33 reptiles killed at Tennessee zoo by unknown event

 

Zoo workers found 30 snakes and a lizard, all housed in the same building in the zoo’s reptile area, dead on Wednesday morning.

The zoo’s animal clinic and veterinarians from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine were called in to investigate. The surviving animals were evacuated from the building.

The president and CEO of Zoo Knoxville, said in a news release that the loss was a tragic event for the zoo and that several endangered or threatened species breeding programs were lost.

The CEO  in a statement said “This is a devastating and catastrophic loss to our zoo,” “These animals were important ambassadors who helped so many people understand the role snakes and lizards play in the balance of nature. “We also lost breeding programs for several endangered and threatened species,” she added. “It is especially difficult for our herpetologists who have dedicated their careers to caring for and advocating for these animals.”

The building where the event happened was home to 52 animals before the event and has been closed while an investigation continues.

No other buildings in the reptile area were affected. Three critically endangered species were lost during the event, the Louisiana pine snake, the Catalina Island rattlesnake and the Aruba Island rattlesnake.

Popular snakes killed included a forest cobra and an albino Eastern diamondback rattlesnake.

Zoo officials said the building was under inspection by KUB and other agencies to try to determine what caused the deaths.  

© Amy Smotherman Burgess