USDA Aide Will Urge Citation in Animal Beating

The head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s office in California said Wednesday that he will recommend that the Zoological Society of San Diego be formally cited for violating a federal anti-cruelty regulation in connection with the beating of Dunda the elephant.

Dr. James Roswurm, the veterinarian in charge of the USDA office in Sacramento, said he believes keepers at the San Diego Wild Animal Park violated a regulation barring application of “unnecessary discomfort” or “physical harm” to animals. The park is operated by the Zoological Society, which also runs the San Diego Zoo.

The recommendation will be sent to USDA headquarters in Hyattsville, Md., for possible action, Roswurm said.

The beating of Dunda, an 18-year-old African elephant, has drawn national attention and has become the subject of several inquiries since the incident was disclosed last May.

The beating occurred last February, shortly after Dunda, a female elephant that had lived most of its life at the San Diego Zoo, was transferred to the Wild Animal Park. Keepers at the zoo claim that Dunda was improperly transferred and brutally beaten by keepers at the park.

Park keepers acknowledge that Dunda was chained by all four legs, pulled to the ground and beaten with ax handles, but deny that any abuse occurred. They say the elephant was out of control and threatened their lives.

“I sympathize with their situation, but I’ve got my job to do, and I’m going to do it as I see fit,” Roswurm said. “We’ll write it up and make the recommendation. We do intend to cite them.”

The administrative citation could lead to a formal hearing on the matter and could result in a fine of $1,000 or more, depending on the number of counts brought against the society, Roswurm said.

Roswurm said the citation will be based on a section of the Code of Federal Regulations that says: “The handling of animals shall be done expeditiously and carefully and in a way not to cause unnecessary discomfort, behavioral stress or physical harm to the animal.”

The regulations also say that “care should be exercised also to avoid harm to the handler,” he said.

Jeff Jouett, a spokesman for the Zoological Society, said Wednesday that the society has not been contacted by Roswurm but added, “We’ll certainly cooperate.”

The San Diego Humane Society investigated the incident and found that the discipline administered to Dunda was “harsh” but did not reach the level of criminal abuse. That opinion was adopted in a report last month by the San Diego city attorney’s office, which declined to file criminal charges.