El Salvador: They're now saying poor hippo wasn't tortured to death at zoo, but likely suffered and died from neglect

EL SALVADOR -- El Salvador's main zoo is in trouble for claiming a hippo died of a brutal stabbing attack by unidentified people, when an autopsy finally revealed the animal in fact died of possible poor care.

Gustavito, a 15-year-old hippopotamus who had been in the National Zoological Park in eastern San Salvador almost all his life, died February 26 after suffering for days.

The government, giving information from the zoo, said the hippo had been stabbed and beaten by unidentified assailants four days earlier, resulting in internal bleeding.

That account triggered shock and revulsion in the Central American nation and was relayed in international media reports.

But the autopsy revealed no puncture marks in the animal's 2.5-centimeter (1-inch) thick skin, state prosecutor Mario Salazar revealed on Thursday.

Instead a detailed forensic examination showed Gustavito had apparently died from pulmonary hemorrhaging -- acute bleeding from the lung.

The culture minister, Silvia Elena Regalado, said that in itself did not rule out an attack on the hippo, which she said could have died from the resulting stress.

But a workers' union in her department had said that the hippopotamus had been ill for 17 days before its death, and alleged that authorities had not properly followed up on the matter.

The head of the environmental activists' group UNES, Mauricio Sermeno, said the initial account of a deadly attack on the big hippo "was something unbelievable."

The government should "publicly apologize and give the true version of the death," he said.

He also advised against closing the zoo, as some critics have called for in the wake of the hippo's demise.

"The zoo is in a precarious position, with insufficient resources," Sermeno said. "What could be done is to restructure the park and give it more support so it can maintain the species" he said.

(Yahoo - March 3, 2017)

Earlier:

• El Salvador: Beloved hippo dies after brutal icepick attack at El Salvador zoo

El Salvador: Beloved hippo dies after brutal icepick attack at El Salvador zoo

EL SALVADOR -- A beloved hippopotamus named Gustavito died at El Salvador’s National Zoo Sunday from injuries sustained in a violent attack last week.

Police are currently searching for those responsible for entering Gustavito’s enclosure and beating him with blunt and sharp objects, CNN reported.

Zoo officials noticed on Thursday that Gustavito was acting strangely and would not come out of the water in his enclosure or eat.

Zoo director Vladan Henriquez said at a news conference that the hippo was covered with bruises and puncture wounds after apparently being attacked with metal bars, knives and rocks.

Henriquez said at a news conference that Gustavito sustained injuries to his feet and cheek while he was likely trying to defend himself. He said the wounds might have been from an ice pick.

"There were injuries inside his mouth," Henríquez said.

Despite the zoo’s best efforts, the 15-year-old hippo died on Sunday. Authorities are currently investigating the incident, BBC reported.

Officials have described it as a cowardly and inhumane attack on one of the most iconic animals at the city's zoo.

On social media, many used the hashtag #Gustavito to mourn the hippo’s passing and call for justice.

"Here we're used to seeing the dead every day," Martin Castillo, a street vendor in the capital's historic downtown, said.

"They kill us like flies, but this tops it all. They killed an animal that only entertained us."

El Salvador is one of the world's most violent countries, recording 5,278 homicides last year, or an average of 14 people killed per day. Most of the killings have been blamed on powerful street gangs.

Gustavito was born and raised in Guatemala, but was brought to El Salvador 13 years ago.

(USA Today - Feb 28, 2017)