Grand Rapids Lagoon Shut Down Following Death Of 21 Animals

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An outdoor lagoon at a western Michigan zoo is being shut down following the deaths of 21 stingrays and sharks. MLive reports Friday that the exhibit at the John Ball Zoo has been dismantled. 18 cownose stingrays and three spotted bamboo sharks were found dead July 8 after mechanical malfunction shut off one of two pumps to the lagoon. Low oxygen levels were found in water samples. Zoo Chief Executive Peter D’Arienzo says “staff intends to work with aquatic consultants to determine what is needed to build a state-of-the-art stingray facility that is weather protected and includes the redundancies that might be needed to assure the animals’ safety.” D’Arienzo says “no new stingray exhibit will be built” until zoo officials “know that can be done.”