Watchdog group files second complaint following gorilla death

Updated, June 6, 7:58 a.m.: SAEN, the Cincinnati-based animal rights and zoo watchdog group, has filed a second complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture alleging the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is violating federal law.

In a news release, SAEN (Stop Animal Exploitation NOW) alleged that the Cincinnati Zoo is mistreating other animals.

The Animal Welfare Act regulations require social housing for both primates and marine animals of their own species, the release stated. In its complaint to the USDA, SAEN said the zoo currently houses a California Sea Lion and a single Grety Gentle Lemur which, the group says, is a violation of federal regulation.

Earlier reporting: Stop Animal Exploitation Now (SAEN), a Cincinnati-based animal rights and zoo watchdog group, has filed a complaint against the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden in the wake of the shooting death of a 17-year-old gorilla Saturday after a child fell into the animal's exhibit. 

With the Cincinnati Zoo serving as a backdrop to a Tuesday press conference, Michael A. Budkie, executive director of SAEN, said his organization filed the complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

"What happened this last weekend made it very clear that the physical barriers at the Cincinnati Zoo are not adequate to keep people out of the enclosures, obviously," said Budkie. "A 3 or 4-year-old child was able to enter the enclosure. This is not a situation where this enclosure was constructed adequately... It's hard to believe standards for constructing animal enclosures and for providing physical barriers to keep the public out of enclosures haven't changed in three decades.

"It is clear that the Cincinnati Zoo, by not having sufficient enclosures which allowed this child to enter the gorilla enclosure, has violated the Animal Welfare Act."

In its complaint, SAEN said the Cincinnati Zoo violated federal regulations pertaining to perimeter fencing and barriers for zoo-animal enclosures.

The Animal Welfare Act regulates treatment of animals in research, exhibition transport and by dealers, according to the USDA website.

At 17, Harambe was killed well short of his 40-to-50 year life expectancy, prompting social media backlash toward numerous parties.

Zoo director Thane Maynard said Monday that the USDA would investigate the incident.