*** Elephants aren't the only animals suffering at the Philadelphia Zoo*** Watch video of a lonely rhino displaying stereotypic behavior here. The zoo can't even be bothered to give this poor rhino shade. _________________________________________

~ PETAL ~ December 1955 - June 9, 2008   Sad Life Premature Death Read more here    Video from Petal's last day here   Petal tribute photos here

ZOO DIRECTOR VIK DEWAN CONDONES BULLHOOK USE!  WATCH THE VIDEO - Click HERE  Note: bullhook supporters rationalize bullhook use and claim they are like a "leash" or that they can be used "properly" or that it's like the extension of a keeper's "arm" or that it's like a mother elephant's "trunk." All of these claims are ridiculous. Bullhooks are rods with solid steel pointed ends (resembling a fireplace poker) which are specifically designed to inflict pain. If it were like a leash, it would look like a leash ... people's hands and elephant trunks are not made of steel. The claim that this weapon can be used positively is pure nonsense - the very nature of the bullhook is to dominate through fear and violence (i.e. get the elephant to fear the bullhook through violence). This is the only way it works - there are no "good" ways to use the bullhook .. which is why all sanctuaries forbid use of the bullhook and more than 50% of all zoos no longer use bullhooks. Only circuses and backward zoos and handlers still use this archaic and violent method of domination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Philadelphia Zoo's changing "plan" for its African elephants: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   In October 2006, the Philadelphia Zoo announced that African elephants Petal, Kallie, and Bette would move to the Maryland Zoo in spring 2007, and that Dulary, the Asian elephant, would move to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee.   In March 2007, citing funding issues, the Maryland Zoo announced that it would not accept Petal, Kallie, and Bette.   On April 26, 2007, the Philadelphia Zoo announced that Petal, Kallie and Bette would be shipped to a proposed breeding facility in Somerset County, Pennsylvania (near Pittsburgh) in the fall.  Dulary moved to The Elephant Sanctuary a few days later, arriving on May 1, 2007.   On October 19, 2007, the Pittsburgh Zoo broke ground for the breeding facility.    January 2008:  According to zoo sources, the Phase I barn (10,000 sq. ft.) is not yet complete.   As of May 2008, Philly Zoo Elephants KALLIE, BETTE AND PETAL STILL SPEND A MINIMUM of 16 HOURS A DAY IN THIS CEMENT BARN:     --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Friends of Philly Zoo Elephants opposes the proposed move to the Pittsburgh breeding facility.  Please read our Op-Ed (published in Pittsburgh's largest newspaper) here   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 PAWS sanctuary in San Andreas, California will take the Philly three!  www.pawsweb.org   Photo of PAWS:   Photo copyright: The Performing Animal Welfare Society     This wonderful sanctuary, home to 12 former zoo and circus elephants, will take Kallie, Bette and Petal at no charge!

Meet the Elephants: ----------------------------------------------------

PETAL (above photo)) Petal is approximately 52 years old.  She is from Africa but has lived in the Philadelphia Zoo for many years.  She, along with the other elephants at the Philadelphia Zoo, is managed by the outdated form of elephant management known as "free contact," which uses bullhooks and chains. Update June 9, 2008: Petal is dead at age 52.   DULARY (photo, right ) Dulary is approximately 43 years old.  She was born in Thailand but was taken from her family when she was less than a year old to be placed  on exhibit and has lived in the Philadelphia Zoo her entire life.  Had she been allowed to stay in the wild, she probably would have given birth to several babies by now and would be enjoying the roles of sister, daughter, mother, aunt and perhaps even grandmother.  Instead, she is confined a cramped and barren exhibit during the day and imprisoned inside a concrete barn at night.  During the cold winter months, she spends days on end inside the concrete barn. The last time she walked on grass or anything other than hard, packed surfaces was when she was a baby in Thailand. UPDATE MAY 2007:  DULARY IS AT THE ELEPHANT SANCTUARY!  THANKS PHILLY!!!  READ ABOUT HER PROGRESS here .

KALLIE (photo, left) Kallie is approximately 25 years old.  She was born in Zimbabwe and taken from her family for display in the United States.  She has lived in the Philadelphia Zoo since approximately April 2004.  Each night - summer, fall, winter, spring, she is chained in a concrete barn the size of three double-car garages along with Petal and Bette.                                                                                                                   .

BETTE (photo, right)  Bette is approximately 25 years old.  She was born in Zimbabwe and taken from her family for display in the United States.  She has lived in the Philadelphia Zoo since approximately April 2004.            THANK YOU PHILLY!  Over 7,000 people signed petitions supporting sending all four elephants to sanctuaries.

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