Punish Zoo That Killed White Rhino by Shooting it 15 Times

Target: Thomas J. Vilsack, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Secretary
Goal: Punish zoo that failed to safely house rare white rhino, leading to its death in a hail of 15 bullets.

Fifteen gun shots rang out and a rare white rhino collapsed in a heap on the ground. The rhino’s crime was nothing more than seeking freedom. The zoo that had recently taken custody of the rhino had failed to provide a secure enclosure. As a result, on only the rhino’s second day at the zoo, he was able to break through multiple fences that separated him from the general public.

When the rhino reached the final fence separating the rhino from the public, the zoo was compelled to shoot the rhino to death, in order to protect the public. Of course, had the zoo provided a sufficiently robust security system, the rhino would never have made it so close to the general public.

Rather than taking responsibility for this tragic event, the zoo has blamed the government for failing to require the zoo to provide more robust security measures. The zoo defended itself by stating, “Wild Florida took all proper precautions to prepare for the rehoming of the deceased rhino. Despite these efforts, which included a full inspection and approval from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the enclosure constructed to house the rhino failed.”

When the USDA conducted an inspection of the zoo after this incident, it apparently found the zoo to have other problems, including “unprotected electrical cord,” “floor wire fencing exposed with sharp points protruding,” “several expired medications,” including some that had been expired for years. Additionally, there was found to be an “excessive accumulation of fecal material” in places.

And, of course, the biggest violation was permitting the rhino to be housed in an insufficiently secure enclosure, which lead to his death in a hail of fifteen bullets.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Secretary Vilsack,

Fifteen gun shots rang out and a rare white rhino collapsed in a heap on the ground. The rhino’s crime was nothing more than seeking freedom. The zoo that had recently taken custody of the rhino had failed to provide a secure enclosure. As a result, on only the rhino’s second day at the zoo, he was able to break through multiple fences that separated it from the general public.

When the rhino reached the final fence separating the rhino from the public, the zoo was compelled to shoot the rhino to death, in order to protect the public. Of course, had the zoo provided a sufficiently robust security system, the rhino would never have made it so close to the general public.

When your agency conducted an inspection of the zoo after this incident, it apparently found the zoo to have other problems, including “unprotected electrical cord,” “floor wire fencing exposed with sharp points protruding,” “several expired medications,” including some that had been expired for years. Additionally, there was found to be an “excessive accumulation of fecal material” in places.

And, of course, the biggest violation was permitting the rhino to be housed in an insufficiently secure enclosure, which lead to his death in a hail of fifteen bullets.

Blaming the government is no excuse for allowing a white rhino to be homed in an insufficiently secure enclosure. Please seek the maximum penalty for any violations that may have occurred at Wild Florida.

Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]

Photo credit: Stephen Temple