Date
August 22, 2006
Contact
St. Louis Animal Rights Team
314-517-8784
Suzanne Roy, IDA
919-732-8983 or cell 919-697-9389
In Defense of Animals
3010 Kerner Blvd
San Rafael
CA 94901
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.
Dying St. Louis Zoo Elephant Focus of Wednesday Protest
St. Louis, MO—A dying St. Louis Zoo elephant will be the focus of a protest and informational leafleting Wednesday by members of the St. Louis Animal Rights Team (START) and In Defense of Animal (IDA).
What: Protest and Leafleting at “Jammin at the Zoo” event
When: Wednesday, August 23, 2006 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Where: St. Louis Zoo, south entrance on Wells Drive
While the zoo celebrates the recent birth of a baby elephant, a tragedy quietly unfolds at the elephant exhibit -- the slow, painful and visible decline of the Asian elephant named Clara.
Clara has suffered for years from painful arthritis and chronic foot infections, conditions directly caused by a cramped and inadequate zoo environment. She is forced to wear rubber-soled sandals on her back feet due to their extremely deteriorated condition and in recent months appears to have lost significant weight. She moves slowly and shifts weight on her back feet constantly, apparently unable to bear her full weight on either foot for more than a few minutes.
Instead of transferring Clara from the environment that was causing her medical problems, the zoo has for years masked her pain with high doses of anti-inflammatory drugs that have poisoned her system, caused bleeding ulcers and compromised her kidneys.
If, even five years ago, Clara had been sent to The Elephant Sanctuary, a natural habitat refuge in Tennessee, she would have had a chance to heal and live out her natural 70-year lifespan. Now, it is probably too late.
“Clara is about as sad and broken down as an elephant can get. She is a living example of what 50 years in a zoo does to an elephant,” said Elliot M. Katz, DVM, president of IDA. “Elephants are big animals who need big spaces and zoos aren’t giving them what they need.”
At St. Louis Zoo, six of the seven adult elephants suffer from lameness, joint problems, chronic foot abscesses and nail problems. An eighth elephant, 32-year-old Carolyn, died at the Zoo in 2000 and also suffered from arthritis and foot problems.
“Elephants like Clara are suffering in zoos, and it’s just not right.” Katz concluded, noting this year’s premature deaths of Toni at National Zoo, Gita at Los Angeles Zoo and Pet at Oregon Zoo - all elephants who suffered for years from foot and joint disease.
At tomorrow’s event, START and IDA intend to educate the public about the plight of elephants at the St. Louis Zoo in the hopes of securing a better future for the new baby elephant and all the elephants there. For more information, visit www.helpelephants.com and www.start4animals.org.