CALGARY - An independent review into the Calgary Zoo's operations will include a look at what led to the deaths of two mule deer at the end of December.
Spokesman Simon Scott says one deer broke its neck after it ran into a fence in its enclosure.
He says keepers fuond the other deer one morning with neck injuries, but an investigation has not determined what led to its death.
"We would typically in an incident like that check for coyote footprints and evidence of any intrusion, and that was not the case, so we're unclear what let to its injuring itself," he said.
The first deer may have been spooked, he said.
"Some of our veterinary teams comment that these animals are typically used to being hunted, so they scare easily and that may have been a factor, but that's subjective and certainly not conclusive."
The deaths were revealed after a tipster told Zoocheck Canada four mule deer died recently due to keeper error, but Scott says no human error was involved in the deaths.
Two other deer died late last year from old age and illness, he said.
Zoo officials announced last month they would commission an independent review of how the facility cares for its animals.
The review will be conducted by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in Washington, D.C., and the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums in Ottawa, the accrediting bodies that set the standards of care for zoos.
The zoo has been the subject of controversy for several animal deaths and mishaps in recent years.
A year ago, a Turkmenian markhor got caught in a rope in its enclosure and strangled to death.
In May 2008, 41 stingrays died after the opening of an interactive exhibit where people could pet them in the water. The zoo's president admitted that human error was to blame for those deaths.
In March 2009, two more stingrays died at the zoo and officials blamed it on a shipping problem.
Scott said the review will, in part, look at the safety of the habitats in which the animals are kept.
"There's an awful lot of science and expertise that goes into designing habitats for animals. That's not to say that some of them can't be improved because everything can be improved," he said.
"The animal care review will pinpoint areas where indeed that's the case and we'll act on that accordingly."
Julie Woodyer of Zoocheck Canada said she didn't know all the facts about how the deer died, so couldn't comment. But she said overall, the zoo has a track record that needs a closer look, and that it shouldn't be done by the zoo accreditation groups.
"When you take animals and you put them into captivity, you take the responsibility for ensuring that those animals are in a safe environment," she said.
"There's been so many incidents at the Calgary Zoo recently that we certainly think there should be a fully independent review."
