Vlad the Impala
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- Jul 16, 2004
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SAN MARCOS, Texas (AP) - Texas State University's plan to build the largest "body farm" of cadavers in the United States is now on hold due to concerns that buzzards could endanger nearby planes.
The university has scrapped its proposed site and began scouting a new location for what would be only the third body farm in the country. The farms are used by scientists who bury cadavers to study human decomposition to help police better determine time and manner of death at crime scenes.
Texas State had hoped to begin burying bodies later this year on a seven-hectare site on Texas Highway 21 near the San Marcos Municipal Airport.
But after meeting with the airport's commission Tuesday, the university dropped the plan out of concern that buzzards would pose a risk to pilots.
"While the increased risk might be very small, it cannot be completely eliminated, and we cannot go forward with the Highway 21 site," Texas State provost Perry Moore said.
Plans for the site included a razor-wire fence around the property, vulture-proof cages to protect exposed bodies and a 21-metre grass buffer around the site to absorb rain runoff.
The University of Tennessee at Knoxville has operated a body farm since 1980. Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, N.C., opened the country's second such facility last year.
The university has scrapped its proposed site and began scouting a new location for what would be only the third body farm in the country. The farms are used by scientists who bury cadavers to study human decomposition to help police better determine time and manner of death at crime scenes.
Texas State had hoped to begin burying bodies later this year on a seven-hectare site on Texas Highway 21 near the San Marcos Municipal Airport.
But after meeting with the airport's commission Tuesday, the university dropped the plan out of concern that buzzards would pose a risk to pilots.
"While the increased risk might be very small, it cannot be completely eliminated, and we cannot go forward with the Highway 21 site," Texas State provost Perry Moore said.
Plans for the site included a razor-wire fence around the property, vulture-proof cages to protect exposed bodies and a 21-metre grass buffer around the site to absorb rain runoff.
The University of Tennessee at Knoxville has operated a body farm since 1980. Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, N.C., opened the country's second such facility last year.
