Animal Bytes

Zoo breaks ground on new Asian exhibit, opens Conservation Plaza

On Dec. 9, the Baton Rouge Zoo broke ground on Realm of the Tiger, the new Asian exhibit featuring tigers, Siamang gibbons, a walk-through aviary, a koi pond and rock garden. Construction is projected to last approximately a year. The zoo also hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Conservation Plaza, which includes a covered train depot, nostalgic ticket office, endangered species flag court, covered seating at the Flamingo Café and climate-controlled restroom facilities at the KidsZoo, Flamingo Café, South America exhibits and front entrance.

LSU vets (de)worm their way to Walker High, shelter

Recently, three LSU veterinary students, a community wellness coordinator and a veterinary instructor visited Walker High School to address zoonoses (animal diseases that are transmissible to humans) with a biology class.

After visiting the school, the students accompanied LSU shelter medicine instructor Wendy Wolfson to the Walker Animal Shelter and assisted in deworming, heartworm testing and examining dogs. LSU’s shelter medicine curriculum provides veterinary students with the opportunity to learn about animal shelters while providing vital medical care to shelters in South Louisiana.

“My students are studying diseases right now,” said Walker High science teacher Dottie Hartman. “This really made an impact and will stay with these students for a long time. They definitely got the message about the importance of regular check-ups for pets and keeping animals free of disease.”

Congress improves pet food safety legislation

Shortly before 110th Congress adjourned, President of the Humane Society of the United States Wayne Pacelle praised its progress on several animal-related issues. “Congress has made important strides on animal protection in the past two years,” he explained. “The 111th Congress and the Obama Administration hold even greater promise for real reform that will make ours a more humane nation.”

In response to 2007 scandals involving tainted ingredients in pet and human food, Congress enacted legislation that requires the Food and Drug Administration to set standards for pet food, strengthen labeling rules, establish an early warning system, post searchable online recall lists and requiring companies to report contaminated food and make key records available during investigations so contaminants can be traced quickly.