- USDA warns GFAS accredited facility they could face criminal prosecution, civil penalties, and other sanctions.
Published by -NAWA News Feed- in -Animal Welfare- · Monday 08 Nov 2021
Twenty eight primates have died at the GFAS accredited sanctuary Jungle Friends primate sanctuary in the last fifthteen months.
Sources are reporting that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has found more violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act at the Global Federation of Accredited Sanctuaries (GFAS) facility Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary in Gainesville, FL, based on a two-day federal inspection in September consisting of a Veterinary Medical Officer and a Supervisory Animal Care Specialist.
GFAS, an arm of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), touts itself as the top premier accrediting agency for animal sanctuaries.
GFAS touts it’s self as:
[GFAS] “sole purpose of The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) is to ensure that these animals receive the highest standards of care during rescue, rehabilitation, and the rest of their life.”
The sanctuary has been hit hard by state and federal regulators after whistle-blower complaints of inadequate and inappropriate care and conditions for the primates and severe under staffing issues.
A newly released inspection report revealed more violations found during a USDA inspection from Sept. 29-30.
The inspectors cited Jungle Friends for a white-faced capuchin enclosure. According to the inspection report, the enclosure’s roof had collapsed inward, creating an opening large enough for the two primates to escape.
“Animals may be injured or harmed when they access outside areas,” according to the inspection report. “Gaining unauthorized access outside could have resulted in animal or human injury.”
In one area of the sanctuary identified as “Munchkin land,” inspectors found a plastic container with a lid that had been left slightly ajar. The container held peanuts that were growing a green fuzzy mold.
“The ingestion of mold is inherently detrimental to the health and welfare of animals,” the inspector noted in the report. Jungle Friends was cited with a repeat violation for the contaminated monkey food.
USDA inspectors also found deceased insect bodies on the same shelf that the peanut storage container was found.
In the area of the sanctuary where facility staff previously observed a squirrel monkey mouthing the body of a deceased rat, inspectors identified a hole in the wall. During the second day of inspections, facility staff spotted a raccoon in the vicinity of the capuchin enclosures.
“Mammalian and insect pests can both carry parasites and various diseases that could compromise the health and well-being of nonhuman primates,” according to the inspection report.
Jungle Friends was cited with a repeat violation for the cleaning and sanitation issues identified. The September violations bring Jungle Friend’s total federal violations for the year to 10 non-critical violations, one direct violation, and one Official Warning.
At previous inspections of Jungle Friends in January and July, inspectors found filthy enclosures that hadn’t been cleaned in so long that the feces inside were growing mold on them. Inspectors found deteriorating, rusty cages filled with weeds, overgrown grass, and other vegetation that was acting as living areas for pests, rodents, and vermin, reports indicate.
Inspectors found a dead bird in a freezer next to treats for the monkeys and a refrigerator infested with small insects, both dead and alive next to bananas and medications for the monkeys.
Although Jungle Friends employs two veterinarians, inspectors found limited communication between the veterinarians and no clear guidance for employees as to when they should contact the attending veterinarian or the consulting veterinarian for veterinary care concerns.
Inspectors also noted the facility has an insufficient number of staff members, leaving current employees unable to clean indoor enclosures daily as required and unable to keep up with record-keeping
The staff shortages are reportedly due to Executive Director Kari Bagnall’s poor treatment of the employees and volunteers.
Former staff members and volunteers have started the Facebook page Primates over Profits to advocate for the monkeys at Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary “who deserve better care,” according to the page.
They believe the only solution to the numerous issues at the sanctuary is for Bagnall to be removed from her position as executive director.
Primates over Profits said 28 primates have passed away at Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary in the past 15 months, and they’re worried that “more monkeys will die from the lack of proper care unless new management is established.”
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The USDA and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission inspected Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary (JFPS) in late July after receiving numerous complaints along with photos and videos of filthy enclosures with maggots crawling in them.
Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary has been cited with an official U.S. Department of Agriculture Warning for violating federal requirements for the veterinary care of their animals.
The GFAS accredited nonprofit primate sanctuary in Gainesville, FL, has been under state and federal scrutiny as numerous former employees and volunteers spoke out about the harsh conditions the monkeys and staff face under Director Kari Bagnall.
Both agencies found numerous issues at the facility, but the USDA reported the most serious issue; a direct violation of the Animal Welfare Act requirements for veterinary care.
The sanctuary employs an attending veterinarian and a consulting veterinarian, and the two have “limited to no communication,” according to the report. The inspectors found a controlled substance prescription for one of the monkeys that were prescribed by the consulting veterinarian. Neither Bagnall nor the attending veterinarian was aware the drug had been prescribed.
“After further discussions with the animal care staff, there was no clear guidance as to when employees should contact the attending veterinarian or the consulting veterinarian for veterinary care concerns,” according to the USDA inspection report.
Failing to ensure the attending veterinarian has appropriate authority over the veterinary care at the facility “can lead to unnecessary pain and suffering of the animals,” the inspector said in the report.
The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has now sent JFPS an Official Warning for the violation.
“If APHIS obtains evidence of any future violation of these federal regulations, APHIS may pursue civil penalties, criminal prosecution, or other sanctions,”
according to the Official Warning.
Former JFPS staff members said that Bagnall and the attending veterinarian at the facility do not follow through with the medical care needs of the primates.
More than 250 primates at the sanctuary are cared for by only seven staff members. The staff shortages are reportedly caused by Bagnall who intimidates and verbally harasses the severely overworked staff.
Some staff live on-site, and in winter, the on-site employees are required to wake up every four hours and conduct unpaid night inspections of the heat lamps on the monkey enclosures to ensure the animals don’t freeze to death. Former staff said two capuchin monkeys froze to death at the sanctuary in 2018.
In October 2021, the Facebook page Primates over Profits posted that a monkey named Murphy Brown was experiencing complications after being sedated for a medical procedure at JFPS, and rather than taking "Murphy Brown" to an emergency veterinarian, the primate was instead taken to Bagnall’s home.
“At some point, she began having seizures,” according to the Facebook post. “It is unclear what medical care was given to her … instead she remained at [Bagnall’s] home and passed away.” "Murphy Brown" is one of 28 primates to pass away at JFPS in the past 15 months, according to the post.
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