That they can lead to death? That’s right. Well, sort of…if you’re an Asian elephant at the Oregon Zoo, that is. Congratulations to the Zoo, for making its way onto In Defense of Animals (IDA)’s 2006 list of “Ten Worst Zoos for Elephants.”
The findings, released this morning by IDA, report that 5 out of 6 elephants suffer from chronic foot disorders at our favorite local Saturday afternoon destination to take the kids on an adventure through the African Savanna.
Suzanne Roy, program director for IDA, says that their studies found “almost every elephant at the Oregon Zoo has serious foot disease, a direct result of the inadequate and unnatural conditions at the zoo—the primary one being the lack of space to exercise and walk.”
Bill LaMarche, media relations officer for the Zoo, cautioned that studies such as those from IDA often have clear agendas against zoos – or take selective information out of context from comprehensive medical records. “The IDA’s press release was damaging to the elephant keepers who take care of these elephants. The reason they do the job is because they love elephants and care about their future.”
In Defense of Animal’s website states the organization is an “international non-profit animal protection organization dedicated to ending the institutionalized exploitation and abuse of animals by defending their rights, welfare and habitats.” Suzanne Roy, program director for IDA, says that their studies found “almost every elephant at the Oregon Zoo has serious foot disease, a direct result of the inadequate and unnatural conditions at the zoo—the primary one being the lack of space to exercise and walk.”
In the wild, elephants walk up to 30 miles per day, but in some cases, smaller enclosures can potentially lead elephants to stand on hard, unnatural surfaces for extended periods of time – and experience a host of problems as a result of the inadequate roaming space.
“Our outdoor yards actually consist of soft sand and grass, indoors consists of a two-inch recycled rubber flooring material that cushions the elephants’ joints,” LaMarche says. “When [IDA] puts out these blanket statements, it’s like they haven’t done their homework.”
IDA did not single out the Oregon Zoo in making accusations of elephant mistreatment. In a survey of medical records for 35 zoos holding elephants nationwide, the IDA reported that 62 percent of their elephants experienced similar foot disorders.
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I am curious of this IDA. Are there any vets in this organization? In lieu of “our” zoo, what do they want done with zoo animals? I do think elephants could be “walked” around the enclosure, do laps, but wonder if IDA would protest that?
Exactly what do the members of IDA know of animal husbandry? I see that group critisize some things, but lets obvious things go unaddressed. Why isn’t IDA out protesting at pet stores, that sell “pocket pets”, where some busy single parent buys one for their kid, and some weeks later, said pet is found starved to death. Starving is a gruesome death, IDA should try it sometime.
I guess my point is, I think IDA would be impressive to me if they really educated people as to what animals need, rather than focusing on critisizing people/organizations that specialize in animals.
WW has become easy prey for yet another self interest group sending out advertising in the guise of a press release. You can be sure this group will prominently feature the “news coverage” they got from WW in the next solicitation for donations. When the media starts demanding detailed documentation and bona fides from these money making organizations (remember, the actual legal designation is “Not for Profit”, not “Non-Profit, meaning they can spend their revenues almost any way they please as long as a surplus doesn’t accumulate) the better.
Willy Week gets chumped again. Did you bother to check IDA’s credentials? Is it really ethical to comment on medical records without seeing the patient? Ahh, but it makes for a good story – that’s right. Maybe the zoo should move to the mall so these extremist will leave them alone and our families can enjoy the unique animal friendly experiences the zoo offers us. Or will we let the extreme vocal minority take away something that so many of us hold dear.
If you are qurious about IDA, go to their website http://www.IDAUSA.org, and you will learn that even IDA’s president is in fact a veterinarian. IDA do work to protect pet store animals, too, by the way.
