Gorilla killing sparks federal negligence complaint against Cincinnati Zoo

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

World | Tue May 31, 2016 11:19am EDT

Gorilla killing sparks federal negligence complaint against Cincinnati Zoo

CINCINNATI | BY GINNY MCCABE

Animal rights activists filed a federal complaint accusing the Cincinnati Zoo of negligence in maintaining its gorilla habitat after an ape was killed in order to rescue a boy who had fallen into its enclosure, a spokesman for Stop Animal Exploitation Now said on Tuesday.

The complaint, which was filed with the U.S. Department of Agriculture after the 450-pound animal named Harambe was felled by a single shot on Saturday, seeks the maximum penalty of $10,000 for the zoo, said Michael Budkie, co-founder of SAEN said.

"It's clear that this enclosure is not capable of keeping a 4-year-old child out and must violate federal regulations," he said.

"This could potentially be the zoo's third citation. This one ended up not only endangering a child but also essentially with the murder of a gorilla by gunshot," Budkie said.

Zoo officials were not immediately available for comment but said on Monday the exhibit was safe and exceeded required protocols.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-ohio-gorilla-idUSKCN0YM1XH

[yardwork]

1. Good.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

2. It's the U.S. Department of Agriculture that regulates zoos? Thanks for the tip.

Off we go....

ETA: but which standard?

Title 7, Agriculture, specifically Subtitle B—Regulations of the Department of Agriculture

[CincyDem]

3. This will be a fundraising goldmine for SEAN

Big move up from their traditional activity with rabbits, pigs, sharks and squirrels.