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Salisbury Troubles PETA, Zoological Association

Tribune photo by SCOTT ISKOWITZ

PETA wants officials to examine more than 200 zoo animal transfers made during Lex Salisbury's tenure.

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By BAIRD HELGESON

bhelgeson@tampatrib.com

Published: December 23, 2008

TAMPA - Lex Salisbury's forced resignation as Lowry Park Zoo's president and chief executive hasn't stopped outside scrutiny of the facility or ended his problems within the zoo industry.

An animal rights group has asked the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to examine more than 200 zoo animal transfers under its former chief, who last week caved to pressure from members to resign from a nonprofit zoo organization's board.

Salisbury and Larry Killmar, the zoo's director of collections, resigned Thursday from the Zoological Association of America, which has its office at Lowry Park Zoo. Killmar was chairman and Salisbury was secretary of the fledgling organization, which supports exotic-animal breeders, animal parks and a few zoos.

Jim Fouts, interim chairman of the group, sent a letter to members Saturday saying the two had stepped aside for different reasons, which he did not outline.

"Both felt it to be in the best interest of the organization with all the controversy surrounding the Lowry Park Zoo," wrote Fouts, owner of Tanganyika Wildlife Park near Wichita, Kan.

Salisbury resigned from the group the same day the Lowry Park Zoo board asked him to step down from his $339,000-a-year job. The board made the decision a week after a city audit found Salisbury had used the zoo's animals and resources to help build his for-profit exotic-animal park, Safari Wild, in Lakeland.

Four members of the zoo group wrote a letter to its membership Saturday saying that Salisbury and Killmar had jeopardized the group's legitimacy.

"We stand in disbelief of Mr. Salisbury's actions," the letter states.

Denis Sloan, an author of the letter, said he is concerned that the city audit indicates that the zoo group reimbursed Lowry Park Zoo for at least $12,000 in expenses.

Salisbury and Killmar told members of the group they could use zoo resources for free, said Sloan, owner of Platinum Aviary, an exotic bird breeding company in Central Florida. Sloan and the others who signed the letter criticized Salisbury for persuading some group members to defend his dealings to city auditors.

The ZAA should not be endorsing Salisbury's conflicts of interest or questionable business transactions, Sloan said.

Salisbury and Killmar could not be reached for comment.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wants federal wildlife officials to determine whether any of the zoo's transactions with Salisbury's private Polk County venture violated the Endangered Species Act.

"If the zoo is involved in dirty dealings, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must ensure that those responsible are prosecuted," PETA director Debbie Leahy said in a written statement.

Reporter Baird Helgeson can be reached at (813) 259-7668.

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