Marwell In Trouble Over Staffing Problems

[JamesB]

Taken from the BBC:

---

A zoo where animals, including a dangerous monkey, escaped from their enclosures on four occasions has denied staffing levels are an issue there.

Lemurs got through a gap in the roof netting at Hampshire's Marwell Zoo and were recaptured, the BBC has learned.

But a female macaque scaled a live electric fence and was shot with tranquiliser darts, between 18 and 20 July this year.

The case is being investigated, but one worker claims staff levels are too low.

'Keepers missing'

James Cretney, chief executive of Marwell Wildlife, said: "It has never happened before, the electric fence was still on and an investigation is underway into exactly how the macaque escaped.

"We have to practise escape procedures regularly, it is not a question of keeper error or staffing levels.

"The incident was dealt with quickly and very professionally and the public were not at risk."

The female Sulawesi-crested macaque was tranquilised by a veterinarian with with a gun.

But a worker at Marwell, who did not want to be named, has told BBC News he had grave concerns about public safety.

"For the people at the site it is scary," he said.

"It is not the situation where they are looking to blame the zoo but by the same merit, if they had been aware that so many of the keepers were missing and the animals were still being let out into their outdoor enclosures perhaps that would have been different.

"If you have to fit another five animals in your day as well as look after your normal grouping there is going to be some mistakes made.

"[The macaques'] teeth are an inch-long and they are very territorial, so there would have been a risk to babies and toddlers in push chairs.

"They would have been seen as a threat

Link: BBC NEWS | UK | England | Hampshire | Animals escape zoo's enclosures

---

What are peoples thoughts? I was surprised that the article claims a lack of staff, its never something I have really noticed about Marwell. Also the fact that the escapes were pretty unknown to the public is unusual too.

 

[bongorob]

I think it's the press sensationalising things again.

 

[Pertinax]

they also said staffing levels were low due to sickness absenteeism.

 

[zoogiraffe]

I know a few people at Marwell and i`m pretty certain that they will have a different take on this story,i totally agree with bongorob its the press making more of the story.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

Nice one, grandad! Our journalist lager louts have done them favour yet again. Very sensationalist and ill-informed reporting (must be some journy with a inate grudge against zoos in general). Why, in this day and age do most journalists not care to check their facts ... save for some obligatory retorts from zoo management slotted in for good measure. So much for anonymous sources, ay ....

The damage is now done and where will the the "We are deeply sorry for carrying a story that in hindsight was ill-founded and inaccurate reporting on our part. The journalist in question has been disciplined accordingly. We are extremely sorry for any damage our misrepresentation of the facts may have caused" on Page 1 in big letters (as opposed to 5 days after on Page 15 in the bottom right corner in Arial 8 lettering)

Oh and lest we forget: hip, hip hooray for PETA (they will just love this)!

 

[Meaghan Edwards]

Ugh.

I've never personally visited the zoo but might if I ever go back to visit England again, but from where I read and see here, it's a very well run establishment. Any animal establishment (or non) isn't 100% perfect and yes, there are times when an animal escapes. Heck, the SPCA has even had dogs that jumped fences (and were caught) here and they are a legit organization.

 

[Pertinax]

I think it's the press sensationalising things again.

... and don't forget August is the traditional 'silly season' for the press- no Big news so they report more avidly on other stuff.

 

[Shez]

Reports like this can ruin a zoo's reputation...There are people out there that listen to this nonsence! for Marwell's sake I hope it blows over.

 

[foz]

Reports like this can ruin a zoo's reputation...There are people out there that listen to this nonsence! for Marwell's sake I hope it blows over.

Surely this news isn't so damaging or crippling enough to run Marwell down. It's only one report and its hardly a fatal blow to an established zoo like marwell.

As it has been said before its just the press hyping it up.

 

[Pygathrix]

The damage is now done and where will the the "We are deeply sorry for carrying a story that in hindsight was ill-founded and inaccurate reporting on our part. The journalist in question has been disciplined accordingly. We are extremely sorry for any damage our misrepresentation of the facts may have caused" on Page 1 in big letters (as opposed to 5 days after on Page 15 in the bottom right corner in Arial 8 lettering)

Do you have any evidence for this? While I agree that you have to take these stories with a pinch of salt you can't just have a knee-jerk opposite reaction. An insider has apparently got misgivings about the running of the place and it may be worthy of further enquiry rather than instant dismissal.

