Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 23, 1994 TAG: 9401240244
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: D2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LELA C. SPITZ
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The state game wardens and Blacksburg police could have exercised discretion in this case when they discovered the cougar cub was a helpless newborn who posed no danger to anyone, and that the veterinary student was qualified to care for it temporarily.
No charges were placed against her employer (Natural Bridge Zoo), but the veterinary student had to hire a lawyer to defend herself in court. Fortunately, charges were later dismissed, so justice was done for her. But the poor cub faces death for no reason.
Humane societies, including the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, need to push for amendments to Virginia law to allow injured, sick, newborn or helpless wildlife to be temporarily cared for by those who are willing and who have the necessary facilities, according to the circumstances.
There are many animal lovers who will do this at no charge, while the state has no way to care for these animals, and care of confiscated animals inevitably costs taxpayers money unnecessarily.
Since state game wardens placed the confiscated cub at the Wildlife Center in Weyers Cave for care, they're the ones responsible for the bill. (The center accepted the cub from a state agency; therefore, the bill is the state's responsibility.)
Had game wardens exercised discretion and common sense, the Virginia Tech Veterinary Department could have had an unusual teaching subject, the cub would have received the best of care, and there'd be no bill.
I'm sure the Wildlife Center does some good work, but in this case it has acted irresponsibly. Its veterinarian stated that the cub cannot be returned to the wild because the cub has lost his fear of predators and humans. The veterinarian is misinformed.
Main predators of cougars are wolves, which are extinct in Virginia. And the cub's fear/avoidance of humans will return, as has been demonstrated repeatedly. Many ``wild'' animals born in captivity have been successfully rehabilitated for a wild existence. After all, that's the stated mission of the center.
It would take time, effort and money (the public might help), but it can be done - perhaps in the Peaks of Otter area or on other state or federal land.
If there's no other alternative to killing the cub, he at least deserves a chance to be returned to the wild (at first in an outdoor compound with a feeding station, gradually training him to fend for himself).
The Wildlife Center has refused to return the cub to the Natural Bridge Zoo unless the care and boarding bill is paid. (Maybe this cost is one reason why other zoos won't take the cub either.) Center officials have said they'll probably kill the cub. There's absolutely no reason to do that since the zoo has agreed to take him back.
The center should immediately return the cub to the zoo and collect the bill from those responsible - the state agencies that incurred it.
Lela C. Spitz of Salem is former director of Humane Education Services for the Roanoke Valley and former director of a humane society in North Carolina.
by CNB