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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.
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