PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL – A newly released USDA report has revealed that three bottlenose dolphins—Striker, Cajun, and Luna—sustained injuries during a 13-hour transport from Gulf World Marine Park to Dolphin Connection in Duck Key, Florida. The dolphins suffered moderate to deep abrasions, cuts, and lesions caused by the body support devices used during the move. These injuries were not present before transport. This incident follows the permanent closure of Gulf World earlier this year amid a string of animal welfare concerns, including the deaths of five dolphins.
The park, now up for sale, is part of the Dolphin Company’s ongoing bankruptcy case. Four other bottlenose dolphins at Gulf World Marine Park were moved to Marineland Dolphin Adventure in Florida, while four rough-toothed dolphins were relocated to Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
POWELL, OH – The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has been under fire for its lack of accountability and transparency after one of their lions mauled another lion, who later had to be euthanized, according to the Columbus Dispatch.
“I expect the Zoo and other nonprofits that receive public funds to continuously review and improve their financial controls to ensure public resources are being used appropriately,” Keith Faber, the Ohio state auditor, said in May after his office concluded an investigation into the zoo. The Columbus Zoo formerly housed four lions, two of whom needed to be kept apart for their safety. During nighttime hours, one of the lions broke through a security door separating the animals.
A male lion named Roary attacked a female lion, Asali. While Roary received only minor injuries, Asali had to be euthanized after suffering a major bite wound. In response, the Columbus Zoo denied that any of its employees were to blame for the incident. The zoo claimed that all doors had been properly inspected and had been closed and locked prior to the incident. Further, the zoo argued that the door separating the animals was up to industry standards, but apparently, a window in the door had provided a weak point that allowed the lions to break through, according to the Dispatch. Despite receiving $18.9 million per year in taxpayer funding, operating on publicly owned land, and participating in retirement programs for public employees, the zoo denied a public information request regarding the past year’s animal deaths.
LANSING, MI – Staff at Potter Park Zoo in Lansing announced “with great sadness” Thursday that a cub born to parents Maliha and father Deagan-Reid on July 5 has died. The cause of death is unknown until a necropsy is completed. Zoo staff said the cub had been steadily gaining weight, was alert and appeared to be thriving prior to a sudden decline in their health. Sadly, red panda offspring are very fragile with a 40% neonatal mortality rate.
The cub was the fifth litter produced by the parents. There are around 130 red pandas in Association of Zoos and Aquariums institutions nationwide.
LANSING, MI – Potter Park Zoo’s female rhino, Doppsee, was euthanized on Aug. 28 following a month of around the clock treatment for an illness, the zoo said in a statement on Friday, Aug. 29.
Although she showed some improvement after treatment for a gastrointestinal obstruction, her condition deteriorated again shortly after. Then, a second obstruction was found. Despite the efforts to assist the animal, her condition did not improve. Black rhinos are considered a critically endangered species, and efforts were made over the years to breed Doppsee.
OLD TOWN, ME – A large Tegu lizard is on the loose in Old Town, Maine. According to the WMTW, officials first thought the lizard was a monitor lizard, but after hearing from folks who have seen the animal, they’ve realized the lizard is likely a tegu. The lizard was last seen Sunday night, near Hillside Avenue. The animal remains at large. Police are warning residents to not go up to the tegu, and to let professionals safely capture him. Maine does not currently require a specific license or permit for owning a tegu.
ORLANDO, FL – A group of zebras at Animal Kingdom Lodge managed to leap over the fence of their enclosure. The video shows the striped escape artists breaking free, clearing what many believe to be an electrified barrier, before realizing they had no idea how to get back inside. While the zebras escaped their designated area, they apparently never shared the same space as the visitors. Disney has not released specifics about how the zebras were guided back, but the animals were eventually safely contained in their original enclosure.