Vallejo, CA— The death of a baby African elephant at Marine World on October 8 raises new concerns for exotic animals held captive in theme parks. In Defense of Animals (IDA), a nonprofit animal protection organization based in Mill Valley, CA, urges Marine World to stop breeding captive elephants immediately to prevent future deaths. In Defense of Animals anticipates widespread coverage of this tragedy and encourages the media to include the views of animal advocates in their stories.

The death is the but one of a series of questionable deaths of animals to occur at Marine World since Premier Parks took over the venue five years ago. The loud noise and disturbances from the amusement park’s rides and crowds are surely a contributing factor in the deaths of these animals.

Marine World spokespersons claim that their efforts for artificial
insemination were geared at learning more about reproduction of the elephants. IDA takes exception to the notion that amusement parks breeding animals in captivity is an effective method of preventing their extinction in the wild. The major threats to wild elephants are their disappearing habitat, being hunted for their ivory tusks, and being captured and taken out of the wild to be sent to circuses and zoos around the world. Artificially inseminating elephants at amusement parks will not combat these threats. Not surprisingly, earlier this year, an application by Marine World to import two female baby elephants was rejected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), who said the amusement park "didn't make a compelling case for scientific research."

“Breeding elephants in captivity only satisfies Marine World’s ability to profit from increasing public attendance when displaying baby animals and does not support the best interest of the animals,” stated IDA President Elliot M. Katz, a veterinarian. “Artificial insemination of elephants in captivity does not help protect endangered animals because the captive-bred animals born at Marine World can never be released into the wild,” Dr. Katz continued. “If Marine World decides to reinseminate this elephant, putting her life at risk, we will pursue legal action against it.”

A report by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) indicated that only 1,200 zoos out of 10,000 worldwide are registered for captive breeding and wildlife conservation. Only two percent of the world's threatened or endangered species are registered in breeding programs.