Winter Newsletter from Friends of Philly Zoo Elephants

More on the Pittsburgh Breeding facility

The Post-Gazette, the largest-circulation paper in the Pittsburgh area, published an OP-ED from a FPZE member on October 31, 2007.

Link to the OP-ED here or read it below.

Breeding elephants doesn't protect them

Zoos like those in Pittsburgh should help preserve the animals' native habitat instead

During this month's ground-breaking ceremony at the Pittsburgh zoo's proposed elephant breeding facility in Somerset Country, lots of lip service was paid to "conservation." It is without question that elephants, endangered in Asia and threatened in Africa, desperately need help. But will spending millions of dollars on breeding a handful of elephants actually help elephants -- or just the zoo's bottom line?

The elephant exhibit at the Philadelphia Zoo is closing and the three remaining wild-caught African elephants -- Kallie, Bette and Petal -- are supposed to move to Somerset County in April. The zoo's Asian elephant, Dulary, was fortunate enough to leave Philadelphia in May for The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, where she enjoys the closest thing to an elephant's life possible in captivity.

Kallie, Bette and Petal could have a similar life at the Performing Animal Welfare Society sanctuary in California, but instead the Philadelphia Zoo has decided to ship them to the "International Conservation Center" breeding facility in Somerset County.

The breeding facility is located on 724 acres of rolling hills, with six natural ponds and lush vegetation. I visited the facility in July. It is a tranquil and beautiful place, positively idyllic.

But there's a problem: The elephants, who would roam up to 30 miles a day in their native African home, won't have access to any of it except when they are supervised by a keeper with a weapon known as an ankus, or bullhook. That's right, the Pittsburgh zoo still employs an archaic "management method" that dominates elephants through fear and violence with a device that resembles a fireplace poker -- all in the name of conservation, of course.

Other businesses, such as Ringling Bros. Circus, use the same fear- and violence-based management technique and also claim their breeding efforts are in support of "conservation." In reality, the only thing being "conserved" is the zoo's and Ringling Bros.' business interests: Elephants are hugely popular and a big customer draw.

The display of elephants and other animals, claim the zoos, makes people care about them, which will help save the species. However, there is not a shred of evidence to support the claim that people need to see endangered animals firsthand to want to save them. If so, elephants wouldn't be endangered today since people have been seeing them in zoos and circuses for more than 200 years.

On the contrary, during the last 20 years, as zoos have adopted their "conservation" ethic, elephant numbers have continued to decline due to the accelerated destruction of their natural habitats in their native countries. Without a habitat, the species can't survive -- even zoos know this. Still, zoos persist in diverting hundreds of millions of dollars every year away from true conservation. True conservation is habitat preservation and anti-poaching/animal protection efforts in native countries.

Since the annual cost of keeping each elephant for a year ranges from an estimated $58,000 to $150,000, here are just a few examples of what just one zoo's elephant budget could support to truly help protect these animals:

� Less than $1 million per year can protect 1 million acres of wildlife in Cambodia -- less than a dollar per acre per year.

� $10,000 can support a seven-member anti-poaching team in Asia for one year, including salaries, food supplements, medicine support and basic equipment, according to WildAid.

� $400,000 is the entire annual budget for the Amboseli Elephant Research Project, which protects the lives of 1,400 elephants in 52 families in their native habitat in Kenya.

If we really want to save endangered or threatened species such as elephants, zoos must stop wasting energy and money on keeping elephants in captivity and redirect those resources to preserve habitats in Asia and Africa.

Poverty-ridden countries where wild elephants live are desperate for help in preserving wildlife, yet the multi-billion-dollar zoo industry does little to nothing to support these efforts. Instead, North American zoos -- including the Pittsburgh Zoo -- spend tens of millions of dollars to display a few hundred elephants while ignoring the tens of thousands of elephants in immediate jeopardy in their native countries.

So let's call this proposed breeding facility what it really is: the elephant equivalent of a puppy mill, whose sole purpose is to fill the coffers of the zoo industry. Please don't call it "conservation."

Response from readers

We received over a dozen letters from readers thanking us for the OP-ED. Below are a few:

I read your article (Breeding elephants doesn't protect them) in today's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.   20 years ago I felt "forced" to take my daughter to the zoo. Isn't that what all good dads do? The experience was a sad one for me. I've never been back to any zoo and will not go in the future. I have always viewed zoos as concentration camps. Your article, with its information and facts, does a good job in questioning a zoo's actual mission. Bravo for you and for Friends of Philly Zoo Elephants. Keep fighting the good fight. - James H.

A superb job. I'm sure many people will find the article eye-opening.

Rebecca T., Edgewood, PA

I just read your article about the conservation of elephants and what really should be done instead of breeding them. I must tell you that when I first read what the Pittsburgh zoo was doing for the elephants I was so happy and joyful that these animals would be placed in a good environment. However, after I read your article, I was fuming! I wonder how many people really understand what is going on when they read that these elephants are going to an elephant breeding facility. Do they know that they will be restricted to a small space; do they know that a weapon will be used to "manage" them? I was unaware of all this, and I consider myself an animal advocate who tries to keep up with what's REALLY going on. I was aware of the circuses, which is why I no longer go to them. I would like to be of some help in some way. Could you please direct me and tell me what I need to do to try to help these magnificent creatures? Thank you so much for your time.  Sincerely, Nancy O.

I read your article which appeared in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently. I fully agree with your comments about the need to save the elephant habitats. The new preserve being built in Somerset County is nothing more than a example of people in power over the animals patting themselves on the back, rather than pushing for habitat preservation. I have railed in print and in person at various circus arrivals in Pittsburgh and also wrote to the Allegheny County commissioners to consider banning any show, petting zoo, or circus from playing in our area. I advised them that other major cities have taken that step.I never received a reply. Ringling Brothers will not respond to letters regards the criminal treatment of elephant rented from Hawthorne. There is a need to get the public to know the true plight of elephants and what they can do to help them such as your suggestion of direct support of the anti-poaching teams and research by Amboseli Project.
Thanks for your inspiring article.

Ed C., Pittsburgh

And this letter was published:

Elephant Welfare

Regarding Marianne Bessey's Oct. 31 Midweek Perspectives piece ("Breeding Elephants Doesn't Protect Them"): I agree with her comments and applaud her efforts to promote the humane treatment of these magnificent creatures. It would make far more sense to support the elephant colonies in their natural habitats. There are many organizations working toward that end that could put the breeding farm funds to better use.

Patricia Cekoric, Hopewell, PA