Hippo will soon have new digs
Jonathan Fowlie, CanWest News Service
Published: Thursday, June 01, 2006
Hazina the hippo is about to move from a shoebox to an estate.
Within the month, the shallow tub of water she's been calling home at the Greater Vancouver Zoo in Aldergrove will give way to an oversized outdoor pond with shores of rock and dirt. Sweeping mounds of multi-level grass will replace the claustrophobic garage-sized building where she's now spending her days, and when it's cold she'll have a heated indoor pool with nearby windows to let in the natural light.
What's more, the zoo is working to get a second hippo so Hazina, famous for her role in a recent Telus advertising campaign, has a companion to share the new $500,000 digs.
Surveying the nearly finished enclosure Wednesday afternoon, zoo marketing manager Jody Henderson vigorously defended the zoo after cruelty-to-animals charges were made public earlier in the day. "We've said from day 1 we're not happy with where [Hazina] is," Henderson said with frustration. "It's never been hidden." Henderson said the plan had been to move Hazina from her temporary enclosure earlier, but a number of complications in getting the new enclosure built made that impossible.
"We want to do it right," she said, questioning the timing of the charges and the ensuing public criticism. "If the facility wasn't being built, then there would be an issue, but we are in the final steps."
Henderson's explanation seemed reasonable to a group of three visitors peering into Hazina's current enclosure on Wednesday afternoon. "I think it [the criticism] has been blown out of proportion because they have a new pen they are building over there and it's pretty nice," said Dustin Creviston from Victoria.
"It's just a matter of time before the new one is constructed," added Creviston's friend Sarah Gibbins, who was at the Aldergrove zoo to apply for a job as a zookeeper.
Another recent visitor was not as convinced, however. "That place is not suitable for any animals to live in," said Dawn Houle, who visited the zoo two weeks ago, and contacted the Vancouver Sun to express her concern at the conditions.
"I believe the zoo should be shut down," she said. On Wednesday Henderson responded to criticism by saying the animals at the zoo are all well cared for, including Hazina, who she said is checked regularly and is in "perfect condition." Henderson did acknowledge the zoo lost its accreditation with the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums in 2004, but said that in no way means the zoo is neglectful of its animals. "There are many parts to the accreditation," she said on Wednesday, adding that the new hippo enclosure needed to be finished before the zoo could qualify for accreditation.
CAZA president Rob Purdy could not give the exact reasons why the Aldergrove zoo lost its accreditation, saying only it had "a couple of deficiencies."
He explained that to get accredited, a zoo or aquarium has to undergo a rigorous inspection by a team of industry professionals. The inspections can take up to three days and look at everything from animal health and veterinary care to diets to safety of visitors, he said.
He added there are currently 24 accredited zoos or aquariums in Canada and the Canadian process uses one of the most comprehensive guidelines in the world.
On Wednesday, Henderson said she did not know when the zoo plans to apply for the return of its accreditation.