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Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance

Controversies

Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.

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  1. 2021

    Denver Zoo apologizes to Alonzo Ashley’s family and presents a memorial plaque

    Company response

    Denver Zoo President Bert Vescolani publicly apologized to Alonzo Ashley’s mother on October 1 regarding Ashley’s death at the zoo in 2011. Vescolani presented the family with a plaque, and a memorial fountain and cooling station had been installed in Ashley’s honor.

    Company response

    • Apology — Denver Zoo

      On Friday, Oct. 1, the Denver Zoo President Bert Vescolani gave a public apology to Gail Waters, telling the grieving mother “we are really sorry for that” in regard to her son Alonzo Ashley’s death, which occurred ten years ago.

    • Remediation — Denver Zoo

      In an apparent effort to take accountability and make amends, Vescolani presented the family with a plaque with the young man’s image on it, along with a short description of Ashley’s character and a Bible verse.The plaque will be placed on a rock next to a newly installed water fountain and cooling station built in Ashley’s honor.

    Source excerpt

    • Ashley’s death was ultimately ruled a homicide caused by cardiorespiratory arrest initially brought on by heat, dehydration, as well as exertion that took place during the struggle between the officers and the victim.
    • In an apparent effort to take accountability and make amends, Vescolani presented the family with a plaque with the young man’s image on it, along with a short description of Ashley’s character and a Bible verse.The plaque will be placed on a rock next to a newly installed water fountain and cooling station built in Ashley’s honor.
    • On Friday, Oct. 1, the Denver Zoo President Bert Vescolani gave a public apology to Gail Waters, telling the grieving mother “we are really sorry for that” in regard to her son Alonzo Ashley’s death, which occurred ten years ago.
    Source

  2. 2007

    Fatal jaguar enclosure attack

    Keeper Ashlee Pfaff was fatally mauled after entering a jaguar enclosure. The jaguar was killed during the emergency rescue response. The zoo's internal investigation attributed the event to human error and the institution later stopped keeping jaguars.

    Source