AR-News: Dallas gorilla attack raises fears about Rusti orangutan

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From: primfocus at waste.org

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Mar/20/ln/ln15a.html
Posted on: Saturday, March 20, 2004
Gorilla attack raises fears about orangutan
By Johnny Brannon
Advertiser Staff Writer

A zoo gorilla's frightening rampage in Texas Thursday has added fuel to the
debate over Rusti the orangutan's future at the Honolulu Zoo.

Police shot and killed Jabari, a 300-pound male western lowland gorilla,
after he injured four people at the Dallas Zoo and charged at officers,
police said.

Honolulu City Council members are worried the city would be solely
responsible if Rusti, who is owned by a nonprofit group, escaped and harmed
someone.

The council last week postponed a decision on the Orangutan Foundation
International's offer to build a new enclosure for Rusti at the Honolulu
Zoo. The popular great ape could be moved elsewhere if the issue is not
resolved soon.

The injured in Dallas included Keisha Heard and her 3-year-old son Rivers
Noah, who was bitten multiple times on his head and chest.

"I'm watching this gorilla. He has my son in his mouth, he's attacking him,
and I tried to help him and there wasn't really anything that I could do,"
Heard said yesterday on NBC's "Today" show.

Former Honolulu Zoo director Paul Breese said the incident underscored how
dangerous and unpredictable even the best-behaved apes can be.

"Apes are notoriously unreliable in terms of changing their behavior when
their mood changes, and if they're in a grumpy mood they can be very
different than they were before," Breese said. "And even with the very best
supervision of safety procedures, there are possibilities of human error."

Gorillas and orangutans have many similarities, but orangutans can pose more
of an escape risk because they're excellent climbers and have a knack for
finding an enclosure's weak spots, he said.

"They're both incredibly powerful creatures," said Breese, who ran the zoo
from 1947 to 1965. "Orangs are more mechanically inclined."

An orangutan at the San Diego Zoo was dubbed the "Hairy Houdini" after
repeatedly escaping during the 1990s. The zoo spent $45,000 on improvements
to stop the breakouts.

Councilwoman Barbara Marshall said part of her concern about the deal to
keep Rusti is that it would allow the foundation frequent access to him, but
leave the zoo responsible for any problems. It also would allow Rusti to be
replaced by another orangutan that might not be as well-behaved, she said.

"I know people just adore Rusti, but we as council members have to be
concerned about the liability and the cost to taxpayers," Marshall said.

Council Parks Committee chairman Mike Gabbard said he's hopeful lawyers can
work out a compromise by the panel's next meeting on March 30.

"I think we all want Rusti's situation improved as soon as possible, because
he's been languishing for too long in substandard quarters," he said. "But
the City Council has legitimate concerns."

Orangutan foundation attorney Jon Van Dyke could not say for sure whether
those terms would be changed, but said negotiations would continue.

"From the perspective of the foundation, they are offering a fine facility,
food indefinitely, a caretaker and a fine animal, and it's unusual that the
council is asking for more," Van Dyke said. "It's fair to say there's still
hope it will be worked out, but it's not clear it will be worked out."

He said the enclosure would be well-designed, with input from zoo officials
and concern for safety.

Mayor Jeremy Harris said he's satisfied with the foundation's offer.
Cross-bred orangutans like Rusti are among the most docile zoo animals, and
it would be a shame to lose him, Harris said.

"The least the city can do is assume the risk of having the animal at the
zoo, especially when someone else is providing the enclosure," he said. "I
don't think there's any risk, regardless of who assumes it."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Reach Johnny Brannon at jbrannon at honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.

the wild, cruel beast is not behind the bars of the cage. he is in front of it - axel munthe

"Never doubt that a small group of dedicated citizens can change the world. 
Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."      Margaret Mead
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