City still seeking agreement on Rusti

By Johnny Brannon
Advertiser Staff Writer

The city is scrambling to work out a new deal that would allow Rusti the orangutan to remain at the Honolulu Zoo without jeopardizing the zoo's compliance to national zoo standards.

A top zoo accreditation official warned that allowing the Orangutan Foundation International to choose a keeper for Rusti and participate in his care could violate American Zoo and Aquarium Association requirements. And a $200,000 pen the foundation wants to build for Rusti and a possible mate could be inadequate, AZA accreditation commission chairwoman Mary Healy told the city.

City managing director Ben Lee yesterday said the zoo and OFI "are developing a statement of understanding that will supplement and clarify" an earlier agreement to build the enclosure around a banyan tree near the zoo's tortoise exhibit.

OFI attorney Sherry Broder said she was "concerned but less pessimistic" about Rusti's future.

"It looks like the city administration is making a real effort to try to make this work out," she said. "Rusti's already at the zoo, and I would think the AZA would be enthusiastic about him living there in a wonderful new enclosure."

Zoo director Kenneth Redman has said he cannot speak publicly without permission from city enterprise services director Barry Fukunaga, who did not return repeated calls from The Advertiser over two days.

Rusti has lived in an old gorilla cage at the zoo on a "temporary" basis for seven years while OFI has sought a permanent home for him. The hairy orange ape has become one of the zoo's most popular animals, and many O'ahu residents and visitors have grown concerned about his plight.

"The opportunity to retain Rusti in our zoo animal population is a major benefit for our community and hopefully will add to the effort toward educating the public about the threat faced by orangutans in the wild due to the destruction of their natural habitat," Lee said.

The City Council has twice delayed voting on OFI's offer to build Rusti's new home. The foundation would remain Rusti's owner, and council members are concerned the city would be solely liable for any damage or injury if he were to escape.

Broder said all planning for Rusti's new pen was halted after the council delayed the first vote last month.

It will be at least another month until the plan goes before the council's Parks Committee for a vote.

Reach Johnny Brannon at jbrannon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.