February 6, 2008 Zoo Visit
Kallie is around 25 years old. The Philly Zoo plans to ship her to a breeding facility, where she will be forcibly bred in the hope she will produce another baby elephant for display. Although Kallie has never encountered a bull elephant in her life, she will be forced to mate with Jackson, a large adult bull elephant from the Pittsburgh Zoo. If breeding attempts with Jackson are unsuccessful, she will be artificially inseminated. Studies show that the risks of first-time pregnancies for elephants increase dramatically for elephants age 25 over. Yet the Philly Zoo insists on breeding Kallie.