New hippo enclosure will be built
manager

Nicholas Read
Vancouver Sun
Thursday, April 29, 2004

LANGLEY - Greater Vancouver Zoo manager John Lee says he believes that if the zoo builds a new hippo enclosure this year, it will win back its accreditation from the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Asked Wednesday if the condition of the hippo enclosure is the only complaint CAZA has against the zoo, Lee said: "As far as I know, that is the only problem. But I have to contact them [to find out] if there are any other issues."

Lee said he tried but failed to reach CAZA president Bruce Dougan Wednesday.

On Tuesday, CAZA, the organization that sets animal-care standards for zoos in Canada, confirmed it had suspended the Aldergrove zoo's accreditation because of what Dougan said were problems with the zoo's animal-care facilities.

Dougan refused to identify what those problems were, but said that it "wasn't news" that CAZA had concerns about the zoo's hippo enclosure.

Last winter Dougan said it was "unacceptable" that the zoo made no provision to keep its two hippos, Gertrude and Harvey, warm during heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures, and expressed concern they might crash through ice on their pond and drown.

But on Wednesday Lee promised the zoo would build a new hippo enclosure before the end of this year.

"Regardless of the amount, we have to build a proper hippo barn," Lee said. "We have promised to CAZA to build it as soon as possible, but we couldn't meet that promise so far. So this year we just informed them that we are going to build that building by the end of this year at the latest."

Lee says he hopes that once the enclosure is built, it will be enough to satisfy CAZA and reclaim the zoo's accreditation.

"As far as I know, what was told so far by CAZA was that we are suspended until we build a new hippo barn. So we're just doing this project," he said.

Dougan said Tuesday people who care about the way animals are treated should think twice about visiting the zoo.

"If you care about how animals are cared for in a particular facility, I think it would matter a great deal to know that the facility you were visiting was accredited or not," he said.

Lee said the zoo's owner, Dukwon Park, understands CAZA's concerns and those of animal-welfare groups such as the Vancouver Humane Society and Zoocheck Canada, both of which have made public complaints against it.

"He understands, I think," Lee said. "We're trying to improve the zoo. The zoo is improving."

Lee said the zoo has also built a new enclosure for its Arctic wolves and lynxes.

"If someone comes to the zoo [today], they'll see the zoo is different from two years ago," Lee said.