Medical records speak for themselves. If an elephant receives 18,000 milligrams of Ibuprofen per day (like Toni at the National Zoo was given until they euthanized her), it is obvious that this elephant must be in pain! Zoo elephants suffer from a number of things, like confinement, foot diseases, insufficient diet, stress, boredom, neurotic behavior, forced breeding, separation of mother and calf, and sometimes brutal and dominant handling from zoo staff. The list is long as my arm. AZA zoos in the U.S. have had close to 50 premature elephant deaths since 2000. (Oregon zoo euthanized an elephant named Pet last year due to foot disease, and another elephant, Hugo, died prematurely in 2003 at Oregon zoo.) Yes, that was premature deaths. So why are zoo patrons so offensive when critizism is raised against their local zoo? It’s time for the public to put the zoo animals’ needs before their own needs. Gawking at lethargic and sick animals is not educational. These zoo animals should be sent to a spacious natural-habitat sanctuary, like The Elephant Sanctuary in TN.
I don’t need the medical records to see how the elephants suffer in this zoo (and a few others that I made a point to visit);
the Portland zoo director should stop by now and then by the males’ elephants exhibit and listen to the horrified kids appalled by the banging on the metal gate or swaying non-stop.
It is a shame that the human beings can be so insensitive and cruel to the animals in their care.
To call Portland zoo a leader just because they force the elephants to breed is a joke – this forced breeding is another form of abuse.
For people who are too lazy to check the credentials of IDA:
Founded in 1983 by veterinarian Dr. Elliot M. Katz, IDA is a national, nonprofit organization with a distinguished record for its dedication to ending the exploitation and abuse of animals by defending their rights, welfare and habitat.
Bill, Who,
Good points! Why is it that everytime these animal rights people send out a press release or a top ten list, all the media gobble it up like it’s real news? OK, an animal rights group makes a list of the 10 worst whatever….and do you think it was well researched or factual? Wasn’t it just a media ploy. Please cover the news WW – not trash coooked up and served on a PR plate!
freetheelephants
Jan 11th, 2007 9:33pm
Who are you to say what was premature? Where you there on the grounds? Did you examine the animal?
These elephants cannot be released into the wild at this point. How do you know they didn’t some genetic factor that resulted in their death? Oh, that’s right, every single stinking animal born into captivity is exceptionally genetically formed. You basement dweller you!
freetheelephants
Jan 11th, 2007 9:33pm
If you are qurious about IDA, go to their website http://www.IDAUSA.org, and you will learn that even IDA’s president is in fact a veterinarian. IDA do work to protect pet store animals, too, by the way.
Exactly what successful animal rescues has your president vet overseen? In what noticible way does IDA protect pet store animals? Details, details.
To aunti em: I understand that these zoo elephants cannot be released back into the wild. I never said that was the goal. However, they can be released into a natural habitat like The Elephant Sanctuary that can offer asian elephants 2,200 acres of freedom.
The goal is to improve the elephants’ welfare and quality of life.
Who am I to say what was premature? That is quite frankly very easy to determine. The zoos state the age of the dead animal and I do know what an elephant’s lifespan/life expectancy is. If you don’t know this already, all zoos are required to do necropsies of all their animals who die in their zoos, and many of these necropsies either become public records or are open for the media to view, and other times the zoo goes out publicly stating the cause of death. Now, if you have any biology background or any slightest knowledge about genetics; osteoarthritis or osteomyelitis or other foot infections and foot ailments are not direct results of genetics, it’s caused by environmental factors.
To put this in a perspective that may be easier for you to comprehend: The majority of captive elephants in U.S. Zoos (and circuses) are suffering from CAPTIVE-INDUCED foot disorders as a result of standing on hard concrete and lack of movement/exercise.
Now, wild elephants do not suffer from these ailments. Scientists who have studied wild elephants for decades confirm this.
I’m not going to feed you details about IDA’s work to protect pet store animals / companion animals. You can read up on it yourself:
http://www.idausa.org/victory.html
IDA has also its own dog sanctuary called Project Hope.
And another fact: most elephants in U.S. zoos were not born in captivity. Most of them are actually wild-caught.