THIS is "world-class"?   Philadelphia Zoo officials say the elephant care at the Pittsburgh Zoo is "world-class."  Seven elephants are crammed into a 6600 sq. foot (less than 1/6 of an acre) cement barn (photo, above).  More info on the alleged world-class "elephant care" - click here.    On July 8, 2009 Kallie and Bette were transferred to the Pittsburgh Zoo's breeding-holding facility during a late-night move.  No updates or video have been released of their arrival.  The Zoos finally allowed certain media and zoo supporters to view them on July 27, 2009 - to much media acclaim.   Friends of Philly Zoo Elephants opposes the move - find out why here Jackson, the bull elephant, was kept inside the cement barn for three months straight when he moved in - read more about Jackson here. Update June 25, 2009: The Philadelphia Zoo is now claiming that it has no definite plans to breed Kallie or Bette, but that is not what they have said in the past - read recent contradictory zoo statements here.  Sadly, if the Zoo goes forward with its previously-stated plans to breed Kallie and Bette, it's likely that either one or both will join the grim statistics of elephants who died recently after breeding - partial list here. AND the breeding plans are scientifically unsound: Kallie and Bette were each born in 1982 and will turn 28 this year.  According to Mike Keele, a trade industry expert on elephant breeding, "the odds are against elephants becoming pregnant over the age of 25.  In European zoos, elephants over the age of 24 who haven't been bred are considered post-reproductive.

MEET THE ELEPHANTS:

~ PETAL ~ December 1955 - June 9, 2008  Read more about her sad life here  Video from Petal's last day here Petal tribute photos here PETAL DIED OF CAPTIVITY INDUCED DISEASE -  READ MORE HERE

KALLIE (photo, left) Kallie is approximately 27 years old.  She was born in Zimbabwe in 1982.  She watched her family get killed in a mass culling and was shipped to the United States to work in circuses and zoos. She has lived in the Philadelphia Zoo since approximately April 2004.   Prior to that she was severely abused by her former owners.  Each night when she lived at the Philadelphia Zoo - summer, fall, winter, spring  - she was confined in a concrete barn the size of three double-car garages along with Bette (and Petal until she died). READ MORE ABOUT KALLIE HERE

BETTE (photo, right)  Bette is approximately 27 years old.  She was born in Zimbabwe in 1982.  She watched her family get killed in a mass culling and was shipped to the United States to work in circuses and zoos. She lived in the Philadelphia Zoo since approximately April 2004.  Not much is known about her past except that she was used in circuses and to give rides at the Philly Zoo, among other places.  She is often observed displaying stereotypic behavior (abnormal, repetitive movements in response to severe confinment) as she does in this video taken earlier this year at the Zoo and in this video taken last fall..

DULARY (photo, left) Dulary is approximately 45 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

Head Elephant Trainer at Pittsburgh Breeding Facility "Friend and Mentor" In interviews, Willie Theison (top trainer at the Pittsburgh Zoo and the breeding facility where the Philadelphia Zoo wants to send Kallie and Bette) glowingly refers to Allen Campbell, the trainer attacked and killed by elephant Tyke during a circus performance, as his "friend and mentor." Watch Video of Tyke and Campbell CLICK HERE (VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED!) Please watch this sad video of elephants Kallie and Bette taken in the last few weeks at the Philly Zoo - click here View our Archive     Video by Carley!