Post date: Jan 14, 2014 10:48:50 AM
Allegations of mismanagement after an African lion found hanged at a zoo in Indonesia.
SURABAYA, EAST JAVA PROVINCE, INDONESIA (JANUARY 13, 2014) (REUTERS) - A spokesperson at the Surabaya Zoo in Indonesia denied any wrongdoing after a lion was found hanged to death in his own cage.
Officials found the 18-month-old African lion named Michael suspended from the roof by steel wire in his cage on January 7th.
According to zoo officials, the hanging was an accident and not caused by zoo neglect."Especially for Michael's death, the case has been handled by the local nature conservation agency and police, and we are waiting for the investigation results," said Agus Supangkat, a zoo spokesperson.
The zoo is notorious for its poor conditions. Dubbed the "zoo of death" by local media, a number of animals have perished in the past five years due to neglect and sub standard living quarters.
According to the Jakarta Globe, a Sumatran tiger died after eating meat laced with formaldehyde and a giraffe was found dead with an 18kg ball of plastic in its stomach - the result of eating garbage thrown into its cage by onlookers.
In 2010 officials said about 25 animals died prematurely each month. The series of animal deaths prompted federal officials to appoint an interim director.
But local media say arguments between federal agencies and municipal officials along with general mismanagement have stalled any improvements.
Tony Sumampau was appointed by the government to oversee improvements at the zoo. Samumpau said Michael's death was a clear violation of standard animal care.
"Yes there was a mismanagement and the cage was not good enough. Also I believe there was a breach of standard operating procedures by irresponsible officials that caused Michael the lion's hanging and death," said Tony Sumampau, the General Secretary of Indonesian Zoo Association.
Built in 1916, the zoo is home to some 3500 animals.
Government officials have said there wereplenty of other zoos in the region, including those in Jakarta and Singapore, which would be willing to take in some of the animals.