33 reptiles die at zoo; cause remains a mystery

KNOXVILLE — Zoo Knoxville officials said Saturday 33 reptiles died at the zoo, including rare and endangered species, from an unknown event earlier this week.

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.

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

“This is a devastating and catastrophic loss to our zoo,” New said. “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

“It is especially difficult for our herpetologists who have dedicated their careers to caring for and advocating for these animals.”

— LISA NEW, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF ZOO KNOXVILLE

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. It however, did not target just snakes, but the building housed a majority of the snake population.

Some of the animals lost were on exhibit in the building, but others were not. So far, no correlation has been drawn between exhibit status and survival.

PHOTO BY AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS Jessica Clowers, curator of animal health with Zoo Knoxville, gives oxygen to a Radiated tortoise that had started to hatch. The radiated tortoise is most commonly found in southern Madagascar and is considered critically endangered.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY ZOO KNOXVILLE A black head python, a native of Australia, receives medical treatment after an event that left 33 reptiles dead at Zoo Knoxville on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.