Date
October 5, 2006
Contact
Catherine Doyle
(323) 301-5730
Suzanne Roy
(919) 732-8983
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.
PHILADELPHIA ZOO’S CLOSURE OF ELEPHANT EXHIBIT SIGNALS NATIONAL TREND, ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION SAYS
Group hails decision to send one elephant to sanctuary, expresses concern about future of other three
Philadelphia, Pa.—In Defense of Animals (IDA) joins elephant advocates in commending Philadelphia Zoo for today’s announcement that it will close its outdated elephant exhibit. Philadelphia Zoo becomes the second facility in the last two weeks and the 11th zoo in the U.S. that has shut down or will close its elephant display.
“The Philadelphia Zoo’s decision to close its elephant exhibit is part of a positive trend that reflects changing public opinion and an evolving understanding of the needs of elephants,” says IDA president and veterinarian Dr. Elliot Katz. “Elephants are big animals who need big spaces. Zoos should only hold elephants if they can provide the space and natural conditions that elephants need.”
In recent years, major zoos in Detroit and San Francisco shuttered their elephant displays and sent the elephants to a sanctuary. Other facilities, such as the Bronx Zoo, and Santa Barbara Zoo (Calif.) have announced plans to phase out their elephant displays. Bronx Zoo will focus its efforts entirely on conservation of elephants in the wild.
One Philadelphia Zoo elephant, 42-year-old Dulary, will be sent to The Elephant Sanctuary, a 2700-acre natural habitat refuge in Tennessee, while the remaining three elephants will be transferred to a zoo in Maryland, the Zoo announced at a press conference this afternoon.
“I am gratified that the Philadelphia Zoo did the right thing for Dulary and also made the right decision to get out of the elephant business altogether,” states Katz. “We commend the zoo for recognizing that its outdated facilities for elephants were woefully inadequate and that this urban zoo was simply incapable of ever providing the space necessary to hold earth’s largest land mammal.”
But Katz continued, “We remain concerned about the three African elephants, Petal, Kali and Betty, who are destined for another zoo. We are saddened that they will not have a chance for a better future at a sanctuary with the space and conditions elephants need to thrive.”
In Defense of Animals is an international animal rescue and advocacy organization based in San Rafael, Calif. For more information on IDA’s Elephant Campaign, please visit www.helpelephants.com.