Activists urge zoo investigation after three-legged monkey dies
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An animal right organization is urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to investigate the recent death of a three-legged patas monkey named Kyle at the Woodland Park Zoo.
According to the organization In Defense of Animals (IDA), on Feb. 28, zoo staff removed Kyle from his exhibit, against the advice of zookeepers, by catching him in a net. While being caught, IDA claims the monkey fractured his femur, broke a tooth, cut his forehead and suffered a traumatic brain injury.
In a complaint to the Department of Agriculture, the IDA reports the injured monkey was kept in a kennel for two hours without medical attention before a veterinarian euthanized him.
"According to information we received from a Woodland Park Zoo employee, if zoo staff followed proper procedures, this monkey would likely be alive today," IDA spokesperson Nicole Meyer said. "Any report about animal suffering is disturbing, yet this case is especially egregious given the allegations that this monkey endured extremely painful life-threatening injuries and was left to languish for a prolonged period of time without medical intervention."
The Woodland Park Zoo issued a statement explaining Kyle was "accidentally injured" while being moved to a temporary holding enclosure so that his sleeping quarters could be modified to improve his care.
The zoo reports animal managers suspected he was hurt, but did not know how severe the injury was. Staff say veterinarians responded to Kyle after finishing another medical procedure.
Based on his injuries, the zoo reports veterinarians determined Kyle's quality of life would be severely compromised if he lived and decided to humanely euthanize him.
"He had fractured his leg and it was serious and it would have compromised the quality of life," said zoo spokeswoman Gigi Allianic.
IDA alleges the zoo violated multiple provisions of the federal Animal Welfare Act, including improper handling of an animal and failure to provide adequate veterinary care.
The organization is urging the Department of Agriculture to investigate Kyle’s death and ensure that the social needs of three surviving female patas monkey are being met.
"The last hours of this monkey's life were full of terror and pain,” Meyer said. “This reported case demonstrates a disturbing lack of respect, empathy, and compassion for a vulnerable animal and raises the question of whether other similar cases at the Woodland Park Zoo never see the light of day."
Kyle was 8 years old when he died. Patas monkeys are expected to live 15 to 20 years in captivity, according to the Woodland Park Zoo’s website.
Veterinarians amputated Kyle’s right, front leg in 2011 after he developed a serious infection in his right shoulder.
While undoubtedly sad and tragic, the circumstances are greatly exaggerated and told by one person. Maybe you folks should find out the whole story before casting judgments . Unfortunately, it appears a disgruntled employee likes to tell lies.
@skeattle How do you know that only one person came forward? Nothing in the report or the press release notes that. IDA is a reputable organization and would not go forward with these claims if there was not something suspicious and concerning about the zoo's action and the death of this monkey.Â
Sadly, this is what happens when humans have total power over the powerless who are unable to flee.
Zoos are old technology and cause non-local animals a lot of grief. We now live in a world where we can observe animals on the internet or travel anywhere to observe them in their natural habitat.
that zoo is a disgrace btw the repeated rapes of the poor elephant and the general concept - yeah, i'm sure all the animals from tropical warm climates just looove being in the PNW. most zoos are nothing more than profiteers off of young kids and their paying parents.
shut them down.
They're outraged when a monkey dies by accident, fine. But it makes me wonder how many female members of IDA have had an abortion.
@CenterFireÂ
Red herring, CenterFire. We are discussing the questionable and preventable death of a monkey by Woodland Park Zoo staff.Â
@CenterFire. You are grasping with that weak sauce. Low on ammo?
While I don't agree with the whole concept of "zoo's" they could have treated him better. Leaving him alone like that while in pain is pretty sick.
He shouldn't have been there in the first place. Leave them in the wild where they belong.
â'The last hours of this monkey's life were full of terror and pain,â Meyer said." Either Meyer is clairvoyant or he speaks "Monkey" and communicated with Kyle before his premature death by euthanasia. Good grief.
@Bianca Hey. Why not have your femur broken, suffer a head injury, and have lacerations, and we will stick you in a doctor's waiting room.. alone for two hours.  Let us know how that goes? Monkeys have feelings, and are very similar to humans. you can bet you asteriod he was terrified. Â
@DTÂ @Bianca Exactly!
Never been the same since Bobo died...
Typical fund raising stunt by "activists" the IDA dutifully advertised in the media...
@Goodwin What? Your sentence does not make sense.Â
Am I the only one that thought, wow, a three legged monkey? I don't really consider a monkey as having four legs, but two arms and two legs. Just me?
I had the same impression. I thought they were talking about a monkey with mutation that gave him three legs.