Philadelphia Zoo Elephant Death Causes Local Residents to Call for Immediate Rescue of Surviving Elephants
Elephant Victim had Opportunity for Sanctuary Over a Year Ago, but Zoo Chose Instead to Keep Her in Inhumane Conditions Which Led to her Premature Death
June 9, 2008, Philadelphia: In the wake of the death of Philadelphia Zoo Elephant Petal, aged 52, local residents are rallying to urge Philadelphia Zoo to halt plans to breed surviving elephants and instead send them to a sanctuary.
Nearly two years ago, the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) sanctuary in California offered to take the three African elephants at no charge.
Zoo Director Vik Dewan refused to send them, opting instead to keep them here in Philadelphia in conditions that zoo officials themselves admit are inadequate, while awaiting the construction of a breeding facility near Pittsburgh.
"We need to act now to rescue the surviving two elephants and send them to the PAWS sanctuary," said Marianne Bessey, leader of local grassroots group Friends of Philly Zoo Elephants. "Petal's death highlights that zoo industry conditions prematurely kill elephants. The Philadelphia Zoo needs to do the right thing and follow the examples of the San Francisco Zoo and the Detroit Zoo and put the elephants' interest ahead of the zoo's business interests, before it is too late for Kallie and Bette."
Bessey took video yesterday at the zoo of all three elephants, including Petal.
On average, elephants in zoos die at roughly half their natural average lifespan of 70 -80 years. The leading cause of death for elephants in zoos is foot- and joint-related problems created by the lack of space in zoos. Philadelphia Zoo elephants Kallie and Bette are slated to move to a breeding facility in central Pennsylvania later this year where they will be forcibly bred in attempt to produce more elephants for display. Zoo director Vik Dewan has expressed uncertainty about the elephants' future, stating that they will first be shipped to the breeding facility and that their future after that is unknown. The Performing Animal Welfare Society, a 2,300-acre sanctuary in California, and home to 12 former zoo and circus elephants, last year offered a lifetime home to all three elephants at no charge.
Friends of Philly Zoo Elephants is a group of local advocates who are concerned about the elephants at the Philadelphia Zoo. For more information, please visit www.helpphillyzooelephants.com or call 610-733-1248.
