CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A Duke University researcher says three lemurs at a northeast Iowa zoo at the center of a lawsuit likely have stressful lives being apart from fellow members of their species.
The Des Moines Register (http://dmreg.co/1Meo7zT ) reports Peter Klopfer testified Tuesday during the trial of the federal lawsuit against Cricket Hollow Zoo in Manchester.
Several Iowa residents and the Animal Legal Defense Fund sued the zoo and its operator, seeking to keep it from possessing endangered species. The lawsuit alleges that lions, tigers, gray wolves and lemurs at the zoo are under physical and mental distress.
Klopfer said the lemurs are “living miserable lives.” At least five have died at the zoo since 2006, and Kloper said the zoo’s environment might leave them more vulnerable to disease and death
