SEATTLE — The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Inspection Service has issued an official warning against the Woodland Park Zoo for mishandling animals. The violation accuses the zoo of a "repeated failure to handle animals as expeditiously and carefully as possible in a manner that does not cause trauma, overheating, excessive cooling, behavioral stress, physical harm or unnecessary discomfort."
Nicole Meyer of the activist group In Defense of Animals said she received a call from a whistleblower at the zoo about a one-armed Patas monkey named "Kyle."
"A brutal capture based on the information that we received, that zookeepers caused this monkey named Kyle life-threatening injuries," said Meyer.
No one from the Woodland Park Zoo would go on camera, but the zoo provided this explanation of the incident:
"The male monkey, named Kyle, was injured in an attempt to move him and allow improvements to the holding area at the zoo's African Savanna exhibit. He later was humanely euthanized because of the broken leg sustained in the process. Veterinary surgeons concluded that the extensive bone repair and post-operative care would have resulted in an animal unlikely to walk, climb or socialize normally. The monkey had one arm removed two years ago due to a bone infection."
The warning from the USDA doesn't come with any fines, but a spokesperson said more action might be taken if there are more violations in the future.
"As with any facility, any new noncompliance would be addressed according to the nature and severity. APHIS would address any new problems when and if they arose," Tanya Espinosa, spokesperson for the USDA-APHIS.
"If it happens once you need to do a cause analysis on what happens, and if it happens again, that's when I would really start to question Woodland Park Zoo's commitment to really taking care of their animals," said Mary Jeffries, who said she's been visiting the zoo for years.
The zoo also added it will change its protocol in its statement:
"Dr. Nancy Hawkes, the zoo's general curator, said the zoo is reviewing and revising its animal transfer protocol. In addition, renovations to the holding area have been completed and will allow zookeepers more flexibility and better access to the Patas monkeys for future treatment and training."
The USDA said that Woodland Park Zoo has never received a warning like this in the past, but it will stay on the zoo's record for 10 years.
"This enforcement action calls into question the zoo's protocols, their judgment and expertise in handling animals that require special handling," said Meyer.