More Animal Suffering at Dallas Zoo
Instead of sending Jenny the elephant to a sanctuary, the Dallas Zoo has decided to enlarge her enclosure and bring in another elephant. Whether this new elephant is one who was bred in captivity or captured in the wild, bringing in a new elephant will lead to yet more animal suffering.
Jenny became distraught when her companion, Keke, died. Animal rights activists requested that Jenny be sent to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, but the zoo was pressured by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums not to send Jenny to the sanctuary. Why? Because the sanctuary is not accredited. Accredited by whom? The Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
A sanctuary is not a zoo, so why would the sanctuary even seek accreditation from the AZA? According to their website, the sanctuary is accredited by The Association of Sanctuaries. One of the differences between a zoo and a sanctuary is that a sanctuary does not allow animals to breed. We have enough problems caring for the animals who are already here. In contrast, zoos frequently breed animals because cute baby animals bring in visitors, who bring in money. Zoos will even breed animals beyond their capacity to care for them, so the surplus animals get sold to other zoos, circuses, and even canned hunting.
Even in the case of endangered species, keeping or breeding animals in zoos cannot be justified from an animal rights standpoint.
Comments
Doris,
Is there anything we can do to prevent this or to encourage this zoo that the elephant should live at the sancutary?
Hi, Deb,
Sadly, it seems that The Dallas Zoo has made up its mind on this issue. The important thing is to boycott zoos. Instead, you can support sanctuaries like The Elephant Sanctuary in TN. The Association of Sanctuaries maintains a list of approved sanctuaries:
http://www.taosanctuaries.org/sanctuaries/atoz.htm
It’s important to make a distinction between zoos and sanctuaries. Sanctuaries do not breed, buy or sell animals. They are rescue organizations, and do not use the animals commercially. You won’t see a seal performing at a true animal sanctuary.
Thanks,
Doris
I agree. The Phoenix Zoo tried to breed poor Ruby, who was on in years, and the pregnancy killed her. She had no other elephants to teach her how to be pregnant, which I understand is very important in the wild.
Kimberly