For Immediate Release: July 24, 2010
Philadelphia Zoo “Beer Party” Ignites Controversy Over Animal Welfare and Claims of Conservation
Drunk People and Captive Exotic Animals Don’t Mix
Philadelphia, Pa.– The Philadelphia Zoo is coming under fire from local residents for subjecting the animals to a “frat party-like atmosphere” by hosting a beer festival on the zoo’s premises after hours and encouraging people to get drunk at the zoo. The zoo acknowledges that people will become intoxicated at the event. For many years, the zoo has been criticized for getting taxpayer funding under the guise of “conservation and education” while focusing on recreation - this event underscores the reality that the zoo functions as an entertainment venue, only in this case it’s functioning as a bar.
Tonight’s event, billed as a “fundraiser,” will allow partygoers to sample beers from at least 19 different breweries with captive exotic animals on display as additional amusement. Zoo records show that past “fundraisers” historically lose tens of thousands of dollars; last year alone the “Zoobilee” “fundraiser” lost over $150,000.00. In addition, the Philadelphia Zoo continually misses the opportunity to do community outreach on important issues facing animals in the wild. Instead, they focus on frivolous media outreach that promotes the zoo and not conservation and true information.
What: Demonstrations
When: TODAY July 24, 2010, 6:00 PM
Where: Public Sidewalk in front of Philadelphia Zoo, 34th Street and Girard Ave.
The Philadelphia Zoo, which receives substantial public monies, free city services, and rents the Zoo property for $1 per year, has been criticized by local citizens for its decision to move the elephants to a breeding-holding facility instead of a sanctuary. Concerned citizens have also denounced the Zoo for its refusal to open the breeding-holding facility to third parties and its refusal to provide updates on the elephants. The only photos and videos released of the elephants since they moved on July 8, 2009 was later that month when the zoo invited local media and zoo supporters to visit.
Over three years ago, the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), a 2,300-acre refuge in California with the space and natural conditions necessary for elephants to thrive, offered to take the then-three African elephants at no charge (52-year-old elephant Petal has since died, collapsing in her cement stall last June). Zoo Director Vik Dewan refuses to send the elephants to the spacious sanctuary, opting instead to send them to the Pittsburgh Zoo’s breeding-holding facility, where the elephants are kept in pens consisting of just a few acres and pain-inflicting devices such as bullhooks are used to dominate them and make them obey. . For more information: www.elesangels.com
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