http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/Alberta/2007/11/02/pf-4625064.html
November 2, 2007
Hippo mover denies wrongdoing
By BILL KAUFMANN, SUN MEDIA
The professional animal mover who transported Hazina the hippopotamus on her ill-fated trip from Denver to Calgary says he did nothing wrong.
And yesterday, the Calgary Zoo announced an independent review, headed by a Montreal-based veterinarian, of what led up to the animal's death last Saturday.
Animal mover Chris Danhauer said he checked regularly -- every two to three hours -- on the six-year-old female hippo during the drive in which the animal spent about 29 hours in a five-metre-long, nearly two-metre-wide shipping crate.
Danhauer, owner of Nashville-based Planned Migrations, also said in a statement that he "remained in contact with Denver Zoo throughout the trip."
He said the 1,500-kg animal showed no obvious signs of ill health during the trip.
"We had no idea she was not doing well until we got to Calgary Zoo."
When Hazina arrived in Calgary a week ago, she couldn't stand. It became clear she'd been sitting too long in one position.
She died the next day from circulatory complications.
When contacted by the Sun, Danhauer refused further comment, except to say handling each species of animal happens under extremely stringent regulations.
"I'm responsible to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Denver and Calgary zoos and to nobody else," he said.
The Denver Zoo is backing up Danhauer, said spokeswoman Ana Bowie, adding Danhauer did everything properly and that they'd use his services again.
"We have complete faith in Chris -- he's a professional and has done it for years and years," said Bowie.
Bowie said the Denver Zoo has used Planned Migration 51 times since 2000 without incident. She said the presence of a veterinarian would not have made a difference.
"(Hazina) didn't exhibit any symptoms of outward stress -- there was a record of her movement throughout the transport and it's not clear where this paralysis set in."
Bowie said that since 1966, the Denver Zoo has successfully moved hippos by truck 14 times.