Both zoos have a history of failing to comply with the minimum standards of care established by the federal Animal Welfare Act. The San Diego Zoo has been cited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for failure to provide animals with sanitary living conditions, proper feeding, sufficient veterinary care, adequate shelter, and proper ventilation. Even more disturbing, several years ago the zoo found itself in the middle of a public relations nightmare when members of the public witnessed the beating of an elephant named Dunda. Dunda was tied down with ropes on all four legs and beaten for two days with clubs and axe handles. It is amazing that she survived this torture.

In preparation for the arrival of the Swazi elephants, the San Diego Zoo discarded its older, unwanted elephants by shipping them off to zoos in Chicago and Texas. Peaches, Tatima, and Wankie were sent to a much smaller exhibit at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, where they will be restricted to “life” indoors for up to six months of each year because of the cold climate. Since they are too old to breed, they were no longer of any use to the zoo. It is disgraceful that the zoo disposed of these elephants, who had lived at the zoo since they were captured in the wild as babies.

Currently, the Lowry Park Zoo is under USDA investigation and is being sued for the deaths of several wallabies. Reportedly, the zoo transported the animals in the back of an unventilated, hot truck typically used for moving furniture instead of using a vehicle specially designed for transporting animals. This is not the first time that Lowry Park Zoo has run afoul of its legal and ethical responsibilities to the animals in its charge. The Lowry Park Zoo has been cited by the USDA for failure to provide animals with clean water to drink, shelter from direct sunlight and inclement weather, safe enclosures, and proper handling. The last elephant the zoo had was shipped off to the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, a typical example of how zoos dump unwanted animals with no consideration of their future welfare.

Pachyderms in Purgatory

At present, more than 200 African elephants are held in captivity in North American facilities. Nearly all were captured in the wild, and many are living in grossly substandard conditions.

PETA suggested that the zoos instead attempt to save Maggie, an African elephant who suffers from loneliness and bitter cold at the Alaska Zoo. Or Mary, a lone African elephant, who spends most of her life swaying neurotically in a trailer while being dragged around the country for circuses. Or Tonya, another solitary African elephant, who has tried to escape from her miserable circus life at least four times. If the San Diego and Lowry Park zoos were interested in obtaining additional elephants, they should have rescued elephants in need, not violated more animals by taking them out of the wild.