After Woodland Park Zoo finally closed its elephant exhibit in May of 2015, its two remaining elephants, Chai and Bamboo, were shipped off to Oklahoma Zoo after a long and heated battle that nearly won them sanctuary. Chai died eight months after the transfer to Oklahoma Zoo from emaciation, a blood infection, and other health related complications that were undetected by the zoo veterinarians.

The surviving elephant, Bamboo, is now being attacked by the other elephants at Oklahoma City Zoo; she has had her tail bitten so severely that tissue and tendon were exposed. Bamboo is trying to defend herself and attack back, which is indicative of how unbelievably tragic this is for all elephants involved.  Yet, Oklahoma Zoo officials claim that Bamboo is doing great.  This would qualify as a pathetically low standard of elephant husbandry in any facility, let alone, an AZA accredited facility that claims itself to be an expert on elephant welfare.

Bamboo lost her one companion and is not integrating with the herd as the Zoo “experts” assumed she would. Her situation is of serious concern and action needs to be taken on her behalf, as well as for the other elephants in this horrific situation which could easily lead to death.

In Defense of Animals is filing a complaint with the USDA on Bamboo’s behalf. Stay tuned to see how you can support our efforts to help Bamboo!

Read more here.

To follow the newly formed Oklahoma Friends of Elephants- OFE, which is advocating for the welfare of Bamboo and the other Oklahoma Zoo elephants go here.