ABQ Times

Albuquerque BioPark personnel are trying to dispel the impression that animals there are not being cared for properly.

“We don’t want folks to think that we’re not here taking care of them, because that’s absolutely our mission and duty every day,” Bob Lee, the BioPark’s associate director, told KRQE.

Lee’s reaction came after Albuquerque City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn criticized the animals’ care. She shared photos that appeared to show chickens and turkeys in poor condition – nearly all of them were missing feathers. She wants the animals released to a sanctuary.

“If the city puts animals on display, then they should be receiving the absolute best care we can offer and not what is being provided by the BioPark,” Fiebelkorn told KRQE.

The BioPark, located along the Rio Grande River near downtown Albuquerque, is made up of the ABQ BioPark Zoo, Aquarium, Botanic Garden, and Tingley Beach, according to its website. It described itself as the top tourist destination in the state of New Mexico, with over 1.5 million visitors annually.

Allegations that animals at the BioPark are not properly cared for shocked employees.

“Just ... this place is beautiful,” Janel Titzl, master farmer at the Heritage Farm, told KRQE. “And it [has] always held a strong place in my heart ever since I started working here.” 

The animals that are missing feathers might be experiencing normal seasonal issues, Dr. Carol Bradford, a senior veterinarian at the BioPark, said.

“In terms of the feather loss, they are pretty broody this time of year; they do pick at each other a little bit,” she said. “A lot of it’s normal molting that they’ll go through, and those feathers will grow back.”