Tyrone Reid, Staff Reporter
Melissa Peterson, Peace Corps education officer at Hope Zoo show a snake to students from Belmont Park Primary School at Green Expo held on June 4, 2004 at the National Arena. Stray dogs have been killing some of the birds found in the zoo. - RUDOLPH BROWN /CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
STRAY DOGS have been wreaking havoc on the animal population at the Hope Zoo, killing several in grisly, overnight raids.
Inside sources told The Gleaner that more than 20 animals had been killed in under a year.
"(These include) a lot of guinea pigs, peacocks, different types of chickens, ducks and four pelicans," the source informed.
The source argued that enough has not been done to protect the animals.
"Dogs have been a problem at the zoo for a long while and nobody will get up and address the problem ... Half-hearted attempts have always been made," the source said.
A LONG-STANDING PROBLEM
Orlando Robinson, acting curator at the Hope Zoo, confirmed that the grisly attacks have been a long-standing problem.
"We have had some dog attacks in the past. Shortly after Hurricane Ivan, I think, was our most recent attack," confirmed Robinson.
Among the victims of these carnivorous attacks are three exotic birds known as cranes, which, incidentally, were the only three on the island.
Mr. Robinson told The Gleaner that replacing the birds would prove a difficult task.
The passage of Hurricane Ivan last September damaged a retaining wall at the zoo.
