I find myself troubled by the recent issues with the raptor show at the GV Zoo. More specifically, by the attack on a four-year old kid by one of the Harris hawks, as detailed here...
Boy attacked by raptor at Greater Vancouver Zoo, woman says
...and the pointless death of Skye, their golden eagle, detailed here...
Another tragedy for Greater Vancouver Zoo
More troubling than the incidents themselves is the pattern I've seen emerging behind them. My impression of the owner of the raptor show, Gary Worley, is that he may be taking some unnecessary risks, especially in the latest case. Look at what happened.
(1) He chose a four-year old child to pull a hawk lure along the ground.
(2) He selected Morgan, a bird with a long history of aggression and unpredictable behavior, to chase the lure.
(3) He asked the kid to pull the lure further along the ground AFTER Morgan had latched on to it. Given her history, I'm not at all surprised she reacted as she did.
Does this strike anyone else as particularly crazy, or is it just me? Mr. Worley claims to have 30 years experience, and the title of "Master Falconer." Shouldn't someone with that background have been thinking this through a bit more?
In the case of Skye, I find myself asking two things.
(1) Why was she being free-flown in proximity to open (at the top) enclosures with large predators?
(2) Why did the zoo not have chain-link mesh over the top of the lion enclosure?
It's not like the raptor show just arrived yesterday. Mr. Worley has had his little side-show there for at least three, possibly four or more, years.
I would be curious to know what other readers here think of these incidents. My own opinion is that the zoo should cut their losses and cancel the raptor show contract, especially considering that they just regained their CAZA accreditation this last February.
Happy travels.
Boy attacked by raptor at Greater Vancouver Zoo, woman says
...and the pointless death of Skye, their golden eagle, detailed here...
Another tragedy for Greater Vancouver Zoo
More troubling than the incidents themselves is the pattern I've seen emerging behind them. My impression of the owner of the raptor show, Gary Worley, is that he may be taking some unnecessary risks, especially in the latest case. Look at what happened.
(1) He chose a four-year old child to pull a hawk lure along the ground.
(2) He selected Morgan, a bird with a long history of aggression and unpredictable behavior, to chase the lure.
(3) He asked the kid to pull the lure further along the ground AFTER Morgan had latched on to it. Given her history, I'm not at all surprised she reacted as she did.
Does this strike anyone else as particularly crazy, or is it just me? Mr. Worley claims to have 30 years experience, and the title of "Master Falconer." Shouldn't someone with that background have been thinking this through a bit more?
In the case of Skye, I find myself asking two things.
(1) Why was she being free-flown in proximity to open (at the top) enclosures with large predators?
(2) Why did the zoo not have chain-link mesh over the top of the lion enclosure?
It's not like the raptor show just arrived yesterday. Mr. Worley has had his little side-show there for at least three, possibly four or more, years.
I would be curious to know what other readers here think of these incidents. My own opinion is that the zoo should cut their losses and cancel the raptor show contract, especially considering that they just regained their CAZA accreditation this last February.
Happy travels.
