The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "zoos" ...
-
Glamour Beasts: The dark side of elephant captivity
The zoo industry claims that elephants are thriving inside U.S. zoos. But that’s not true. It never has been. The Times found that elephants are dying out inside zoos. For every elephant born, on average two others die. Just 288 elephants are left inside 78 accredited U.S. zoos. Captive elephants may be demographically extinct within 50 years – there won’t be enough females left to breed. The Times conducted a first-of-its-kind analysis of 390 elephant fatalities for the past 50 years. In a desperate race to make more baby elephants, Seattle’s Woodland Park has tried to artificially inseminate their Asian elephant, Chai, at least 112 times, sometimes adopting crude and reckless procedures. As nearly two dozen zoos have shutdown or plan to close elephant exhibits, nonprofit sanctuaries with thousands of acres represent one option for retired or unwanted elephants. But a zoo industry trade group is fighting a bitter battle to thwart sanctuaries and punish zoos that give up their elephants.
Tags: zoo; elephants; zoo industry
-
Marine Attractions: Below the Surface
This investigation examined more than 3,850 deaths of marine animals since 1972. The authors found that animals are often mistreated during captivity, and that thousands have died under human care from clorine posioning, heat exposure, capture shock and stress. This in-depth look at the $1 billion - a - year marine mammal industry reveals that not only is it riddled with problems, but also that the government is doing very little to correct them.
Tags: zoo; National Marine Fisheries Service; computer-assisted reporting; Department of Agriculture; dolphins; whales; Sea World; aquariums
-
Pattern of Mistakes Found in Zoo Deaths
This investigation uncovered years of neglect, misdiagnosis and other mistakes that caused or contributed to 23 animal deaths at the National Zoo. Zoo euthanasia forms weren't kept when animal went into surgery and the keepers couldn't provide any notes about two rare zebras that starved to death. Veterinary records show that zoo vets did not respond promptly when animals were ill and failed to run standard tests on animals to make sure they were healthy.
-
The Great Ape Debate; Animal Rights Activists Have Campaigned for Their Freedom for Years. Now the Primatologists Can't Even Agree Among Themselves: Is There Any Reason to Keep a Chimp in Captivity?
Some primatologists liken great apes to humans and feel that it is inhumane to keep them in captivity. Other scientists disagree and feel that captive chimps have been so beneficial to scientific advancements that they should remain in captivity. The article explores the debate.
Tags: monkeys; apes; gorillas; animal rights; zoos; Jane Goodall
-
Cruel and Usual. How some of America's best zoos get rid of their old, infirm, and unwanted animals.
Zoos accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) must abide by a code of ethics restricting animal transfers to other AZA members or to uncredited zoos with the "expertise, records management capabilities, financial stability, and facilities required to properly care" for the animals. But a U.S. News investigation found that even some of the nation's most highly regarded zoos violate those mandates through transfers, sales, and loans of exotic animals to substandard zoos and to private animal breeders and dealers.
Tags: zoos; animal abuse; AZA
-
Oh, What a ball
In Milwaukee, charity events -- the old school way of raising money -- are resurging. Gala events build awareness, allow for the mingling of powerful and socially ambitious -- and importantly, raise money. Others say they aren't effective and have snob appeal. A "good" charity event ibrings in 50 cents on the dollar, according to charity ball veterans. Many are finding that business are getting more involved. Companies are paying for fund-raising events, donating services or canvassing employees for auction items.
Tags: professional volenteer; younger board members; corporate table-buying; ballet; Bal du Lac; Art Museum; Zoo Ball; auctions; in-kind gifts; "unevents; " burn-out; philanthropy; NSFRE; National Society of Fund Raising Executives; charity; nonprofit; philanthropy; tax-exempt
-
Flying Fever
Doctors learned of the presence of the mosquito-borne West Nile encephalitis when crows and captive birds in the Bronx Zoo began dying. But identifying the malady and treating the cause were difficult, because there is but a handful of experts in mosquito-borne diseases in the U.S. To combat the outbreak in the Bronx and Queens, health officials sprayed Malathion to kill flying bugs but no move was made to eradicate breeding areas.
Tags: mosquitos; virus; CDC; health prevention; poison; birds
-
"Monkey Business" and "A Dangerous Breed"
ABC News 20/20 reports that "It's a thriving black market trade few know about: dangerous and diseased monkeys, right out of the country's most prestigious zoos and research labs, ending up as pets in backyards across America. In a two part series, ABC's .... Ross went behind the scenes of this trade to show how monkeys brought to this country solely for research and exhibition purposes are being mishandled and mistreated. As a result, thousands of researchers and unsuspecting members of the public run the risk of exposure to a deadly virus....."
-
Animal Underworld
"Animal Underworld is an expose of the burgeoning domestic trade in exotic species. The book examines all facets of the exotic-animal 'industry,' focusing in particular on the 'laundering' of unwanted zoo and research castoffs as they are sold and resold until paper trails go cold. Animal Underworld exposes the elaborate shell game of animal brokering that secretly shunts rare - even endangered - species off to auction barns, private hunting preserves, roadside attractions and basement cages. The book demonstrates how institutions and individuals heralded for their commitment to conservation, including some of the nation's most respected zoos, are in many instances interested more in profits than in preservation of the species..."
-
The zoo blues
The animals are mistreated. The executive director is getting rich. Privatization has failed the San Francisco Zoo.