A young gorilla’s life was tragically cut short due to human error at the Calgary Zoo, exposing alarming safety concerns and a history of animal deaths.
First Harambe, now Eyare. What’s going on?
At a Glance
- Two-year-old gorilla Eyare died after being struck by a mistakenly activated hydraulic door
- The incident occurred during a routine vaccination training session
- Calgary Zoo has a history of animal deaths, including previous incidents with hydraulic doors
- The zoo is implementing new safety measures and reassessing door control designs
- Animal rights activists are calling for an independent investigation into the zoo’s operations
Tragic Death Exposes Systemic Issues
The Calgary Zoo is facing intense scrutiny following the untimely death of Eyare, a two-year-old western lowland gorilla. The young primate was fatally injured when a staff member accidentally activated a hydraulic door, striking her as she moved between enclosures. This devastating incident has shed light on ongoing safety concerns and a troubling history of animal deaths at the facility.
Colleen Baird, the zoo’s director of animal care, explained the tragic sequence of events: “A team member intended to activate a door that they were looking at, but accidentally used the control lever for a different door. And as that door was closing, Eyare was passing through, and she was struck by it.” Despite immediate life-saving efforts, including CPR, Eyare succumbed to her injuries shortly after the incident.
Last week, we shared the heartbreaking loss of our beloved 2-year-old western lowland gorilla, ‘Eyare’. 💔 The results of our investigation determined that Eyare's death was a tragic accident due to human error. We do not take this news lightly. Read more: https://t.co/F5rQaTh5Ti pic.twitter.com/pioHUmO1DC
— Calgary Zoo (@calgaryzoo) November 20, 2024
A Pattern of Preventable Deaths
Alarmingly, this is not an isolated incident. The Calgary Zoo has a history of animal deaths involving hydraulic doors, including a capybara and a spider monkey in previous years. These recurring tragedies point to systemic issues in the zoo’s safety protocols and infrastructure.
“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,” said Camille Labchuk, the nonprofit’s executive director.
A 2010 review revealed that animal deaths at the zoo nearly doubled from 2000 to 2009. While the zoo maintains an average annual animal death rate of 3%, mostly due to age or disease, the recurring nature of preventable deaths raises serious questions about the facility’s commitment to animal welfare.
Zoo’s Response and Proposed Changes
In response to this latest tragedy, the Calgary Zoo has announced several preventative and corrective measures. These include specialized recurrent training for the gorilla care team, enhanced safeguards, and new animal behavior training. The zoo is also reassessing control lever locations and designs to improve staff ability to confirm door operations.
“We don’t take these findings lightly and we are continuing to conduct thorough reviews to identify any potential opportunities to enhance our staff training, improve animal care processes and safeguards” – Colleen Baird
While these steps are necessary, they come too late for Eyare and other animals that have lost their lives due to preventable accidents. The zoo’s transparency policy, which involves promptly informing the community about incidents, is commendable. However, it does not negate the need for more robust safety measures and independent oversight.
Calls for Independent Investigation
Animal Justice, a Canadian nonprofit, has called for an independent investigation into the zoo’s animal safety and oversight. This demand echoes growing concerns about the zoo’s ability to self-regulate and ensure the well-being of its animals.
“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,” Camille Labchuk, the executive director of Animal Justice, said on Saturday.
The Calgary Zoo, which cares for over 4,000 animals and has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums since 1978, disputes claims of a higher rate of animal deaths compared to other zoos. However, the recurring nature of these incidents suggests that more stringent measures and external reviews are necessary to prevent future tragedies.
As the zoo grapples with the aftermath of this heartbreaking loss, it must prioritize the safety and well-being of its animals above all else. The death of Eyare serves as a stark reminder of the responsibility that comes with caring for these magnificent creatures. It’s time for the Calgary Zoo to take decisive action and implement foolproof safety measures to ensure that no more animals fall victim to preventable accidents.
