The lion enclosure was largely the focus of the investigation into how Hanson was killed in that accident. Now the USDA confirms that she left this door open when she came into the enclosure to clean.
Dale Anderson shows CBS47 a security system that keeps big cats away from the pubic and staff at all times. On the day Hanson was killed, the USDA says the volunteer intern made a fatal mistake, leaving a door open instead of locking Cous Cous in his den.
“Why she latched it is the part we don't understand. When the cat comes in, what you want to do is drop the door right away because you want to lock him in so then you can exit into the main enclosure,” said Anderson, founder of Cat Haven.
Since no one else was around,
USDA inspected Cat Haven the day of the accident. Tanya Espinosa, USDA-APHIS spokesperson, released this statement Wednesday:
"We looked at anything and everything that could have contributed to that incident, including enclosures, the employee training program, procedures for cleaning enclosures and feeding the animals, and we did not find any noncompliances.”
“It helps us be able to set the record straight and have people really understand that we weren't at fault, there wasn't a problem, it was just an accident, a tragic accident,” said Anderson.
In the days after the tragedy, Pely, the female lion, mourned her loss too. Cous Cous was a companion for years. Now she appears more adjusted to being alone.
Cat Haven says the accident has not negatively impacted the number of people who visit.
“We mourn the loss but we realize Dianna would want us to move on and continue doing the things we're doing, and that's saving cats around the world,” said
Final reports still have not been released from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department or Cal OSHA.
Next week Cat Haven begins its summer visiting hours, which means it’s only closed on Tuesday.