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Adam Stone, Zoo Atlanta |
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Kartick Satyanarayan,
Wildlife SOS, India |
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PAWS founder and director, Pat Derby, discusses the challenges of keeping bull elephants in captivity. |
Summit for the Elephants, 2012 More than 100 elephant advocates gathered at Oakland Zoo for one of the most informative conferences of the year. The range of speakers included some of the foremost scientists studying elephants in the wild, as well as activists, zoo professionals and founders of sanctuaries for captive elephants worldwide.
The energy at the conference was palpable, with everyone in attendance committed to moving forward to provide a better world for captive elephants. Many thanks to the staff and volunteers from the Oakland Zoo, and from PAWS, for their incredible contribution to the success of this important gathering, and a big THANK YOU to our speakers and vendors.
Please remember to continue lobbying HR 3359!
 | | Dr. Keith Lindsay (left), shown here with Active Environments' Margaret Whittaker and PAWS' senior elephant keeper Brian Busta, extended his stay in San Andreas for a few days after Summit. |
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Delicious vegan and veggie lunches and snacks were prepared by renowned chef, Tanya Petrovna (right), of Native Foods Cafe fame. That's event caterer Starla Krause on the left. |
View Summit videos. . .
 | | PAWS Summit for the Elephants 2012 |
 | | PAWS Summit for the Elephants 2012 Day 3 |
More from Summit. . .
Click here to view Summit photo highlights and special acknowledgements. . .
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ARK 2000
MAY 12
OPEN HOUSE More information, here.
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"The idea that it is funny to see wild animals coerced into acting like clumsy humans, or thrilling to see powerful beasts reduced to cringing cowards by a whip-cracking trainer is primitive and medieval."
Desmond Morris
Former Director of London Zoo
and noted animal behaviorist.
The Show Must
Not Go On!
PLEASE, JOIN US IN PUTTING AN END TO EXOTIC ANIMALS IN TRAVELING SHOWS! READ THE TEXT OF HR3359 HERE. WRITE TO YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE URGING THEIR SUPPORT. SAMPLE LETTERS AND FLYERS ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE.
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PAWS P.O. Box 849
Galt, California 95632 (209) 745-2606
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Amboseli baby "71" |
"71" Returns to the Wild
When Ed and I were fighting to keep our precious baby elephant, 71, alive, we dreamed of returning her to Africa. We purchased ARK 2000 for her, but we always knew she deserved more.
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When we lost her from the cumulative effects of capture, we were devastated. We could not alleviate the pain of her loss; but, last month, we had the opportunity to name one of the elephant calves in the Amboseli, 71.
The Amboseli Trust for Elephants has a unique program for people wanting to become more intimately involved in their ongoing research project. It is a naming program in which one of their known individual elephants is given a name chosen by a donor.
They generally don't name calves until they are four years old. Before that, the calf has a code name based on its mother's name and year of birth, but for their naming program, ATE will name calves as young as 18 months to two years.
No other calf will have the chosen name; it is a very exclusive program, not like an adoption program in which hundreds of people might adopt the same elephant. This name will go down in the research project records and be used forever. The namer receives a recent photo of the calf, a naming certificate, a description and history of the calf's family, and will also receive periodic updates over the years.
We have just received photos of 71, and her mother, Sabaki, from Cynthia Moss, and we are euphoric!
This new baby elephant in the Amboseli epitomizes our hope for the future when elephants will only breed in wild habitats which are protected.
We also named a second baby, Malugie, for Mara, Lulu and Maggie. For PAWS, these two babies are the hope of the future.
Thank you, Cynthia, for keeping our dream alive!
- Pat Derby
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Malugie, with her mother, Maria |
To name an Amboseli elephant ATE asks for a donation of $2,500. If you are interested please contact them at [email protected], or write to Amboseli Trust for Elephants, 10 State Street, Newburyport, MA 01950.
View archive footage of 71's arrival in Galt, here.
View 71 photo gallery, here.
Donate in memory of 71, here.
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Wanda grazing down by the Asian habitat lake. |
Wanda Celebrates
Seven Years at PAWS
Wanda was 47 years old when she arrived at ARK 2000 on April 8, 2005, with her companion, Winky, a 52 year old female. The two Asian elephants had resided at the Detroit Zoo until the decision was made to retire them to PAWS.
Wanda suffered from arthritis and Winky had foot problems. Both had already surpassed the average 45 year life expectancy for Asian elephants in captivity in North America.
The elephants arrived with an entourage of doting keepers, zoo staff, veterinarians, Detroit media and a truck load of toys.
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Pat and Ed with Wanda |
Wanda adapted immediately to the rolling grass hills consuming a large patch of blue lupine growing inside the Asian habitat on her first stroll. Winky chose to spend her days basking in the sunshine, staying closer to her barn. "Perhaps it was because of all of the attention she received, or all of the treats she was given, at any rate, she wanted to stay close to home," Pat Derby, PAWS' founder, fondly recalls.
After Winky's death in 2008, Wanda discovered Gypsy, PAWS' bull elephant Nicholas' former companion, and the two have become inseparable, roaming the hills, chirping, squeaking and trumpeting when they are temporarily separated.
Wanda spent her 7th anniversary grazing and sleeping in the sun while BFF Gypsy stood sentinel. Later in the day Wanda's keepers presented her with her favorite bran cake decorated with Jelly Bellies and fruit.
Happy 7th anniversary, Wanda!
View Wanda's anniversary celebration. . .
 | | Asian Elephant: WANDA's 7th ANNIVERSARY |
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No Hollywood-Style Happy Ending. . .
Elephant Movie Stars Are Now In Circus!
Animal Defenders-International has released video footage of Hollywood elephant stars Tai and Rosie performing with a Shrine circus in North Dakota.
The video shows presenter Joanne Smith, a trainer with animal act supplier Have Trunk Will Travel, confirming that the two elephants giving rides and performing headstands with the circus are indeed Tai, the elephant star of Water for Elephants, and Rosie, who appeared in Zookeeper.
Please support HR3359, the Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act (TEAPA)! Donate to our campaign. Even a little can go a long way. . .
 | | No Hollywood ending for Tai & Rosie |
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To Ferguson. . .
The Bestist Monkey
Donations to PAWS come in all sizes. In this particular case, Hazel and her friends Clover and Satchel, all from Pasadena, CA, set up a lemonade stand and raised money to send to Ferguson, PAWS' Macaque monkey. We were so touched by Hazel's letter that we thought we would share it with you.
THANK YOU HAZEL. . . and by the way, Ferguson does still need pillowcases!
 | | Ferguson the Macaque |
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