Leaders push to override zoos’ cuts

“With the amount of calls that I’ve gotten from the membership, I dare say that this is one of those items that I think will be overridden,” House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo said during a day that included several State House press conferences, political jockeying, and no public explanations from zoo officials.

Senate President Therese Murray, also citing a large volume of calls and e-mails, said in a statement that “it is likely the Senate will take similar action.’’

While legislative leaders were openly championing an override, zoo officials were resolutely silent, answering no questions, even as national zoo executives dismissed the notion that zoo animals might killed.

Patrick, in two separate press conferences, was visibly frustrated with Zoo New England, which runs the Franklin Park and Stone zoos. He urged lawmakers not to override his veto and criticized zoo officials for what he described as their unhelpful, irresponsible, and sensationalized response to budget cuts.

“I do think that the public needs to know that the claim that animals in the zoo are going to be euthanized was false,” Patrick said in what were his first comments after leaving criticism over the weekend to his aides. “And I think, frankly, the zoo is going to have to take some responsibility for that.”

They did not, at least publicly. When a Globe reporter visited the offices of zoo president John Linehan yesterday, he declined to meet, instead sending out a communications aide who said that Linehan would have no comment and referring questions to the zoos’ private public relations firm, Marlo Marketing/Communications.

Marlo Fogelman, the head of the firm, declined to comment despite repeated phone calls and a visit by the same reporter. Last night, Fogelman issued a brief written statement from Linehan that said: “We are working very hard with the state Legislature and the governor’s office to resolve this very complex issue, and we’re hopeful of a positive outcome. We are grateful for the tremendous outpouring of support we have received.”

Meanwhile, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, a national group of which Zoo New England is a member, said it would be highly unusual for any zoo to euthanize animals because of budget cuts.

“It’s not part of modern zoological practice, except in very rare instances, to use euthanasia as a population management tool,’’ said Steve Feldman, a spokesman for the association. “It would take time to find homes for these animals, because times are tough all over. But I think the notion that animals would be euthanized en masse is incorrect.’’

Zoos across the country have been going through deep cutbacks as a part of the recession, even as attendance has soared as families stay closer to home and look for cheap entertainment. But no other accredited zoo has closed down as a result of the cuts, according to Feldman.

At the Dickerson Park Zoo in Springfield, Mo., money-saving moves included getting rid of two herds of antelope and eliminating a group of lemurs that were deemed unfit for public display because they slept most of the day. Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago required a gorilla to go without her favorite snack of frozen blueberries. “Her diet is not going to be compromised by eliminating it,” said Sharon Dewar, spokeswoman for the zoo, adding that the chief executive officer took a 10 percent pay cut.

The Franklin Park and Stone zoos have dealt with major funding cuts before. Between 2001 and 2002, for example, their level of state funding fell from $6 million to $2.5 million, according to state figures. The following year, the operating budget called for $3 million for the zoos, but all of that money was scrapped due to midyear budget cuts.

Of the 218 zoos and aquariums accredited by the national association, about half receive significant government support, according to Feldman. The average level is about 60 percent of the institution’s operating budget, he said, funding like that of Zoo New England.

Patrick, who has been portrayed negatively in national headlines, made a strong attempt yesterday to avoid further political fallout. He initially addressed a small group of reporters, then in the late afternoon held a much larger press conference.

“I do want to be absolutely clear about one thing: Nobody is talking about euthanizing any animals,’’ Patrick said. “I have to tell you that I am disappointed by some of what I have heard coming out of Zoo New England, and their exaggeration of the effect of these reductions in their budget.’’ He added that the state was asking zoo officials to do no more than any other state agency “and frankly what most families in the commonwealth are having to ask of themselves, and that is to learn to live within more limited means for the time being.’’

Patrick said there were a variety of ways for zoo officials to save or generate money - including eliminating discounts or free passes, or consolidating - but he did not endorse any approach. He said it would be unwise for the Legislature to override his veto of the funding.

“Essentially what Zoo New England is saying is, ‘No matter what the state of the economy or the state fiscal situation, we should be held harmless,’ ’’ he said.

Even as zoo officials declined to answer questions, they did take the time to update their website, asking zoo fans for donations and to contact lawmakers on their behalf.

“I, for one, donated $50 and signed up the next day for a $70 family membership,’’ said Laura Migliori, a Jamaica Plain resident. “My main reason: I didn’t want to see those poor animals euthanized. . . . If they lied about that, I’m not happy.”

Meghan Irons of the Globe staff contributed to this report. Matt Viser can be reached at maviser@globe.com.