Edmonton Zoo staff 'shocked' by the apparent poisoning of 65 guinea pigs

By: The Canadian Press

EDMONTON - Almost the entire population of guinea pigs at Edmonton's Valley Zoo has been wiped out after it appears someone deliberately put poisoned oranges in the animals' cage.

Poison feared in Edmonton Valley Zoo guinea pig deaths

Orange rinds found in enclosure; security breach under investigation

By Conal Pierse and Laura Drake, edmontonjournal.com May 28, 2010 7:01 AM

Read more: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/guinea+pigs+poisoned+death/3078140/story.html#ixzz0pEMe8yLw
EDMONTON — Lucienne Partridge knew something was amiss Thursday morning when she went to the Edmonton Valley Zoo with her granddaughter Holly.

The normally busy guinea pig pen was empty, a small sign posted on the fence that said the exhibit was closed temporarily for renovation.

"What happened to all the little guys?" Partridge wondered aloud.

"They're sleeping" the two-year-old Holly replied, unaware that 64 of the 72 guinea pigs were found dead a day earlier. Another one died a short time later. Seven survived.

It appears someone broke into the zoo and left poisoned oranges in the guinea pigs' enclosure, although that won't be confirmed until tests are complete.

Police spokeswoman Patrycia Thenu said that "investigators found laced oranges with some kind of poison."

Dean Treichel, the zoo's operations supervisor, said this "is a very serious matter.

"While the cause of death is still being determined, the fact that so many died, almost simultaneously, is certainly suspicious.

"What we do know at this time is that there were some abnormal physical findings with these animals, and this information, combined with a thorough review by independent pathologists, is being conducted." Treichel said when the animals were checked late Tuesday, they were alive and healthy. He said security patrolled the zoo throughout the night, as usual.

When the animals were checked Wednesday morning, there were orange rinds inside the enclosure that were not there when zoo staff left Tuesday night. The dead guinea pigs were found sprawled inside their enclosure by staff.

The remaining animals have been removed until it's determined that the enclosure is safe. A dead red squirrel was also found outside the enclosure. Treichel suspects it also ate poisoned oranges, as it is not uncommon for squirrels to steal food from cages.

Treichel said zoo officials are concerned that other enclosures could have been compromised, but didn't want to comment further on the break-in or any other details of the investigation.

He did say, however, that the perimeter fencing at the zoo was scheduled to be changed. That work will likely begin in about six weeks. The new fencing will be about three metres high, with decorative panels at the top, and should take four months to construct.

He said the staff is "angry" about what happened to the animals and he defended the facility's security record.

"These guys work hard to care for the animals. When something like this happens, it really upsets them," Treichel said. "We have done a very good job on this site for the past 50 years protecting animals."

There is no video footage of the guinea pig enclosure.

The animals are undergoing necropsies and toxicology tests are being conducted to determine what substance was put in the oranges that caused the guinea pigs to die.

Treichel said the guinea pig exhibit, which is inside the front gate, has been part of the zoo since 1959. He said the animals are used for educational programs and are timid by nature. He said they are fond of oranges, which contain a lot of vitamin C, an important part of their diet.

He confirmed that guinea pigs are often fed to other wild animals, but said the ones in the exhibit aren't used for that purpose, and those that are, are euthanized first.

Julie Woodyer, programs director for Zoocheck, said no one at her organization had ever heard of animals being poisoned at a Canadian zoo.

She said security is a concern at all zoos for the safety of both animals and visitors. Woodyer pointed to the Calgary Zoo as an example, where two young men were injured after breaking into the tiger enclosure last year.

Meanwhile, visitors to the zoo Thursday struggled with the news.

Jenny Webber, 14, is visiting Edmonton from Kelowna and was at the zoo on a school field trip.

"It's terrible; I don't know what kind of monster would do something like that."

Teacher Anna Kopec was also at the zoo on a field trip, accompanying a group of elementary school-aged students.

"That's cruel," said Kopec when told about the deaths of the guinea pigs. She planned to explain it to her students later, after they returned to the school.

cpierse@thejournal.canwest.com

ldrake@thejournal.canwest.com

Read more: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/guinea+pigs+poisoned+death/3078140/story.html#ixzz0pEMxhPR6

Sixty-four guinea pigs died overnight Tuesday and another one died on Wednesday morning, zoo staff said. Only seven survived.

“We are shocked and saddened by these deaths,” said Dean Treichel, the zoo's operations supervisor.

The small animals were once a big hit with families and school groups as they scurried about inside their waist-high pen, Treichel said.

Zoo staff say the animals were fine when last checked on Tuesday evening. Their furry carcasses were discovered at about 8 a.m. the next morning alongside the oranges, which were not present the night before.

Police have been called in to investigate and the zoo said it is reviewing its security procedures. Staff are working with experts to determine the exact cause of death.

The Valley Zoo is a small facility when compared with zoos in places such as Toronto and Calgary, although it does have larger animals such as zebras, camels and tigers.

It has been in the news lately over the fate of its lone elephant, Lucy.

Animals rights groups, backed by former game show host Bob Barker, have launched a court fight to have Lucy moved to a sanctuary with other elephants, but the zoo says the aging animal wouldn't survive the move.

Zoo staff say this is the first time they have had to deal with a poisoning.