On October 5, 2006, the Philadelphia Zoo announced its decision to close its elephant exhibit for spring 2007 and transfer its four elephants to other facilities.
The zoo’s three African elephants, Petal (50), Kallie (24) and Bette (23) will move to the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore. The zoo’s only Asian elephant, Dulary (42), will move to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee.
Strong pressure to relocate elephants from the zoo
The zoo has been under pressure for several years by groups like Friends of Philly Zoo Elephants and Save Elephants in Zoos to find better homes for its four elephants. These groups argue that elephants require more space and more natural conditions than they currently have in numerous major zoos across the country. The four elephants currently occupy a quarter-acre yard with an 1,800-square-foot barn that was built in the 1940s.
Impact of Dulary’s injury
The situation in Philadelphia came to a head for two main factors. First, while the two older elephants, Petal and Dulary, had lived together peacefully for many years, the introduction of the two youngest elephants, Kallie and Bette, in April 2004 changed the dynamics of life. The Asian elephant, Dulary, suffered a serious eye injury in August 2005 in a fight with the younger African elephant, Bette. Dulary has been separated from the others since that time and the pressure has been great to find him a new home.
2005 decision to scrap plans for the new exhibit
The zoo hoped to include a new 2.5-acre elephant savanna in its capital improvement projects, which include the Peco Primate Reserve, Big Cat Falls Bank of America, and the new Bird House and new Children’s Zoo. Last year, however, the zoo abandoned plans for a new elephant exhibit, citing difficulties in raising the $ 22 million that would be needed. From the moment that decision was made, it seemed clear that it was only a matter of time before the elephants were relocated.
The zoo has for years maintained that its current exhibit meets national standards for elephant care, and indeed, compared to other zoos like the Washington National Zoo, the exhibit appears comparable. Clearly, however, external pressure played as much a role as funding issues in finalizing the zoo’s decision.
Impact of Elephant Loss at the Philadelphia Zoo
Personally, I consider it a sad but correct decision. Elephants have always been one of my favorite exhibits at the zoo and one of the most popular with all visitors. The treatment elephants receive at the Philadelphia Zoo has always seemed much better than that received by elephants in circuses. The fate of these magnificent animals in the wild is still very tenuous. The number of elephants in the wilds of Africa and Asia continues to decline as a result of invasion and human poaching.
The day is foreseeable when the only surviving elephants will be those in captivity. For this reason, breeding programs in elephant zoos and reserves are essential for the survival of the species.
It is not only sad, but a kind of embarrassing reflection on all of us who are friends and members of the zoo who made this decision. The nation’s first zoo should have a modern elephant exhibit where we and our children can forever see these animals in the conditions they deserve.
The future
Perhaps the day in the future will come where pressure, perhaps due to declining attendance, will force the zoo to reconsider its capital funding priorities. Unfortunately, however, confined as it is to Fairmount Park, the zoo has limited space for expansion and funding always remains an issue. For now we can only hope that Petal, Kallie, Bette and Dulary are happy and live long lives in their new homes.
On October 5, 2006, the Philadelphia Zoo announced its decision to close its elephant exhibit for spring 2007 and transfer its four elephants to other facilities.
The zoo’s three African elephants, Petal (50), Kallie (24) and Bette (23) will move to the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore. The zoo’s only Asian elephant, Dulary (42), will move to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee.
Strong pressure to relocate elephants from the zoo
The zoo has been under pressure for several years by groups like Friends of Philly Zoo Elephants and Save Elephants in Zoos to find better homes for its four elephants. These groups argue that elephants require more space and more natural conditions than they currently have in numerous major zoos across the country. The four elephants currently occupy a quarter-acre yard with an 1,800-square-foot barn that was built in the 1940s.
Impact of Dulary’s injury
The situation in Philadelphia came to a head for two main factors. First, while the two older elephants, Petal and Dulary, had lived together peacefully for many years, the introduction of the two youngest elephants, Kallie and Bette, in April 2004 changed the dynamics of life. The Asian elephant, Dulary, suffered a serious eye injury in August 2005 in a fight with the younger African elephant, Bette. Dulary has been separated from the others since that time and the pressure has been great to find him a new home.
2005 decision to scrap plans for the new exhibit
The zoo hoped to include a new 2.5-acre elephant savanna in its capital improvement projects, which include the Peco Primate Reserve, Big Cat Falls Bank of America, and the new Bird House and new Children’s Zoo. Last year, however, the zoo abandoned plans for a new elephant exhibit, citing difficulties in raising the $ 22 million that would be needed. From the moment that decision was made, it seemed clear that it was only a matter of time before the elephants were relocated.
The zoo has for years maintained that its current exhibit meets national standards for elephant care, and indeed, compared to other zoos like the Washington National Zoo, the exhibit appears comparable. Clearly, however, external pressure played as much a role as funding issues in finalizing the zoo’s decision.
Impact of Elephant Loss at the Philadelphia Zoo
Personally, I consider it a sad but correct decision. Elephants have always been one of my favorite exhibits at the zoo and one of the most popular with all visitors. The treatment elephants receive at the Philadelphia Zoo has always seemed much better than that received by elephants in circuses. The fate of these magnificent animals in the wild is still very tenuous. The number of elephants in the wilds of Africa and Asia continues to decline as a result of invasion and human poaching.
The day is foreseeable when the only surviving elephants will be those in captivity. For this reason, breeding programs in elephant zoos and reserves are essential for the survival of the species.
It is not only sad, but a kind of embarrassing reflection on all of us who are friends and members of the zoo who made this decision. The nation’s first zoo should have a modern elephant exhibit where we and our children can forever see these animals in the conditions they deserve.
The future
Perhaps the day in the future will come where pressure, perhaps due to declining attendance, will force the zoo to reconsider its capital funding priorities. Unfortunately, however, confined as it is to Fairmount Park, the zoo has limited space for expansion and funding always remains an issue. For now we can only hope that Petal, Kallie, Bette and Dulary are happy and live long lives in their new homes.
