San Francisco Zoo Enclosure Where Gorilla Was Killed May Be Outdated and Unsafe According To Expert
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— The San Francisco Zoo needs to update its enclosure where a baby gorilla was crushed and killed a week ago, according to a gorilla expert hired by the zoo.
Dr. Terry Maple, former chair of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which accredits zoos, said the 30-year-old downward closing door that trapped 16-month-old Kabibe needs to have a safety mechanism that retracts like garage or elevator doors when there's an intrusion.
He said the keeper was distracted and couldn't stop the door in time when the gorilla darted under.
San Francisco Zoo Enclosure Where Gorilla Was Killed May Be Outdated and Unsafe According To Expert
"The zoo intends to continue to breed gorillas and there'll be other babies down the line," he assured, but as far as the hydraulic door goes; Maple said that you want to be sure that it's "optimal" and "easy to use", but precise enough to where they can be controlled easily.
"That can be done because the technology now is way better than it was 30 years ago," Maple said.
He said it wasn't the keeper's fault but the zoo now has two people bringing the animals in and out of the enclosure. The Chronicle reports the gorilla enclosure has had a history of mechanical problems, one resulting in injury to a gorilla's hand back in 2012.
