An Otter At The Calgary Zoo Died After An Employee Gave It A Pair Of Pants
RIP Logan.
Officials at the Calgary Zoo have determined that Logan the river otter died after getting stuck in a pair of pants left in his habitat by an employee.
Logan died on Feb. 11 after a zookeeper spotted him struggling in the otter pool.
"The zookeeper jumped into the pool immediately to assist the otter in distress but unfortunately the animal did not survive," said a release from the zoo.
The male otter was 12 years old.
Calgary Zoo
On Wednesday, the zoo released an update with the cause of death: a pair of pants.
According to the zoo, a keeper left a pair of pants for the otters as an "enrichment item." Logan got caught in the pants, which the keeper had not been authorized to give the animals, and drowned.
"This error is unacceptable. Our animal care protocols are among the most stringent in the industry and must be followed," the zoo said.
Two staff members have now been disciplined as a result. The zoo is not releasing details on what that discipline entails, but told CBC News they were not fired.
The Calgary Zoo has come under fire for preventable animal deaths before, including 41 stingrays that died from low oxygen levels and a capybara crushed by a hydraulic door. The zoo commissioned an audit looking into the deaths in 2010 that found many of the deaths were caused by either employee mistakes or problems with the habitats. The zoo has since developed a plan to address the issues.