Calgary hippo's death prompts call for better travel care: report

A report into the October death of a hippopotamus at the Calgary Zoo has recommended changes to the way large zoo animals are transported.

The report, released Tuesday, looked into the case of Hazina, a six-year-old river hippo who died shortly after arriving at the Calgary Zoo after a 29-hour truck trip from Colorado.

It's believed she laid in one position in her crate for too long, damaging muscles which released toxins into her system.

Although the death was ruled accidental, the report by Dr. Jacques Dancosse, a member of the Animal Care Team of the International Air Transport Association, said changes need to be made to prevent similar deaths.

Among the report's key recommendations:

• Visual stops at regular intervals be made mandatory when large animals are being transported.
• Containers in which hippos are shipped should allow the animal to stand and lay on its side without being cramped, but not allow them to turn around.
• The crate should have a non-slippery floor to give the animal sound footing when it wants to get up.
• Abundant bedding should be provided.
• Some means of looking at the animal remotely while en route, such as a closed circuit television camera, should be available.
• The animal should have free access to drinking water during the trip.

In a release, officials from the Calgary Zoo said it endorses the recommendations and will make the necessary changes to improve animal transportation.

The zoo said it hopes to have the recommendations incorporated in guidelines being developed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums that will deal with the transportation of hippos.