citation_inspection: 4243

The following non-compliances with animal handling were identified during this inspection: *** This facility used tiger cubs for photo shoots during the summer of 2014. During this inspection, the licensee was asked about the facility(cid:25)'s handling of cubs from birth. He stated that the cubs are pulled from the female tiger at birth and are cared for in a caretaker's home near the facility. These cubs are then brought to the facility at 2-3 weeks of age during the day and put on display to the public in the gift shop when the zoo is open. The licensee stated that the cubs are never touched by the public during this time and they are on display behind glass in the gift shop. The public is able to walk in the gift shop and up to the window, and the caretakers move in and out of the tiger cub area to work with other species during the day. The facility then starts using the cubs as early as 3-4 weeks for photos shoots after their 1st vaccine. *** Several photographs and videos taken during photography sessions show tiger cubs as young as 4 weeks old being held by a member of the general public. The licensee was shown these pictures and videos on 9 January 2015. During this discussion, he admitted that his daughter, who is no longer at the facility, handled all of the cub photo shoots and he was not aware of how the cubs were handled and never watched the photo shoots. Even though the licensee previously stated that no member of the public is allowed to touch the cubs during photo shoots at that point (though they were touched later during interactive play sessions) the photos show cubs as young as 4 weeks being held by members of the general public. Additional photos / videos show members of the public holding, touching, and bottle feeding the cubs that appear slightly older. When showed the photos, the licensee stated there was no doubt the public was touching the cub and feeding it and that he was previously unaware that his daughter was doing that. Exposure to members of the public by placing these animals in photo shoots and housing them in areas where public foot traffic is present is a health concern for the cubs. Cubs of this age that have not been adequately vaccinated do not have fully intact immune systems and are therefore susceptible to many infectious diseases. The practices described above do not constitute handling these cubs as carefully as possible and unnecessarily risks harm and discomfort. The licensee must ensure that if tigers are to be removed from the mother, that handling must be done as carefully as possible and that exposure to members of the public does not occur until the cubs are immunocompetent and vaccinated. Correct from this day forward *** The owner and the elephant handler informed the APHIS officials several times during this inspection that the female African elephant, Asha, is regularly walked across the street to the 1600 hundred acre property owned by a friend (The Virginia Conservation Legacy). When asked when she was there last, the APHIS officials were told by the elephant handler that Asha went the day before the inspection started (5 January 2015). The APHIS officials were told by the licensee that Asha is allowed to roam free to exercise and play and will come back to the handler at least every half hour to make sure he is still there waiting for her. The elephant roaming free without being under the direct control of the handler may result in physical harm or unnecessary discomfort to the elephant. While out of view of the elephant handler, Asha may be physically injured by discarded material or natural hazards that may exist on a property that large. Additionally she could easily ingest poisonous plant material or wander into the road and get hit by a vehicle when not attended causing both a threat of physical harm to her and the public. Finally, the elephant could easily encounter another animal or a person risking both harm to the elephant and/or the other animal/person if not under the direct control of the elephant handler. The elephant must be under the direct control of the handler unless the elephant is in a secured and safe area that can contain the elephant. Correct from this day forward.