UPDATE: Magnolia High principal issues apology to Houston Zoo

UPDATE:

Magnolia ISD has apologized to the Houston Zoo after allegations that students harassed some of the animals during a recent field trip.

Zoo officials were alerted to the breaches in security on Friday, March 6, after a photo of a student attempting to touch a jaguar in the animal's cage surfaced on Twitter.

The following formal apology to the Houston Zoo was issued by the principal of Magnolia High School on Monday…

Jeff Springer's apology read: "I would like to sincerely apologize to the Houston Zoo for the behavior exhibited by some of our students during a recent field trip. As the principal of Magnolia High School, I am not only embarrassed but extremely disappointed in the actions of our students. I take full responsibility and want to do what is necessary to mend the relationship that has been tarnished with the Houston Zoo.

This type of behavior reflects poorly on our school and is not tolerated in our school or in our district. Our students have a social responsibility to hold themselves to respectable, high standards in which they are held accountable for their actions. The inappropriate behavior exhibited during last week's field trip is being addressed through appropriate discipline. Our mission at Magnolia High School is to develop responsible, contributing citizens in our community. This incident is not reflective of the environment of excellence we have here at Magnolia High School.

We have a long standing relationship with our students taking field trips to the zoo. Again, I want to extend my sincerest apologies and take the appropriate steps to restore our relationship with the Houston Zoo."

Last week, The Houston Zoo released a statement which read, "At the Houston Zoo the safety of our animals, employees and guests is our number one priority. We are currently investigating a photograph we found on Twitter and will take the necessary steps to ensure our animals are safe at all times. Harassing our animals is not only against zoo rules, but in many cases against the law."



ORIGINAL:

MAGNOLIA, Texas - Magnolia High School students took a walk on the wild side at a recent field trip to the Houston Zoo, reportedly invading animal exhibits and harassing the animals. The Houston Zoo is investigating allegations that Magnolia High School students broke into several exhibits and harassed animals during a recent school field trip.

Zoo officials discovered the violations via social media, when a photo was posted on Twitter on Friday, showed a student inside a Jaguar’s cage. Other Twitter posts identified the student as a freshman at Magnolia High School. Twitter posts also claim that other students on the same field trip had "jumped into the elephant cage," and that others "broke into the bird exhibit" and "plucked feathers off the stray chicken."

Magnolia High School has informed the student body that there would be no more field trips to the Houston Zoo. Whether this was the decision of the Houston Zoo or Magnolia High School, or a joint decision, is unsure at this time. Updates to this story will be posted to Magnolia Today.

#WalkOnTheWildSide