Date
July 27, 2005
Contact
Debbie Leahy 630-393-9627; 630-373-6735 (cellular)
David Perle 757-622-7382, ext. 8410; DavidP@peta.org
In Defense of Animals
131 Camino Alto
Mill Valley
CA 94941
IDA is an international, California-based animal advocacy organization dedicated to ending the abuse and exploitation of animals by defending their rights, welfare and habitats.
Return Home
In Wake of Chronic Health Problems, Premature Elephant Deaths at Zoos Across the Country, Resolution Calls on AZA to Increase Size of Animals’ Quarters
Chicago – Today, Chicago City Council member Mary Ann Smith (Ward 48) introduced two resolutions calling on the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to strengthen their current elephant-care standards. The resolutions point out that minimum space requirements fall far short of an elephant’s needs. PETA, In Defense of Animals, and Friends of Wankie have been rallying support for the resolutions.
The primary cause of suffering and premature death of elephants in zoos is foot disorders and arthritis caused by prolonged standing on hard surfaces and forced inactivity caused by lack of sufficient space. AZA standards permit keeping elephants—who can weigh in excess of 13,000 pounds and walk tens of miles a day—in indoor enclosures of 20 feet by 20 feet and outdoor enclosures of 40 feet by 45 feet. Lincoln Park Zoo’s elephant yard is just one-third of an acre. The woefully inadequate federal Animal Welfare Act has no space and handling standards specific to elephants. Smith’s resolutions call on the AZA and the USDA to establish space requirements that allow captive elephants to walk and move similarly to how elephants roam in the wild. The resolution also calls on the AZA to prohibit the use of cruel devices, such as bullhooks and chains.
At least 39 elephants, excluding those 2 years old and younger, died between January 2000 and June 2005 at AZA-accredited facilities across the country, including three elephants at Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo. More than half of those 39 elephants never reached the age of 40, while a natural lifespan for elephants can be 70 years. Alderman Smith also introduced an ordinance that would mandate that any elephant brought into the city of Chicago would have more suitable space, humane living conditions, and safe handling.
“Forcing an elephant to live in a room 20 feet by 20 feet is like a forcing a human to live in a closet,” says PETA Director Debbie Leahy. “Even though much more is known today about an elephant’s need for significantly more space, traditional zoo enclosures for elephants haven’t changed in the last century.”
For more information, please visit PETA’s Web site SaveWildElephants.com and IDA’s Web site HelpElephants.com.