Zoo vet says Hazina the hippo is well taken care of

Letter
Published: Monday, June 19, 2006
Vancouver Sun

Re: Zoo faces charges of cruelty to hippo, May 31

As the veterinarian who oversees the medical care of the animals at the Greater Vancouver Zoo, I feel it is important that the allegations in this article not be accepted simply as reported.

In this article, I was dismissed as being "unavailable for comment." This is true, technically. However, when the carefully staged, televised press conference by the B.C. SPCA was being held, I was in the middle of performing orthopedic surgery on a dog's knee. Reporter Nicholas Read was told I would speak to him the following morning, when I would not be jeopardizing my patient.

Marcie Moriarty, general manager of cruelty investigations for the B.C. SPCA, reportedly stated Hazina is in a "small pool inside a wooden shed." Actually, it is a heated, concrete building. Although unappealing to look at, concrete is the best material in which to house most exotic animals. It is the only surface that can be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, and that can stand up to the wear and tear large animals can inflict on a building. The reason all zoos have concrete buildings is because the animals are safer and healthier in them.

Hazina's only form of stimulus is not just an old tire and a red ball, as was suggested. She has a dedicated caretaker who interacts with her every day. The SPCA can't demand the zoo acquire a hippo for companionship for Hazina and then do everything in its power to prevent that from happening.

I agree wholeheartedly that the zoo should not have acquired Hazina unless it had adequate facilities. However, the building she is in satisfies that requirement. There is a difference between optimum, adequate and inadequate. We all agree she does not have an optimum facility. That is why the zoo has constructed the new hippo facility, scheduled to open later this month.

There is no question in my mind that the current facility is certainly adequate for a young, growing hippo. If it were not, there would have been signs of distress, illness or injury. In my bi-weekly assessment of Hazina, I have never seen her show any signs of illness or injury.

I suggest that the usually appropriate approach to concerns about animal welfare taken by the SPCA was derailed by the need to be seen to be doing something. The Vancouver Humane Society and other more rabid animal rights groups have never accepted that exotic animals, or in some cases any animals, should be kept in captivity. The SPCA, I believe, has been bullied by these more extreme groups.

I am not a hippo expert and have never claimed to be. But I do have 25 years of veterinary experience with a wide range of domestic and wild animals. I have degrees in wildlife management and in agriculture. I have been asked by the B.C. SPCA to examine and report on other cases of animal abuse, as recently as four weeks ago.

Since the SPCA has several vets on staff, I wonder why they have not been involved in this assessment and prosecution. These criminal charges of animal cruelty are very, very serious. Those making the allegations should have some verifiable expertise.

Certainly, improvements can always be made. But surely working with the zoo would have accomplished much more for the animals than this expensive, wasteful, vexatious and, in my opinion, malicious exercise.

Dr. Bruce Burton

Abbotsford
© The Vancouver Sun 2006