Dublin Zoo has strongly denied allegations of animal mistreatment after the issue was raised in the Seanad on Thursday.
Labour Senator Annie Hoey raised a number of concerns during a Green Party motion on animal welfare, stating that she had received reports of "serious welfare issues" from a whistleblower via protected disclosure.
"I’ve been told by the whistleblower that there’s been serious welfare issues, near misses, safety and management concerns at Dublin Zoo," Hoey said on Thursday.
She said current and former staff members have also made her aware of "a number of breaches" of the five freedoms of animal welfare.
The whistleblower detailed that a Zebra named Kildare was not afforded the right to freedom from pain, injury, and disease, according to Hoey.
The zebra died on December 2, 2020, after complications during a tooth extraction.
Hoey outlined that the zebra suffered from capture myopathy, a condition with high levels of morbidity that arises in wild animals who have endured high levels of stress.
The whistleblower alleged that the zebra was kept alive even though staff at the zoo pleaded that she be euthanized.
"The tooth was extracted and the animal was severely paralyzed when she came around from the anaesthetic" Hoey said. "The animal was going to be hung overnight in a harness, even though she was severly paralyzed. One staff member pleaded at the end of the second day to end the animal's suffering.
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