Allegations of animal mistreatment at Dublin Zoo have been described as unfounded and misleading.
It follows claims in the seanad made by a whistleblower that there have been a number of breaches of the five freedoms of animal welfare.
Labour Senator Annie Hoey detailed concerns raised by former and current staff, including about animals going missing.
She addressed the circumstances surrounding the death of Harry the Silverback Gorilla in 2016:
"Keepers repeatedly asked for a vet to examine him, and eventually a vet was called but he died shortly after".
"This is one of the hardest stories to hear from the many staff I spoke to, as the pain in their voice about how Harry was treated in the run-up to his death was unbearable".
Senator Hoey also mentioned spoke about Maeve the Giraffe who died at the zoo last month:
"Staff had to watch her lay and slowly die while kicking out and trying to gain her footing".
"This should never have happened to Maeve or her keepers. After her death and post-mortem staff were called to a meeting and offered counselling".
"And then they were ordered to delete any videos of Maeve and how she died".
