AR-News: ELEPHANTS---SWEET,SWEET,SWEET VICTORY--now my Ruby--lol

[סמדר]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                  FOR MORE INFORMATION:
June 24, 2004                                                  Nick Braden: 301-258-3072; nbraden at hsus.org

THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES APPLAUDS
 SAN FRANCISCO ZOO FOR SENDING ELEPHANTS TO SANCTUARY

 
WASHINGTON – The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) applauds today’s binding decision by the San Francisco Zoo to relocate its two remaining elephants to the Performing Animal Welfare Society’s (PAWS) Ark 2000 Sanctuary in San Andreas, California, despite vigorous opposition from the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA). The announcement made by San Francisco Zoo director Manuel Mollinedo brings to an end weeks of speculation about the fate of African elephant, Lulu and Asian elephant Tinkerbelle, who have been at the center of a tug of war between zoo management, the Board of Supervisors and the zoo’s professional association, the AZA. 
 
Following on the heels of the Detroit Zoo’s groundbreaking decision to voluntarily turn over its elephants to sanctuary based purely on animal welfare considerations, San Francisco Zoo’s action has been motivated by similar concerns and is principled since it runs counter to the recommendation of the AZA to send the aging elephants to another zoo and could result in the loss of AZA accreditation.  In a statement today, the AZA implies that such action might be detrimental to the species involved but in this instance that is clearly not the case. It was the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, led by President Matt Gonzalez working with the local animal protection community headed by In Defense of Animals that has tenaciously pursued the sanctuary option, placing the elephant’s welfare above the dictates of the AZA, which would have denied the elephants the opportunity to live out their lives in 100 acres of sanctuary grassland.
 
“This is another victory for elephants and for those zoo and city officials who are boldly putting the needs of these animals above accepted policy,” said Wayne Pacelle, CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. “Perhaps the time has come for the AZA to reconsider its outlook on sanctuaries and to acknowledge their value as appropriate homes for elephants.”
 
The practice of keeping elephants in captivity is becoming increasingly controversial. For example, Ruby, the African elephant who was transferred from Los Angeles Zoo to Knoxville Zoo over one year ago, is still not integrated into the ‘herd’ of three females. Given her dismal prospects to become a part of Knoxville’s herd, she would seem a likely candidate for a sanctuary.
 
More than 500 elephants are in zoos and circuses in the United States. The animals are among the most intelligent and social of those housed in zoos. The HSUS is calling on zoos and circuses nationwide to carefully examine captive elephant programs because of their inherent difficulties in providing humane, stimulating environments for elephants.
 
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization with more than eight million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals and equine protection, wildlife and habitat protection, animals in research and farm animals and sustainable agriculture. The HSUS protects all animals through legislation, litigation, investigation, education, advocacy and fieldwork. The non-profit organization, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2004, is based in Washington, DC and has 10 regional offices across the country. On the web at www.hsus.org 


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