Infectious bacteria in animals closes Children’s Zoo

The Blade News reports that the Children’s Zoo at the Toledo Zoo was shut down yesterday following the discovery of an infectious bacteria in several of its animals.
Two baby calves sharing the same stall tested positive during routine testing for a bacteria known as Campylobacter, a common cause of gastrointestinal illness. A sow that had just given birth in an adjacent stall also tested positive. Campylobacter was found in fecal matter collected from a group of about a half-dozen sheep in the children’s zoo petting area.
Zoo officials said none of the other animals showed signs of sickness, and there were no reports of patrons who have become ill.
The children’s zoo’s animals are loaned to the zoo by area farmers and institutions for the summer. The zoo’s calves and pigs arrived in May from several area farmers, while the sheep arrived in May from the University of Findlay.
The children’s zoo was shut down an hour before closing yesterday and will be closed for the entire weekend while animal care staff assess the situation and decide on a long-term solution to the problem.. Zoo officials said last night that the petting portion of the children’s facility could remain closed for the rest of the summer.