Red River Zoo Says They’re Prepared For Emergency

More than a week following the Cincinnati Zoo incident, zoos and parents across the country are being more scrutinized.
 
The Red River Zoo is growing and understands that they have to take measures to prevent tragic accidents from happening.

The video of Harambe dragging a three-year-old, had people up in arms concerning zoo securities and parental supervision.

The Red River Zoo in town says they have already beefed up the security by exceeding the national average on safety drills.

They perform drills monthly, whereas the national average is four times throughout the year.
 
“But if somebody wants to willing do something stupid, like jump it an exhibit, again which has never happened at the Red River Zoo, but we try to be prepared for that as well,” says Executive Director Lisa Tate.
 
But Tate says they can only prepare so much because there’s a human element when people come to an attraction, like the zoo.
 
Tate adds, “We have to rely on people’s common sense not to put their children over the barriers.”
 
What may seem like common sense with warning signs may not be so common for all ages.

That’s why zoo officials ask parents to have a close eye on their kid before something tragic happens.
 
“We have her in a stroller or we have our nice little butterfly that we wear. We become a butterfly at the zoo. It has a nice little attachment to Grammy, so she can’t get away from me,” says Cherri Kline.
 
Kline puts her two-year-old granddaughter Sophie in a walking safety harness to keep her near.

It’s a mechanism that eases her mind after Sophie has slipped through her fingers once before.
 
“Everything is well protected and there’s always staff around. I’ve never been worried about her safety at all. She got away from me one time and one of the employees brought her right back to me,” says Kline.
 
As for this mother, Alissah Grenz,  she thinks educating kids on the wild animals may help them from wanting to go into enclosures.
 
“I guess just always talking to your kids and making sure they know the dangers,” says Alissah Grenz.
 
Given the number of people who visit zoos every year, zoo-related accidents don’t happen very often.

According to reports from animal advocacy group, Born Free, there have been 256 injuries in the past 26 years.

33 of those resulting in deaths.

The Red River Zoo is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.