mackenzie – Aug 6, 2002 12:00 AM

Part 4. Curator Lori Schmidt was contacted and she advised that the observation team should get a visual on MacKenzie to check on the status of her wounds. If she was not significantly wounded, they were advised to turn off the lights and leave the exhibit. The rationale for this decision was to allow the wolves a period of time to work out the conflict uninhibited by the team observing through the windows or the enclosure lights. If MacKenzie could accept a lower ranking position, she may be able to stay with the pack. At 6 am, Curator Lori Schmidt arrived on site to find MacKenzie in the same restricted area as described by the team the night before. MacKenzie would not move from the area and fiercely defended it from any of the other wolves that approached, especially from Shadow. Video footage entitled MacKenzie_defense is available to view this defensive behavior. This observation as well as blood smeared along the wall led to a conference call between Walter Medwid, Executive Director, Gretchen Diessner, Assistant Director and Lori Schmidt to discuss MacKenzie's removal from the main enclosure. The rationale for removing MacKenzie was as follows: MacKenzie's physical condition showed the following bite wounds 2 canine tears on either side of her flank, about 3 inches above her tail Very sensitive to the touch on inner thighs, small bite wounds left side Hind quarter instability – and stiffness (observation team saw Shadow and Malik actually pulling MacKenzie's hips and dragging her – possible injury or soreness to the hip socket)