USDA investigating death of bear at Denver Zoo

DENVER -- Federal officials are investigating the Denver Zoo's decision not to separate two Asiatic black bears that fought for years until one was killed by the other. The federal probe is the third there in the past five months.

A female bear named Sherpa died Oct. 10 after an attack by a male bear during the zoo's public hours left her with a crushed throat, a mangled leg and internal injuries.

"Never in our wildest dreams would we have anticipated something like this or we wouldn't have tolerated it," said Dr. Lynn Kramer, the zoo's curator of biologic exhibits.

However, a federal veterinarian found records of more than 36 fights in the preceding 10 months in veterinary files, behavioral reports and handlers' logs. Animal rights activists on Thursday criticized zoo officials for not separating the bears.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is trying to determine whether the zoo violated the federal Animal Welfare Act by not protecting the animals. The USDA licenses all zoos, labs or other facilities that maintain live animals and can levy fines and suspend licenses.

Before 2001, there were no know USDA investigations at the 106-year-old complex. But in the past five months, there have been two others. Both involved elephants and neither resulted in charges. In one, a 49-year-old Asian elephant had to be euthanized after she was pushed down by another elephant. In the other, a frightened elephant broke loose and charged through the zoo, slightly injuring a child.

In the case of the bears, records show the male Moktan had often skirmished with Sherpa during the 14 years they had been penned together. The bears were separated a few times, but were returned to the same exhibit.

In the wild, Asiatic black bears, similar to the American black bear, are solitary within home ranges of 5 to 10 square miles. Males and females tend to avoid each other except for the brief mating season.

Dave Crawford, director of Rocky Mountain Animal Defense, called for a city investigation, a temporary suspension of the zoo's license and the creation of an ombudsman to handle issues of animal welfare and public accountability.

University of Colorado behavioral scientist Mark Bekoff, a frequent zoo critic, said officials should have intervened.

"When you see two animals going at it, it's your absolute duty to stop it," he said.