Photo by BrianMKA.Okay, let’s just get this out of the way: the National Zoo is a really safe place. You should definitely bring your children there. (Please go to the Zoo.) Now, with that said: today, the Zoo’s director, Dennis Kelly, said that the facility needs “to reevaluate for the future” when it comes to maintaining the safety of people who attend popular events where the lion cubs roam.
Kelly’s words come in response to yesterday’s stabbing inside the Zoo, which took place during the “Easter Monday: An African American Family Tradition” event. “We will conduct a thorough review of the day,” Kelly said, while admitting that he plans to “continue the National Zoo Easter Monday tradition in a way that we can ensure not just a quality experience but to maintain the safety for all visitors that come here.” (Eleven years ago, seven people were shot by a teenager during an Easter Monday event.)
Kelly’s complete statement regarding yesterday’s incident is below.
First, let me say that we’re concerned for the young man that was injured here. We hope that he will have a complete recovery.
An altercation broke out at approximately 3:30, and a juvenile was stabbed. He fled our property and was later found on Connecticut Avenue where he was transferred to a hospital. All details of the injured boy and those arrested in conjunction with the altercation should be addressed to MPD. Our Zoo Police in collaboration with Metropolitan Police are still investigating the incident.
We will conduct a thorough review of the day. For the past ten years, we’ve had sufficient security resources, and now we need to reevaluate for the future. We have a good security situation and will improve it for the Zoo, which is increasingly attracting more visitors. We will examine our capacity. We know that we have several extremely popular events and seasons. We’re now in a position where we will restrict the rate of flow of visitors into the Zoo in order to maintain the highest level of safety. That is what we did yesterday. By late afternoon, we reached what we felt was our capacity and closed the Zoo to more visitors.
Today, we are at normal staffing level and remain extra vigilant due to the events of yesterday and in close communication with MPD. I’m thankful for their support and excellent response yesterday.
My goal is to continue the National Zoo Easter Monday tradition in a way that we can ensure not just a quality experience but to maintain the safety for all visitors that come here. The incident yesterday was extremely unfortunate. Easter Monday grew out of a grassroots community tradition among Washingtonians that has lasted more than 100 years. In the early 1990s, the Zoo and Friends of the National Zoo, decided that instead of simply being a venue for this community tradition, the Zoo should offer fun and educational activities to welcome area families and enrich their experience at the Zoo. I will also be working with my Smithsonian colleagues to upgrade our security services for the rest of the busy spring season before summer arrives.
