Tuesday, July 9, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
A proposed settlement between Pat Dingle and the U.S. Department of Agriculture of a 16-count complaint surrounding the death of a Barbary ape has dismayed critics of the controversial zoo director.
The settlement, which the USDA says is not yet final, would close the Southern Nevada Zoological Park for seven days and require Dingle to pay a $7,500 fine.
While Dingle declined to comment on the settlement, his critics expressed shock and disappointment at the leniency of the sanctions imposed on Dingle and his zoo.
"I find it really hard to believe," said George Stoecklin, who was once the zoo's veterinarian but turned into a vocal critic after Dingle's handling of the Barbary ape, Mujica.
"That's like nothing," he said of the sanctions. "I think they sold it short on the original Mujica case."
"I'm very much in shock," said Jackie Leemans, another former zoo staff member who has turned into a Dingle critic.
"This is so lax, so minimal, so depressing if this is the case. I'd really like to know why they (the USDA) did this."
Ron DeHaven, regional director of the USDA animal care division, has said the agency usually pursues settlements because harsher sanctions end up "taking food out of the animals' mouths."
USDA attorney Donald Tracy said Dingle and the agency have "agreed in principle on the terms of the settlement and are working to finalize the agreement."
While Tracy could not comment on details of the negotiations because signed documents have not been received from Dingle, he said the chances were "slim and none" that the terms would change.
The case involved violations surrounding the May 1993 death of the juvenile Barbary ape during a reintroduction to his species. Mujica had been rejected by his mother and raised in isolation for several years.
At Dingle's direction, and over the objections of several staff members, the ape was left unattended in a cage overnight with an adult female.
The ape died the next day as a result of beatings by the adult ape, Mimi, who has since died herself.
Dingle maintains he did nothing wrong.
The subsequent USDA investigation and complaint accused Dingle of, among other things:
* Failing to "handle the primate so as not to cause trauma and physical harm."
* "Inadequate observation of Mujica after his being put at risk with the dominant ape."
* Failing to "promptly contact a veterinarian when Mujica was found in serious condition."
Another investigation has been conducted into the death of a chimpanzee at the zoo and the USDA is also investigating more alleged violations this spring involving substandard veterinary care to the zoo's lion and continuing problems with care of its primates.
Sherry Patterson, a former full-time keeper at the zoo, says she understands the USDA's reluctance to shut down a zoo, but thinks the agency should have done more.
"I don't think justice is served," said Patterson, now a head veterinary technician at Rio Rancho Animal Hospital.
"Dingle doesn't need animals. If you can't take care of them in the proper manner, then you don't need them."
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