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Little Rock Zoo weighs in on PETA investigation request
There’s new development in the death of a baby lemur at the Little Rock Zoo. PETA wants the U.S. Department of Agriculture to investigate the zoo. Little Houdini, the first lemur born in captivity at the zoo, died last week after he fell in the moat in the exhibit. PETA wrote a letter asking USDA officials for the investigation. Those with the zoo are not happy about it. The USDA oversees zoos. But those with the Little Rock Zoo say they run the lemur exhibit by the book. And there’s nothing they could have done to save 5 week old Houdini.
The video taken by the Powell family visiting the zoo last Wednesday is still 
hard for zoo workers to watch. It shows little Houdini falling into the water, attempting to swim. They got him out and even performed CPR but Houdini died the next day. PETA doesn’t think moats belong around animals like lemurs that don’t swim, but those with the Little Rock Zoo says it’s common at accredited zoos across the country. Susan Altrui with the Little Rock Zoo said, “because primates don’t swim it’s a perfect barrier because they won’t go into the water. And what happened here with our lemur falling into the water was a tragic accident and something that is very very uncommon.”
Those with the zoo say they’ve already talked to the USDA about the incident and PETA calling for an investigation is unnecessary. “If the USDA had a concern we would welcome them to come out and inspect our grounds,” Altrui said.
A PETA spokesperson says a dozen animals have died in similar incidents at zoos in the last 7 years. PETA wants the USDA to make sure the Little Rock Zoo is in no way responsible for the accident, but that’s not all. Lisa Wathne with PETA said, “the USDA needs to direct the zoo to make adjustments to the enclosure so a tragic incident like this never happens again.” Wathne said PETA would like to see fences between animals and water. “Accidents happen and animals fall or are pushed into these moats. They end up drowning,” she said. Those with the zoo say a fence around the moat could actually be a bad idea though. Lemurs are natural climbers. This would be one more place for them to do that putting them at greater risk for falling, possibly into the water. “Whether they’re here at our zoo or they’re in Madasgar, there’s always the potential for an accident to happen,” Altrui said.
As for the investigation the USDA has not decided yet whether to do one. Those with PETA say it may take several weeks.
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Comment by Gentry on 22 April 2009:
Pretty typical of PETA. Never miss an opportunity to pile on when a zoo stumbles, whether the institution is at fault or not – just do what you can to raise doubt in the public mind that the zoo might have been at fault and raise doubt about the institutions quality of care, whether you have hard evidence to back it up or not. And hey, PETA – if you have hard evidece to support the claim that dozens of animals have died at accredited zoos in similar incidents over the past 7 years – show it and show it now.
Comment by Winter on 21 May 2009:
I live in Little Rock Arkansas and have to tell you our zoo is completely run down. It’s not that I think the workers don’t care, it’s the sad lack of funding.
I believe if you were to visit the state of this zoo would make you question your statement Gentry. What’s wrong with looking into a situation to uncover the problem?