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Probe ongoing in Kartchner Caverns break-in
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| Damaged: This stalactite is clearly broken. (Arizona State Parks/Photo.) |
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
Tours are continuing at Kartchner Caverns State Park in Benson as police continue to investigate a recent break-in.
State park officials said the Oct. 12 break-in did not cause substantial damage and the Throne and Rotunda rooms will continue to have tours.
Suspects broke through a heavy metal gate and entered the caverns through the lower portal of the Big Room and Tarantula passageway that is closed during the summer.
The Big Room usually opens to the public around Oct. 15.
Last week, three cave scientists, Dr. Bob Casavant, Ginger Nolan and Steve Willsey were brought to diagnose the extent of the damage, but did not complete the survey.
Gary Tenen, one of the cave's original discoverers, also volunteered five hours of his time to trek through the mud into the back areas of the cave to assist in the investigation.
State park officials said the experts checked scientific monitoring stations while they were in the deeper recessed areas as well and will have that scientific data to add to the final report that will diagnose the cave's overall health and future.
Katchner is one of the nation's unique caves because it is still alive and growing, which also makes it very sensitive. A human touch could cause some of the formations to stop growing immediately.
"Unfortunately, there was some damage to some of the stalactites when the suspects left the Big Room trail and walked over the calcite formation on the floor of the cave. The intruders also left a trail through the strawberry passage," said Dr. Casavant. "But, we were glad to find that overall very little damage was done. This could have been an extremely serious situation.
Kartchner Executive Director Renee Bahl said they are extremely concerned about the cave's safety and will increase security.
The Cochise County Sheriff's Department is leading the investigation, and spokeswoman Carol Capas said on Wednesday they have scheduled some interviews with park staff and campers in the area as they continue to search for leads.
Tours are continuing at Kartchner Caverns State Park in Benson as police continue to investigate a recent break-in.
State park officials said the Oct. 12 break-in did not cause substantial damage and the Throne and Rotunda rooms will continue to have tours.
Suspects broke through a heavy metal gate and entered the caverns through the lower portal of the Big Room and Tarantula passageway that is closed during the summer.
The Big Room usually opens to the public around Oct. 15.
Last week, three cave scientists, Dr. Bob Casavant, Ginger Nolan and Steve Willsey were brought to diagnose the extent of the damage, but did not complete the survey.
Gary Tenen, one of the cave's original discoverers, also volunteered five hours of his time to trek through the mud into the back areas of the cave to assist in the investigation.
State park officials said the experts checked scientific monitoring stations while they were in the deeper recessed areas as well and will have that scientific data to add to the final report that will diagnose the cave's overall health and future.
Katchner is one of the nation's unique caves because it is still alive and growing, which also makes it very sensitive. A human touch could cause some of the formations to stop growing immediately.
"Unfortunately, there was some damage to some of the stalactites when the suspects left the Big Room trail and walked over the calcite formation on the floor of the cave. The intruders also left a trail through the strawberry passage," said Dr. Casavant. "But, we were glad to find that overall very little damage was done. This could have been an extremely serious situation.
Kartchner Executive Director Renee Bahl said they are extremely concerned about the cave's safety and will increase security.
The Cochise County Sheriff's Department is leading the investigation, and spokeswoman Carol Capas said on Wednesday they have scheduled some interviews with park staff and campers in the area as they continue to search for leads.
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