Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 18:30
AFP News Briefs List34 rays die mysteriously at Canadian zoo
Authorities said Tuesday they suspect foul play in the recent deaths of dozens of rays at a zoo in western Canada.
Staff at the Calgary Zoo are "puzzled and shocked" by the sudden deaths of its rays, said spokeswoman Laurie Herron.
"It's really devastating for the staff that cared for the animals," she told AFP, calling the deaths "suspicious."
"We cannot find a reasonable explanation for why this happened," she said, adding that "activists' groups or individuals who have become more militant" may be responsible.
The deaths were "certainly not for lack of care," Herron said.
According to a zoo statement, keepers noticed the rays swimming erratically Sunday and observed that they seemed to be in "extreme distress."
Then started dying off. By Monday morning, 34 of the 43 cownose rays were dead.
A preliminary examination found that their gills were very irritated, but otherwise, the animals had seemed in good health.
The zoo's director of conservation Cathy Gaviller said there was no mechanical failure in the tank's life support system, and numerous water tests since the exhibit opened in February were normal.
The zoo sent food and water samples, as well as ray tissue samples to a lab for testing Monday to determine if there were toxins in the water.
"We're still waiting for the latest water chemistry results," Herron said.
The nine surviving rays, meanwhile, were transferred to a separate holding tank and "appear to be doing marginally better today," she said.
Images
This Calgary Zoo(CZ) handout image shows cownose rays in their habitat at the zoo in Calgary, Canada. Authorities said they suspect foul play in the recent deaths of dozens of rays at the zoo.
© 2007 AFP
