Report Calls Wildlife Refuge a ‘Disaster’

The state Department of Fish and Game released a scathing report Tuesday calling the Wildlife Waystation “a roadside disaster,” while leaders of other sanctuaries began making plans to care for the canyon refuge’s nearly 1,200 animals should it be forced to close permanently.

The 12-page report depicted an unclean environment where HIV-positive primates are not safely quarantined, feed bowls are often filled with animal waste, rats skitter through cages and exotic and native birds are kept together in cages far too small.

The report suggested revoking the refuge’s federal permit and called for a meeting of agencies to “bring pressure on this facility.”

The report even criticized the mission statement of the way station--that “no animal will be refused sanctuary, medical help or whatever else is necessary for the physical, mental or psychological welfare”--as “too broad and unrealistic.”

Martine Colette, who founded the refuge almost 25 years ago and is now its executive director, denied all but one of the report’s allegations--that some cages lack required roofs. She also attacked the qualifications and methodology of the report’s author, Diana Granados, executive director of the nonprofit Native Bird Connections in Northern California.

“I don’t know if they are trying to shut me down, or what. I will give no credence to this report from someone who I do not know,” Colette said. “To call this facility a roadside disaster--how dare she? That is libel. This lady has not seen the last of us.”

Granados, hired as a state consultant, compiled her findings after a March 28 visit to the compound with Fish and Game officials.

She said Colette should curtail efforts to rehabilitate injured animals, and put to death those that are “bored” or have low-quality lives. She did not specify how many fit this description. “Somewhere along the line someone has to be strong enough to say these animals need to be euthanized,” she said.

Colette cringed at the idea of killing an animal to make room for another. “If they euthanized the animals,” Colette said, “they’d have to euthanize me right along with them.”

The refuge has been closed to the public since Friday, when Fish and Game issued a cease-and-desist order. Since then, four other local, state and federal agencies have confirmed they are inspecting or investigating the compound in Little Tujunga Canyon, just outside Los Angeles city limits.

Colette said the partial closure has curtailed her fund-raising efforts for the nonprofit refuge.

Despite the tone of the report his agency commissioned, Mervin Hee, a Department of Fish and Game regional patrol chief, said his intention is not to close the refuge.

“We need to have the way station,” Hee said. “There is no way that we are attempting to shut the way station down. We are trying to get them in compliance.”

Hee said the agency planned to deliver to Colette today a detailed list of actions she must take to conform with state regulations.

Meanwhile, leaders of the San Antonio-based American Sanctuary Assn. planned a conference call today to determine how to help Colette and what to do if the refuge ultimately is forced to get rid of its nearly 1,200 tigers, chimps, alligators, bears and wild cats.

The 160-acre refuge is the largest of the association’s 27 members, all of which harbor orphaned or injured wild animals.

“We’re already having difficulty placing six to 10 animals a day that can’t stay where they are,” said Sumner Matthes, head of an animal refuge in Sarasota, Fla.