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Canwest News Service
An animal autopsy indicated that lack of warmth and inappropriate diet likely killed one of two giraffes that died recently at Langley's Mountain View Conservation Centre, says the facility's veterinarian.
Two Masai giraffes, a six-week old and a young adult, died at the rare-species zoo within days of each other during an early December cold snap. The B.C. SPCA is investigating whether animal-cruelty charges should be laid.
A final death report has been completed for the adult giraffe, and a necropsy on the baby giraffe is due soon, said Eileen Dreever of the B.C. SPCA.
"If we find the [adult giraffe] has been neglected and has as a result died, most definitely we would be looking at forwarding charges to Crown counsel," Dreever said.
The Province first reported in December that at the time of the giraffes' deaths, the B.C. SPCA was investigating allegations of animal cruelty and neglect involving various species at Mountain View.
As a result of the SPCA's investigation, "numerous" orders have been issued for the treatment of various species that are allegedly in distress, Dreever said.
Mountain View has so far complied with each order, she added.
Dr. Bruce Burton, Mountain View's vet, said he understands that following one SPCA order, the zoo's management installed a heater in the barn that houses its remaining giraffes.
Burton said a six-page report on the adult giraffe's death cites "peracute mortality syndrome" [PMS] as the likely cause.
The syndrome is increasingly cited in deaths of giraffes that originate in tropical climates and are kept in cooler climate zoos, a U.S. zoo vet told The Province.
"When you have [giraffes] in captivity, you have to make a special effort to get the diet that is appropriate. They don't carry a normal amount of fat that would allow them to overcome stresses like drops in temperature or periods when they don't get enough food," Burton said.
"I think [giraffe deaths] can be prevented in the future if [Mountain View management] provide a warm environment for these animals to live in the winter and force the diet that is appropriate for the giraffe."
Burton said he has recommended controlled feeding of special energy pellets for the animals.
He also stressed that Mountain View's giraffe population has previously survived colder periods than December 2009.
Before the giraffe deaths, eight current and former animal handlers at Mountain View, including former manager Thomas Knight, alleged that lack of warm accommodation was just one of a number of animal-care concerns at the facility.
The group listed zebras and giraffes among those suffering from heat issues.
In response to that allegation, Mountain View founder Blankstein told The Province in a previous interview that heat has never been a problem for any exotic animals at Mountain View.
On Friday, Mountain View spokesman Malcolm Weatherstone referred questions on the giraffe deaths to Burton. He also said Mountain View has complied with all orders issued by the SPCA.
He said he did not want to comment on the issue of providing heat for the giraffes at Mountain View, except to say: "All I know is we've had giraffes for 10 years and there has never [before] been an issue."
scooper@theprovince.com
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If this is true, that cold and a bad diet killed these giraffes, then this sanctuary needs to be brought to task for irresponsible care taking. I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt until hearing that bad diet contributed to the deaths.
If you don’t know what a good diet is for a giraffe, you have no business having giraffes! Same is true for every other exotic animal that is currently being kept there.
This leave me highly suspicious that maybe the allegations currently being investigated by the BCSPCA may have some merit to them whereas before, I simply attributed it to griping employees who want to unionize.
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I fully agree with you, Cheryl! When people open and run an operation, such as Mountainview, they should be fully prepared to CARE for the animals that live there- not just HOUSE them!
These giraffes must have really suffered. What a horrible combo- poor nutrition and freezing to death.
Consideration and empathy for these animals would have prevented their miserable, premature deaths.
As far as I am concerned- this “management team” should not be in operation.
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With the animal abuse allegations, that are backed by photos and video footage and the giraffe autopsy to confirm death by hypothermia and starvation…. what gives Mountainview the opportunity to remain in operation???
Can we spare a bit of compassion for these animals?
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This is so sad and more so because it so easily could have been prevented.
The worse story I read about in the cruelty charges was about Aras.
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These captive wild animals deserve some dignity to their already compromised situation. Empathy… care-
not euthanasia with a claw hammer, throat slitting, no heat, poor nutrition and slim to none on vet care.
Animal cruelty comes in many forms- NEGLECT is one.
Please continue discussion on the forum: link