Baby elephant being "trained" to perform unnatural tricks.

In a major victory for elephants that will send shockwaves through the zoo industry, the St. Lucie County Board of Commissioners in Florida made it very clear that the cruel use of bullhooks on elephants is not welcome in their county. The commission today voted to allow the National Elephant Center (NEC), an elephant holding facility and breeding facility, to proceed, but it applied strict conditions that prohibit bullhooks, limit the number of elephants, and encourage the formation of an advisory committee to monitor the NEC.

The commission’s vote serves as a wake-up call for any zoo still using archaic circus-style training that relies on the bullhook, a steel-tipped device used to inflict pain and intimidate elephants with the threat of pain and violence. It’s clear that once the practice is exposed, that the public and elected officials will not tolerate the cruelty it inflicts.

IDA joined with national, state and local organizations to oppose the project, which is intended to facilitate the continued display of elephants in zoos, despite the fact that elephants are suffering and dying prematurely in inadequate exhibits. IDA program director Suzanne Roy addressed the commission, along with representatives from PETA, Animal Rights Foundation of Florida and United for Animals.

IDA will continue to monitor the NEC, as there are outstanding concerns about the facility including:

• NEC will be a breeding and holding facility that shuttles elephants in and out; such transfers are detrimental to elephants and may cause premature death
• Several of the zoos involved with the NEC have a close affiliation with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
• Ringling has stated an interest in sending elephants to NEC

Many zoos and both U.S. sanctuaries do not use bullhooks and instead employ a positive-reinforcement-only style of training that is humane for the elephants and safe for handlers. Do you know how the elephants are trained and managed at your city’s zoo? Call the zoo and ask, and then let us know the zoo’s response. If your zoo is still using bullhooks, make it clear that you oppose the use of this cruel device and urge the zoo to switch to using “protected contact” management only.

Thanks to all the Florida residents who wrote and called the St. Lucie County commissioners, opposing the project!