After numerous incidents at the Dallas Zoo led to the arrest of one man, another zoo in Texas appears to be facing a similar problem.
KHOU 11 reported that an exhibit at the Houston Zoo featuring brown pelican birds was vandalized with the mesh covering apparently slashed, causing a gaping hole in it.
The birds were thankfully unharmed, but the Houston Zoo said in a statement emailed to The Dallas Express that it “is prepared to prosecute to the fullest extent allowed by law anyone who compromises the animals in our care. We will not tolerate the theft or endangerment of any of our animals, big or small.”
“These animals represent their wild counterparts and are entirely dependent upon the expert care of our staff. Actions that threaten that care are unacceptable, dangerous, and criminal.”
The Houston Police Department responded after workers at the zoo checked each enclosure for any other signs of vandalism.
This latest incident extends the string of reports that zoo enclosures have been tampered with beyond Dallas.
It follows the widely publicized series of incidents at the Dallas Zoo in which a clouded leopard got out of its enclosure, monkeys were stolen, and other exhibits were tampered with, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
A man was arrested last week in connection with the monkey thefts and the clouded leopard’s escape.
As reported in The Dallas Express, Davion Irvin, 24, was charged with six counts of cruelty to non-livestock and livestock animals.
The Dallas Police Department said he was suspected of other crimes related to the Dallas Zoo, and more charges may be forthcoming.
The Dallas Zoo said at a press conference last week that it was increasing its security and that it hoped its process of dealing with the situation could be an example of how other zoos across the country could handle similar situations.
The Dallas Express reached out to the Dallas Zoo for comment on similarities between the incidents at the two zoos, but calls were not returned by the time of publication.
The Houston Zoo referred The Dallas Express to its original statement but did not comment further.
