and should be concerned with the number of Code 1 animal escapes
that have occurred within Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo.
A "Code 1" is called within Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo in the event an animal escapes from within it's exhibit or night house.
Witnessed animal escapes have included:
*Sumatran Tiger- Enshalla's tragic death by shotgun within the Asian Domain.
*Baby Elephant- On 2 occasions within the Africa Domain.
*Orangutan- Within the Primate Domain.
*Colobus- Within the Primate Domain, 1 week before Enshalla's escape and death.
*Emu- On numerous occasions within Wallaroo Station.
*New Guinea Singing Dog- Within the Zoo School public area.
*Waddled Crane- On numerous occasions within the Africa Domain.
*Warthog- Within the Africa Domain.
*Bay Duiker- Within the Africa Domain.
*Alligator- Within the Florida Mammals Domain.
*Skunk's- Within the Florida Mammals Domain.
*Haflinger Horses- On the service roads within the Zoo.
*Arnold- The 600 lb. pig- On the service roads within the Zoo.
*Numerous Birds of Prey- Within the Key West area. (Some of which were never recovered)
*Spoonbill Crane- On numerous occasions within the Key West area.
*Aldabra Tortoise- On numerous occasions within the Africa Domain.
Our purpose in presenting the occurrences of animal escapes within Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo is to document a troubling pattern of neglect with regard to animal, employee and visitor welfare.
Each of these documented animal escapes can either be attributed to exhibits that were constructed with an insufficient ability to contain their inhabitants or as the result of human error.
|
Articles of Interest:
Tragedy Compared: San Francisco Zoo's Recent Tiger Escape/Death Compared With Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo -Published in the St.Petersburg Times Newspaper
USDA orders Lowry Park Zoo to provide Zoo keepers additional training. -Published by WTSP Channel 10 Tampa Bay.
USDA Inspection Violations:
The United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) is the governing body most directly responsible for the standards to which Zoo's are held accountable.
Tampa's Zoo Advocates has obtained several official USDA Inspection Reports that found serious infractions at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo in 2005 and 2006.
These reported infractions involve such serious issues as "Handling of Animals", "Employee Training", "Primary Animal Enclosures" and "Facilities, General".
Infractions such as the ones detailed in the following USDA Inspection Reports directly affect the welfare of the animals, staff and visitors of Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo.
Tampa's Zoo Advocates will be presenting additional USDA Inspection Reports as they become available.
|
|
