Calgary Zoo Downplays Media Reports That Stingrays May Have Been Poisoned

By THE CANADIAN PRESS

CALGARY – A senior official at the Calgary Zoo is downplaying some media reports that 40 stingrays which have died at the facility may have been poisoned.

Grahame Newton, the chief financial officer at the zoo, says another cownosed ray has died, leaving just three rays from the entire exhibit alive.

He stresses that while zoo officials can’t rule out foul play, they have no evidence that there was some kind of criminal act to harm the rays.

However, Newton adds they’ve asked the Calgary police for guidance about preserving potential evidence in case their investigation points to a deliberate act.

Test results show that the pool’s water chemistry was within acceptable levels, but Newton says they’re still waiting for the results of other tests.

The tank that housed the rays has been closed to the public and Newton says they’ll have to have some pretty definitive explanation about what happened before they determine when or if the exhibit may reopen.