 

[karenZOO]

I can't see what difference staffing level would make if an animal decides to scale an electric fence its not as if keepers at other zoos stand about watching every animal incase it decides to go all 'great escape' on them

With a zoo which is as large and spread out as Marwell it would be very difficult to have enough staff to handle any break out of a dangerous animal easily. By that I mean getting the public to a safe area (difficult because of size of zoo and lack of buildings in some parts) and deploy enough staff to the area quickly (again the size and layout). This is not a criticism in anyway just how I see it!

A 'worker' at Marwell hmmmm we all know how reliable a source that is for quotes. funny how they never want to stand up publicly and state who they are if they were that worried about the publics safety they should!

Be a real shame if such nonsense effects Marwell in any way as this could be true of a lot of zoos!

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

Pygathrix,

What I am saying is that the journalist writing up the story does not have a goddam clue about running a zoo or what comes into play in a break-out and can never assess what staffing levels or any other factor might have on rectifying one.

What I am also saying is that the given journalist has no interest whatsoever in the public good, just to have something to write about and get the paper over the counter. It is money that counts here, not concern for anything but ... money!

Anonymous sources ... are they not just like the writer in question (only difference being the journalist's name possibly may be found out)? If one were really concerned about public safety or whatever reason as a zoo employee you would bring it to the attention of the responsible individual in your department and/or zoo management and not run for the press. There is always people out there with their own agendas.

 

[easytigger]

... and don't forget August is the traditional 'silly season' for the press- no Big news so they report more avidly on other stuff.

like killer chipmunks!!!!

 

[Panthera Puss]

The story was actually carried on BBC South Today (a local TV news show on BBC 1 for the south of England), though it may also have entered the print media of course. I didn't see it but someone told me about it - they assumed that the breakouts reported on the TV feature were new ones, which shows how people get the wrong end of the stick with these things (and agreed, the journalism in general is not great on specialised matters). To be fair to South Today, they also carry stories that promote local zoos, although the bottom line is no doubt (as with most journalism unfortunately) about finding stories to easily fill air time / column inches.

 

[Pygathrix]

I can't see what difference staffing level would make if an animal decides to scale an electric fence its not as if keepers at other zoos stand about watching every animal incase it decides to go all 'great escape' on them

I would disagree there. Zoos have various statutory duties, one of which is to make sure that the public is not endangered. Adequate staffing is obviously a key part of this.

I don't know the details in this case and I have nothing against Marwell which as far as I am concerned is one of the most reputable zoos in the country. And I do know that anonymous sources cannot necessarily be trusted. The anti-zoo brigade is regularly derided here for reflex criticism without full knowledge of the facts; we have to be careful that we do not do the same.

 

[ex-tapirkeeper]

Zoos have various statutory duties, one of which is to make sure that the public is not endangered.
...
The anti-zoo brigade is regularly derided here for reflex criticism without full knowledge of the facts; we have to be careful that we do not do the same.

Quite true, zoos do have a statutory duty but unless we go back to a Victorian style show park with very little thought for animal welfare there will always be animals that escape. Escaping for a multitude of reasons - including bloody mindedness. I used to work with an orang-utan who would get out on a regular basis no matter how well you battered down his enclosure or filled it with enrichment; if he is still alive he is probably still doing it now.

 

[Zambar]

It´s amazing how I always seem to miss the big news while I´m away, as I´m writing this from an internet cafe in Spain. But, as my local, favourite and most personal zoo I feel it very silly that the press hasto downgrade a zoo because of one monkey escape. Were they claiming that Chester and Edinburgh were threatened when the chimps and macaques broke out? It´s sheer press silliness, and I have known incidents where meerkats, lemurs and tamarins have escaped there in the past (the latter of which I witnessed) and not a word was mentioned about it.

Just lack of stories.

 

[Pertinax]

I feel it very silly that the press hasto downgrade a zoo because of one monkey escape.
Just lack of stories.

They were just unlucky it leaked out. Last time I was at Port Lympne there was a Colobus monkey running about having negotiated the electric fence and far from any panic, a small crowd gathered around to watch with amusement while the keepers got it back in. I got the feeling it had happened more than once..

 

[ex-tapirkeeper]

your unlucky you only saw the Colobus...

 

[Pertinax]

your unlucky you only saw the Colobus...

What else should I have seen....?

I know in the early days of Howletts escapes were quite frequent and the fencing looked decidely dodgy in some places. I used to walk around looking over my shoulder rather....