August 30. 2006 -- BY: Elizabeth O'Hara/KFOX News Anchor

The American Zoological Association told KFOX it will launch its own inquiry into what happened to Juno the elephant at the El Paso Zoo.

As KFOX was first to report, an anonymous source at City Hall told us a longtime zoo employee, Allan Seidon, is on administrative leave for allegedly hitting Juno earlier this month. Officials tell KFOX Seidon is one of two men seen on a black-and-white training tape, recorded in 1999, that showed the beating of former El Paso Zoo elephant, Sissy. That tape prompted Sissy's removal from the zoo to a sanctuary in Tennessee.

An official with the American Zoological Association, which accredits the El Paso Zoo, said the organization has ordered that all veterinary reports, USDA findings and witness accounts be sent for an investigation.

Denny Lewis, the director of AZA's accreditation, told KFOX the allegation of abuse was surprising.

"If we had any feeling that any thing was less than right and correct at the El Paso Zoo, we would have looked at them right away," he said.

Lewis said depending on what city officials do and how zoo management handles the situation, the zoo's accreditation could be jeopardized.

City Representative Alejandro Lozano called the accusation "embarrassing" and "shameful," though he admitted he had not yet been briefed about the details of the incident. Fellow councilman, Beto O'Rourke, told KFOX he plans to put an item on City Council's next meeting to discuss the future of the Juno and Savannah.