A tragic accident at the Calgary Zoo has claimed the life of a young gorilla, raising serious questions about animal safety in captivity.
At a Glance
- Two-year-old gorilla Eyare died after being struck by a hydraulic door at the Calgary Zoo
- The incident was caused by human error during a routine training session
- This tragedy has prompted calls for an independent review of the zoo’s operations
- The zoo is implementing new safety measures and reassessing its door control systems
- Animal rights activists argue the Calgary Zoo has an unusually high animal death rate
Fatal Accident Sparks Safety Concerns
The Calgary Zoo is under scrutiny following the death of Eyare, a two-year-old western lowland gorilla, who was fatally injured when struck by a hydraulic door. The incident occurred during a routine training session when a staff member accidentally activated the wrong door control. Despite immediate lifesaving efforts, including CPR, Eyare succumbed to her injuries shortly after the accident.
This tragic event has raised alarming questions about the safety measures in place at the zoo, particularly concerning the use of hydraulic doors. Colleen Baird, the zoo’s director of animal care, explained the circumstances leading to the accident:
“A team member intended to activate a door that they were looking at, but accidentally used the control lever for a different door,” Colleen Baird, the zoo’s director of animal care, said in an interview on Saturday. “And as that door was closing, Eyare was passing through, and she was struck by it.”
The zoo has taken immediate action in response to this incident. The staff member involved has been removed from the workplace and will undergo additional training before returning to work. Furthermore, the zoo is conducting a thorough review of its safety protocols and exploring alternative door and control designs to enhance safety and staff confidence.
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
History of Incidents Raises Red Flags
Disturbingly, this is not the first time the Calgary Zoo has faced tragedy involving hydraulic doors. Previous incidents include the deaths of a capybara and a spider monkey. These recurring accidents point to a potentially systemic issue that demands immediate attention.
A 2010 review found 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 accidents is deeply concerning. This pattern of incidents underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive overhaul of safety measures and operational procedures at the Calgary Zoo.
Calls for Independent Review and Transparency
In light of these tragic events, animal rights activists are demanding an independent investigation into the zoo’s animal safety and oversight. Animal Justice, a Canadian nonprofit, has been particularly vocal in calling for external reviewers to examine the zoo’s operations, similar to a review conducted in 2010.
“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.
The Calgary Zoo, for its part, maintains a transparency policy and has kept the public informed about the incident. However, critics argue that this transparency should extend to a willingness to undergo independent reviews and make substantial changes to prevent future tragedies.
