USDA: Reston Zoo Has Violation History

The suspicious death of an injured wallaby is just one of several issues the U.S. Department of Agriculture found at the this year, WUSA9 reports.

Zoo director Meghan Mogensen, 26,

WUSA9 obtained a USDA February 2012 inspection report that identified euthanasia, frostbite, and an injured spider monkey left in pain as problems at the zoo. 

The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service report cited the Reston Zoo with six violations, including cages that exposed a spider monkey to such cold temperatures the "hands and feet of the animal became frostbitten."

Inspectors also cited the zoo for improperly treating the spider monkey's "superficial cuts on his hands and feet," indicated the "veterinarian was not contacted" and "the pain the animal received from its injury was not relieved promptly."

Inspectors also cited the Reston Zoo in connection with the wallaby euthanasia. The report indicates an "anesthetic overdose of xylazine was used to euthanize" the wallaby. 

The Reston Zoo is one of more than 2,000 animal facilities in the United States that operates with a USDA license.

See the whole WUSA9 story here.