Heavy penalties not likely in hippo's death

Ag Department investigation may take many months

Myung Oak Kim, Rocky Mountain News

Published November 5, 2007 at midnight

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A government investigation into last week's death of the hippo Hazina could take many months and would likely result in a small fine if any violations are found.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is reviewing the circumstances surrounding the Oct. 27 death of the 6-year-old female hippopotamus. She died a day after being moved from the Denver Zoo to the Calgary Zoo.

The truck transport took nearly 27 hours and the hippo could not stand up when she arrived in Canada. She died of heart failure caused by muscle damage from sitting on her legs for about 11 hours during the ride, according to the Calgary Zoo veterinarian.

The federal agency investigated a similar case in 2005 in which an elephant named Wankie became weakened during a trip from Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo to the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City and had to be euthanized.

That review took 294 days and resulted in a $2,060 fine against the transporter, said Agriculture Department spokeswoman Jessica Milteer. The transporter was fined for failing to keep the truck warm.

The Agriculture Department did not find that either zoo had violated regulations in the elephant's death.

The maximum fine per incident and animal is $3,750, although the agency has the authority to also revoke or suspend someone's operating license, Milteer said.

Companies that ship zoo animals, except for birds, must follow regulations outlined in a federal law known as the Animal Welfare Act. Those include checking on animals at least every four hours, keeping the animal in certain temperatures, and using an appropriately constructed and sized crate.

The Agriculture Department inspects transporters, zoos and animal research facilities every year, Milteer said.

Hazina's transporter, Chris Danhauer of Planned Migration, has been licensed since 2004, said Milteer. He was cited last for a bookkeeping violation, she said, but added she could not disclose details.

Danhauer said he checked on Hazina every 2 1/2 to 3 hours and used a climate-controlled truck.

Don Elroy, director of wildlife advocacy for the Humane Society of the United States, said Agriculture Department investigations lack teeth.

The investigations take a long time and violators most often receive a fine "which amounts to a slap on the wrist," Elroy said.

The Agriculture Department has, however, been more aggressive in recent years, Elroy said.

"Previous to the last couple of years, they were very reluctant to revoke licenses. I have seen a lot more happening (recently)," Elroy said.

The Denver and Calgary zoos are conducting their own investigations into the hippo's death. The Calgary Zoo also has asked an outside veterinarian to review the case.

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums, a national group that accredits facilities, is not investigating, said spokesman Steven Feldman. Both zoos are accredited.

Both Feldman and Milteer said animal deaths connected to their transport from one zoo to another are rare.

Lisa Wathne, a specialist in captive exotic animals for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, disagreed. She pointed to about 10 cases in the last four years of zoo animals that died during or because of transport.

They include a red river hog that died in October 2005 while being shipped from Chicago's Brookfield Zoo to the Columbus Zoo in Ohio, and an impala that died in April during transport from the Toledo Zoo to the Milwaukee County Zoo, she said.

kimm@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2361

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