Lincoln Park Zoo Probed After Deaths

"In the past, some of these audits have given suggestions on changes and others have not," Ballentine said.

The Lincoln Park Zoo, established in 1868, is open year-round near the shore of Lake Michigan. After the camel's death last winter, activists accused the zoo of subjecting the animal to the bitter cold.

Earlier this month, the zoo moved its last remaining elephant to a zoo in Utah so it would have companions. But the elephant's health declined while en route to Salt Lake City and officials there had to euthanize the animal shortly after it arrived.

The elephant's health was probably compromised long before the move because of chronic lesions in her lungs, a possible symptom of a bacterial infection that reduced her lung capacity by 30 percent, zoo officials said Friday, citing a preliminary pathology report.

Two elephants at the zoo died in October and January _ one from a noncontagious disease similar to tuberculosis, other from a variety of ailments common to older elephants, zoo officials said.

A female gorilla was euthanized at the zoo last month because of kidney failure. And in February, Kumba, the first gorilla ever born at the Chicago zoo, died after her health deteriorated.

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On the Net:

Lincoln Park Zoo: http:www.lpzoo.org