$2500 Reward Offered to Uncover Animal Cruelty at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

Hotline Established/Whistleblowers Sought as Park Heads for Limited Winter Hours

Vallejo, Calif.—As Six Flags Discovery Kingdom prepares for limited winter hours that will restrict public access to the animals there, In Defense of Animals (IDA) is launching a whistleblower campaign in an effort to expose and document animal cruelty at the Vallejo amusement park. The campaign includes:

  • A toll-free hotline: 1-888-4-ZOO-TIP that whistleblowers can use to report negligence or animal abuse. Anonymity is guaranteed.

  • A $2500 reward to any individual who provides information leading to the conviction of Six Flags or its agents for violations of federal, state, or local animal cruelty and/or animal welfare laws.

  • A series of classified ads in Vallejo-area newspapers publicizing the hotline and the reward.

  • Outreach to employees beginning with a leafleting scheduled for Friday, October 26, 2007 at the park.

The campaign is being launched on the eve of the two-month anniversary of the death of Makonnen, a two-year-old giraffe who perished in an overnight fire at the park. A malfunctioning electrical system is the suspected culprit. The giraffe was one of numerous animals – including seven elephants, two orcas and at least four dolphins – who have died at the park since Six Flags took over management a decade ago.

“We know that there are park employees who care about animals and are distressed by the way they are treated at this amusement park,” said IDA president Elliot M. Katz, DVM. “Our whistleblower program will enable them to help the animals at Six Flags without fear of losing their jobs.”

Katz noted that the several former park employees who have come forward with allegations of negligence and abuse did not feel comfortable doing so while still employed at the park.

“We are calling on people of integrity within Six Flags to call the hotline anonymously so they don’t have to wait until they retire or leave the park to report negligence or animal abuse,” he concluded.

IDA has been critical of the park’s treatment of animals, particularly the elephants, seven of whom remain confined at the park in the shadow of a rollercoaster. Since 1995, nine elephants, including two full-term calves, have died at the park, and many of the current elephant residents suffer from health problems including foot disease and arthritis--the leading causes of death in captive elephants.

IDA is an international animal advocacy organization based in San Rafael, Calif. For more information, see www.helpelephants.com.