TONIGHT: Citizens Protest Waste of Tax Dollars By Publicly-Funded Philadelphia Zoo
As City Faces Budget Crisis, Taxpayer-Funded Philadelphia Zoo Throws Money Away by Holding Expensive Party While Hanging on to Elephants
June 11, 2009, Philadelphia, PA - Tonight local residents will protest the Philadelphia Zoo's fundraiser “Zoobilee" and will highlight the Zoo's routine practice of wasting tax dollars while the City of Philadelphia grapples with a budget crisis by hiking sales taxes and delaying pension fund payments. The Philadelphia Zoo, a tax-funded private organization, wastes hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars annually to hold parties and house elephants in inadequate conditions. Zoo records show that “Zoobilee” historically looses tens of thousands of dollars every year; last year alone the “fundraiser” lost over $150,000.00.
Three years ago, the Philadelphia Zoo announced it would close the elephant enclosure due to the inadequate space which is known to create health problems that prematurely kills elephants. Yet, the three African elephants, Petal, Bette, Kallie, were forced to remain in the cramped and outdated enclosure - the same conditions which caused other unnecessary pachyderm fatalities. Petal died on June 9, 2008. Only the Asian elephant Dulary has escaped the deadly zoo confinement and now lives a healthy life at the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee.
The Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) sanctuary in California offered to take all three African elephants at no charge. Zoo Director Vik Dewan refused to send them, opting instead to keep them here in Philadelphia in conditions that zoo officials themselves admit are inadequate, while awaiting the construction of a breeding facility near Pittsburgh.
What: Demonstrations
Who: Concerned citizens and members of Friends of Philly Zoo Elephants
When: TODAY June 11, 2008, 6:00 PM
Where: Public Sidewalk in front of Philadelphia Zoo, 34th Street and Girard Ave.
"It's well known that inadequate conditions cause health problems that kill elephants," said Marianne Bessey, spokesperson for local grassroots group Friends of Philly Zoo Elephants. "The Zoo killed Petal and her death could have prevented if the elephants had been sent to the California sanctuary years ago. The Zoo needs to do the right thins and send the surviving elephants to a sanctuary immediately."
On average, elephants in zoos die at roughly half their natural average lifespan of 60 – 70 years. The leading cause of death for elephants in zoos is foot- and joint-related problems created by the lack of space in zoos. Philadelphia Zoo elephants Kallie and Bette are slated to move to a breeding facility in central Pennsylvania later this year where they will be forcibly bred in attempt to produce more elephants for display. Zoo director Vik Dewan has expressed uncertainty about the elephants' long-term future, stating tha they will first be shipped to the breeding facility and that their future after that is unknown. The Performing Animal Welfare Society, a 2,300-acre sanctuary in California, and home to 9 former zoo and circus elephants, generally offered a lifetime home to all three elephants at no charge.
Friends of Philly Zoo Elephants is a group of local advocates who are concerned about the elephants at the Philadelphia Zoo. For more information, please visit www.helpphillyzooelephants.com.
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