citation_inspection: 4245

The following non-compliances with animal handling were identified during this inspection: *** This facility used tiger cubs for photo shoots this during the summer of 2014. APHIS officials discussed the methods used for these photos shoots with the licensee on 9 January 2015. Several photos and videos were shown to the licensee where members of the public are sitting on a bench and the facility handlers place a cub in the public(cid:25)'s lap for a photo. A bottle is used to keep the tiger cub'(cid:25)s interest and the handler gives the bottle to the public. In all of the videos and photos, the tiger cub being used is too big and too strong for this type public exhibition where there is not a public barrier in place. When showed each of the photos and videos, the licensee made comments like "the cat is too big", "they should not be feeding it", and "the child it too close." In one video, the members of the public were a man and woman with an infant that appeared to be less than a year old. When seeing this, the licensee stated he was not happy about what he was seeing and that he was unaware this was going on during these photo shoots. He also said that to him it looked dangerous and he was thankful that it was being brought to his attention. The use of animals such as tigers in photo shoots can be dangerous if juvenile tigers of this size are used. These animals, which appear to be 35-40 pounds, are clearly too strong and too fast to be handled without a barrier. Any future photo shoots must be done with smaller cubs that can be adequately controlled to minimize risk to the public (and have been adequately vaccinated to minimize risk to the cub) or a barrier is required between the tiger cub and the public. Correct from this day forward *** The outdoor enclosure for the female African elephant consists of a double stranded electric fence surrounded by a public barrier that is approximately 4 feet high and constructed of hog-panel type fencing. The facility was not open to the public at time of the inspection. The elephant handler was also responsible for providing care to other animals at the zoo in addition to the elephant. Caring for the additional animals takes him to other areas of the park on a regular basis, leaving no handler to supervise the elephant at times when she is in her outdoor enclosure. The electric wire fencing may not be a sufficient barrier to contain the elephant if startled or harassed by persons/events that may occur when the public is present. During public exhibition, animals must be handled so there is minimal risk of harm to the animal and the public, with sufficient distance and/or barriers between the general viewing public so as to assure the safety of the animal and the public. Correct by ensuring that the elephant is always adequately supervised by a knowledgeable and experienced elephant handler while she is present in her current outdoor enclosure (the electric fence) when the facility is open to the public. Correct by: Prior to public admission to the zoo.