Posted on: Thursday, April 22, 2004

Rusti may hurt zoo's standing, official says

By Johnny Brannon
Advertiser Staff Writer

A top zoo accreditation official is questioning a plan to keep Rusti the orangutan at the Honolulu Zoo, and the City Council has again postponed a decision.

Allowing the Orangutan Foundation International to place Rusti at the zoo permanently while remaining his owner and participating in his care "may place the zoo's accreditation in jeopardy," Mary Healy, chairwoman of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association's accreditation commission, wrote to Mayor Jeremy Harris.

The orangutan foundation wants to build a $200,000 enclosure for Rusti at the zoo, where he has lived on a "temporary" basis for seven years. The new enclosure could later accommodate a mate for Rusti.

But "funding far beyond what is considered in the current agreement may be necessary to build a habitat and holding area capable of meeting our recommended guidelines," Healy said.

City Council members earlier objected out of concern that the city could be held solely liable for any damage or injury if Rusti escaped.

The issue took on more weight after a gorilla escaped last month from a Texas zoo and injured four people before he was killed by police officers.

It will be at least another month before the plan is brought up for a vote.