IDA Accuses Philly Zoo of Violating Endangered Species Act

Philadelphia Zoo

IDA Submits Legal Notification for Transfer of Off-Exhibit Elephant to Sanctuary

IDA and Marianne Bessey of Friends of Philly Zoo Elephants notified the Philadelphia Zoo by letter this week it is in violation of the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) for its mistreatment of Dulary, an endangered Asian elephant. IDA and Friends of Philly Zoo Elephants charge the Zoo with breaching the ESA's prohibition on the "take" of endangered species, which is defined not only as killing, but also "harming" and/or "harassing" a species of animal protected under the Act. IDA and Friends of Philly Zoo Elephants base the charges on two unacceptable housing conditions:

For over six months, the Zoo has restricted Dulary to an isolated stall in a concrete-floored barn, severely limiting her access to fresh air and outdoor exercise. According to eyewitness reports, Dulary is frequently only allowed outside for approximately 45 minutes a day, when the Zoo brings the African elephants into the barn. Zoo caretakers have stated on several occasions that Dulary was not allowed to exercise outdoors at all.
Dulary spends her evenings in the concrete barn with three African elephants despite American Zoo and Aquarium (AZA) accreditation guidelines that advise against keeping Asian and African elephants together. This arrangement not only increases the risk of disease transmission and physical assault against Dulary by the more aggressive African elephants, but denies Dulary the opportunity to socialize with Asian elephants.

While the Zoo has acknowledged that its elephant exhibit is substandard, its Board of Directors rejected a proposed expansion plan last year, and no concrete plans to improve Dulary's condition have been announced. Therefore, IDA and Friends of Philly Zoo Elephants have urged the Philadelphia Zoo to send Dulary to The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee, which has offered to transport and accept Dulary at no cost to the Zoo. The Sanctuary would provide Dulary with acres of land on which to roam and allow her to live as a member of an established Asian elephant herd. These conditions would provide a much better quality of life for Dulary than the Philadelphia Zoo could.

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