Giant "Elephant" to Zoo Commission: Scrap Plans for Deficient Elephant Enclosure!

Demonstrators Expose Inadequacy of Zoo's Planned Exhibit on Elephant Appreciation Day

Philadelphia – Highlighting the insufficiency of the planned Philadelphia Zoo elephant enclosure, members of In Defense of Animals (IDA), joined by an "elephant," will observe Elephant Appreciation Day - September 22 - by urging Philadelphia Zoo to show its appreciation for elephants by scrapping plans for new exhibit space that will not meet even the most basic physical, social or psychological requirements of the elephants.

When:	Thursday, September 22 through Sunday, September 25, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Where:	Public sidewalk at entrance of Philadelphia Zoo, 34th Street and Girard Ave.

Elephants require a vast amount of acreage to maintain optimum physical and psychological health. In the wild, they are capable of roaming tens of miles a day. Lack of space contributes to captivity-induced ailments such as degenerative joint disease, often-lethal foot problems, neurotic behaviors, colic, and early reproductive shut-down. In zoos, elephants are dying at about half their lifespan of 60 to 70 years. In acknowledgement of the inadequacy of its current 1940s-era elephant exhibit, Philadelphia Zoo - the oldest zoo in the nation - is planning to replace the elephant exhibit with a $20 million enclosure. At 2.5-acres, the exhibit will still be woefully insufficient for the world's largest land mammals who are designed for almost constant movement on soft soil and varied terrain.

"Over the last thirty years, the zoo world has learned much about the physical, psychological and social needs of elephants," said Les Schobert, former curator at L.A. Zoo, who is leading an effort of current and former zoo officials to end the exhibit of elephants in traditional zoo enclosures.

"Philadelphia Zoo's decision to ignore this knowledge and build another deficient elephant enclosure is fiscally irresponsible and inhumane. Taxpayers, elephant lovers and zoo supporters beware: the zoo's expensive new exhibit will be outdated before it opens its doors."

Recognizing elephants' need for vast acreage, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted in 2004 on a 15-acre minimum space requirement for any new San Francisco Zoo elephant enclosure. Chicago will consider a similar measure this fall. As elephants continue to suffer captivity-induced problems, many zoos now realize that these animals' needs are greater than they can provide for and some are starting to question whether elephants should be put on exhibit at all.

Please visit HelpElephants.com for more information.