North Carolina Zoo Working With Dangerous Animals
Standard Operating Procedure- Chimpanzees and Lions
Current 2013
For the safety of keepers managing dangerous animals, the cat/chimp section of the North Carolina Zoo has a “two-door rule” and a “two-keeper rule” when shifting and servicing animals that have been identified as dangerous. These rules are in place to ensure that these dangerous animals remain in secured areas (out of direct human contact) such as the holding cages and the exhibit. Identified dangerous animals in the CCL section are chimpanzees and lions. These species have the propensity to attack and seriously injure or kill persons when in direct contact. They are therefore considered “deadly” and the below procedures should be followed.
These procedures are also in place to ensure the safety of the animals. The chimp area in particular has many shift doors and poor visibility in areas. There are also certain chimps (and potentially lions) that can not be housed with other individuals and a mistake opening doors could result in serious wounding or death of an animal. The “two-keeper rule” ensures there are another set of eyes for making sure the proper doors are being opened and that animals are not getting fingers, toes, or tails caught in the shift doors.
The “two-door rule” states that there must be two shift doors between a keeper and a dangerous animal. This can be impossible when we have several groups of animals in a space and not enough doors to make it happen. This rule has been amended to state that there will be 2 doors between keepers and male chimps (adolescent and adult) and adult lions. When circumstances arise that this can not happen, there will be two keepers present in the area. The “two-door rule” should be followed whenever possible and not broken for the sake of convenience.
If horticulture, design, or other staff are in the chimp exhibit and we need to shift animals in holding, the exhibit shift door will be disengaged so that keepers can not accidentally open this door allowing chimps onto exhibit with staff.
The “two-keeper rule” states that there must be two keepers present when shifting dangerous animals, operating hydraulic doors in these areas, and both keepers must verify the security of an animal enclosure before moving an animal into that space. Keepers are to communicate their intentions to the other keeper for moving animals and opening/closing doors.
After animal enclosures are cleaned in the morning, two keepers will verify the security of the space. This way if it becomes necessary to shift animals, we know that the area is secure.
If there has been high tension or aggression in the lion or chimp groups, we will NOT leave one person in that area for cleaning without setting up a safe area to shift them to in case of an emergency. The “two-door rule” should be in effect, and the keeper should clean one room at a time so that only one room would have to be secured in the case of an emergency.
During and post animal introductions, the above scenario also holds true and will be included in the animal introduction plan. The more groups we have in holding and the higher the tension, we should be very hesitant to leave one person in the area for cleaning.
Situations will arise when we have to make exceptions to this rule, allowing one person to operate doors in a dangerous animal area. In these cases communication is vital and keeper safety is first priority. Remember that any exceptions to the “two-keeper rule” are to be made out of necessity, not convenience.
Emergency situations (e.g.-serious animal fight, animal injury, immediate escape risk in the exhibit (e.g. downed tree))
- Before shifting animals verify the security of the space you will be shifting animals into, especially if you have doors open for cleaning. Understandably this is a tense situation, but keeper safety is first priority. Keepers must know the spaces they are shifting animals into are secure before shifting.
- Call another keeper (CCL/ZOG/AMS) on the radio as soon as practical to let them know you will be shifting (or have just shifted) dangerous animals and request they come to the building immediately.
Inclement weather
- If you are alone in the building and inclement weather has moved quickly into the area-verify the security of the space you will be moving animals into, call another keeper on the radio (CCL/ZOG/AMS) to let them know you will be allowing animals’ access. Request that someone meet you at the building if you plan to do shifting beyond offering access to holding.