National Zoo Director Says Staff Stretched Thin

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The director of the National Zoo in Washington says the zoo's resources and staff are stretched too thin.

The Washington Post reports the zoo's director, Dennis Kelly, made the comments Tuesday. The paper reports Kelly says the recent deaths of three animals and a zebra's attack on a keeper in November indicate the zoo's resources and staff are strained. Kelly says he can't "spread this staff any more thin than it is now."

Recent deaths of zoo animals include a female red river hog that died earlier this month, a gazelle that died in November and a pregnant antelope that died in June.

Kelly says the zoo's resources are stretched thin because of "budget uncertainty and budget cuts."

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