News10NBC Investigates: Seneca Park Zoo cited next lion escape

The inspection also incorporated an incident with a snow leopard cub. The USDA observed that “Animal care personnel disregarded the birth management program made by the attending veterinarian which directed that the animals ought to not be disturbed for 24 hours following start to lower adjust of stress and maternal neglect.” The Vet directed staff members to view monitors but as a substitute, “staff entered 6-7 situations in an approximate 7-hour interval to “check” on animals, and after originally being observed caring for the cub, the mother turned down it. Creating issues even worse, the cub developed a respiratory an infection and gastrointestinal ailment that demanded health care administration in the medical center.  

There have been other citations far too regarding delayed implementation of therapy plans for animals, enclosure and sanitation troubles and chain of command troubles.

The report claims, “the facility has not confident the authority of the attending veterinarian to guarantee the adequacy of veterinary and husbandry care.  Staff are instructed to go to the curator about animal healthcare and husbandry challenges and then facts will go to the attending veterinarian if considered needed by the curator, preventing or delaying the attending veterinarian’s entry to timely, precise details on veterinary professional medical challenges and the animal treatment application.”

Monroe County Government Adam Bello spoke with News10NBC Investigative Reporter Jennifer Lewke about the report on Thursday, he suggests some of the citations the county agrees with, other folks had been appealed.

Adam Bello – There have been some points that we agreed with. 

Jennifer Lewke – Like what? 

Adam Bello – Properly, there was some coaching issues… matters like that and reporting construction factors and then there were being other matters that we went back again-and-forth on about irrespective of whether not it was genuine or not items like that…we took every single motion to make confident that individuals animals are very well taken treatment of.  We acted on the recommendations that they gave us and right now there are no deficiencies at the zoo at this stage from the USDA.

Jennifer Lewke – We have an understanding of that the direct veterinarian (Dr. Louis DiVincenti) has been dismissed from his work, is there everything you can share with us about why?

Adam Bello – No, I you should not comment on own problems like that, it would not be proper.

Jennifer Lewke – Have any other workers members been re-experienced or disciplined for what was in that report? 

Adam Bello – You will find ongoing, there is often ongoing training at the Zoo but I am not likely to get into own issues about items like that… pay attention, the wellness and security of the animals at the zoo is a incredibly massive priority of ours and that zoo is a treasure for this group so quite a few family members like likely to the zoo and we’re putting a good deal of our effort and hard work and means into earning that the finest zoo in upstate New York and we’re likely to carry on people attempts.

Bello explained it was his office that notified both of those the USDA and the AZA on the same day, Sept. 3 of the lion escape and on Sept.20, 2021, the Zoo Director asked for that the AZA pay a visit to the Zoo for an inspection. On Sept. 25, the Basic Curator of the Zoo requested that the USDA pay a visit to the Zoo for an inspection.

On Dec. 17, 2021, the USDA frequented the Zoo for a Targeted Inspection which is effectively a comply with-up to make certain the citations have been corrected. The Focused Inspection uncovered no deficiencies, concluding that the Zoo had rectified the citations regarding the sea lions, snow leopards, and elephants.

Information10NBC Investigative Reporter Jennifer Lewke spoke with Dr. Louis DiVincenti on Thursday by telephone. He verified he was fired on Wednesday and states he was astonished by the selection taking into consideration the report acknowledges a handful of occasions that his instructions ended up not adopted by the employees in many scenarios. There is a little bit of a difficult backstory as Dr. DiVincenti was employed below the prior county administration and is at present associated in a lawsuit all over again the CEO of the Zoo Society. Dr. DiVincenti has alleged she defamed him by sending a letter to county leaders questioning a number of his medical selections and practices.

Here’s the complete USDA report (mobile consumers, click on right here):

USDA Inspection Report by News10NBC on Scribd