Date
September 7, 2006
Contact
Catherine Doyle
(323) 301-5730
Kristie Phelps
(757) 423-0093
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.
IDA Calls for Federal Investigation of Elephant Abuse at El Paso Zoo
New Allegations Expose Violations of Animal Welfare Act
El Paso, Texas—In Defense of Animals (IDA) has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) asking for an investigation of explosive allegations surrounding the abuse of the elephant, Juno, at El Paso Zoo.
The organization is calling on the federal agency to investigate allegations and facts surrounding this incident:
- An El Paso Zoo employee allegedly struck the elephant Juno on August 1st, hitting her so hard with a wooden “stick” that the “stick” broke.
- The Zoo employee reportedly was fired by the City of El Paso, which owns and operates the Zoo.
- The same Zoo employee was implicated in a November 1998 incident that involved the vicious beating of an elephant named Sissy at the El Paso Zoo, for which the City of El Paso was fined $20,000 by the USDA.
IDA’s official complaint alleges that the El Paso Zoo violated the federal Animal Welfare Act by handling animals in a way that causes physical harm, behavioral stress or unnecessary discomfort, and by using physical abuse to train or otherwise handle animals.
“It defies logic to believe that the known incident of abuse against Sissy in 1999, and now the alleged use of unacceptable physical force against Juno, are the only two incidents of this kind to take place at the El Paso Zoo,” writes Dr. Elliot Katz, a veterinarian and IDA president, in the complaint.
“It is important to note that in the most recent incident, it was a Zoo volunteer who reported the incident, and not an employee of the Zoo, though it is highly likely that Zoo management or other personnel were aware of the incident,” Katz continues. “This clearly illustrates the institutional nature of the problem at El Paso Zoo, and the questionable oversight of management-level Zoo personnel.”
In 2000, the USDA charged the City of El Paso with multiple violations of the Animal Welfare Act and fined the City $20,000 for the cruel beating of Sissy. A shocking videotape exposed the incident, showing Sissy immobilized with leg chains and beaten for more than an hour, reportedly with an ax handle – a wooden “stick.”
El Paso Zoo collections supervisor Allan Seidon, who is reportedly one of the individuals depicted in the videotaped beating of Sissy, has been fired for allegedly failing to follow animal handling policies and procedures.
For more information see www.helpelephants.com. A copy of the letter is available upon request.