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[Carrie McLaren <stay.free AT verizon.net>]

Human error led to attack by gorilla
http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-gorilla06.html

July 6, 2005

BY ANNIE SWEENEY AND LISA DONOVAN Staff Reporters
Chicago Sun-Times

A 450-pound gorilla at Lincoln Park Zoo attacked a 32-year-old 
zookeeper intern Tuesday morning while she was working in the zoo's 
gorilla habitat.

The woman, who started working at the zoo recently for a summer 
internship, suffered only minor injuries and was at home recuperating 
Tuesday afternoon. Officials at the zoo said the attack, the second by 
an animal in the past year and the latest in a series of mishaps, was 
due to "human error" and disciplinary action was under consideration.

Zoo officials did not say how Kwan, a dominant silverback gorilla, got 
so close to the intern, who was working at The Regenstein Center for 
African Apes, a 29,000-square-foot habitat with three outdoor spaces 
that blend into adjoining indoor spaces.

When animals are restricted from an area so zookeepers can work, a 
series of security steps are taken before animals are allowed back into 
the area, including radio calls and removal of warning signs on doors, 
McGrath said. So far, zoo officials believe all the equipment -- 
including doors and radios -- were working.

"We know that somebody made a mistake. That is all we know," said zoo 
spokeswoman Kelly McGrath. "We know nothing malfunctioned.''

Last September, zookeeper Nancy DeFiesta was mauled by two lions after 
she entered an exhibit after the animals had been released. That also 
was a case of human error, but it triggered no disciplinary action.

'Red Kwan!'

Those working at the zoo Tuesday were startled at about 10:30 a.m. to 
hear the words "red Kwan'' crackle over their radios, a signal 
something serious had happened involving Kwan, one of two dominant 
males in the gorilla habitat.

Kwan had come upon the woman working in an outdoor habitat space and 
responded just as a dominant male gorilla is expected to -- he shoved 
her down and "mouthed" her, pressing his lips and teeth against the 
left side of her back, zoo officials said.

The bite and attack left a shallow mark, scratches and puncture wounds 
on the woman, who also suffered a sprained ankle. The move was not 
aggressive, zoo officials said.

"Kwan's aim was certainly not to hurt the employee but to clearly 
illustrate his dominance,'' said Lincoln Park Zoo General Curator Dr. 
Robyn Barbiers in a statement. "It is not uncommon for female gorillas 
to receive very similar wounds when the silverback feels they are 
challenging his authority."

After the attack, Kwan ran inside with other female gorillas.

He is frequently described as a friendly gorilla and even has a credit 
on the silver screen: Kwan played the role of Sydney in the romantic 
comedy "Return To Me,'' which was set in Chicago.

Visitors flowed in and out of the ape house Tuesday and the curious 
quizzed a gaggle of reporters and photographers about what happened.

Gail Allen, 35, of the Galewood community, had reservations about 
bringing her two sons to the zoo, but decided she needed to see for 
herself how the animals were faring after news of problems. Plus, 
there's a great educational component for the boys: "I like it because 
it's free and a great thing to have for the public, and we do donate" 
to the zoo, she said. But she said her family is also concerned about 
the animals' welfare.

OSHA contacted

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture have been contacted, but the incident is also 
under review by zoo officials, and disciplinary action was being 
discussed Tuesday, according to a statement from the zoo.

Kevin Bell, zoo president, offered in May to resign after a string of 
animal deaths at the zoo, including three elephants, three langurs, a 
gorilla and a camel.

The chairman of the zoo's board declined the offer, and reports on 
deaths of the three elephants, two gorillas and a camel seemed to agree 
with explanations by the zoo that the animals died of disease and not 
neglect. The three langurs -- glossy black monkeys that inhabit 
northeast Vietnam -- died after they were moved to a different habitat.

McGrath stressed that Tuesday's attack had nothing to do with other 
events at the zoo, including the deaths.