Thursday, October 24, 2013

Bullhook ban in LA, Toronto elephants safe, but sad news in Little Rock

From In Defense of Animals website:

Former Toronto Zoo Elephants Moved to PAWS

In Defense of Animals
IDA is thrilled to announce that the former Toronto Zoo elephants, Toka, Thika and Iringa, are now safe and sound at the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) sanctuary in San Andreas, California.
Following the death of four elephants in fewer than four years, IDA placed the Toronto Zoo on its annual list of our Ten Worst Zoos for Elephants for 2009, revitalizing activist efforts to end the housing of elephants at this zoo. Ongoing zoo resistance in the face of a decision by the Toronto City Council to close the exhibit and send the elephants to PAWS became a pitched battle, but after countless delays and obstacles Toka, Thika and Iringa arrived at PAWS on October 20, 2013, and are quickly acclimating to their new surroundings.
IDA commends and congratulates Zoocheck Canada, PAWS, and many Toronto activists for their superhuman efforts on behalf of Toka, Thika and Iringa, and we wish the elephants a long and happy life in sanctuary.

Niabi Zoo Elephants Banished to Little Rock 

In Defense of AnimalsWhile all eyes were on the elephant transfer from the Toronto Zoo to PAWS, the Niabi Zoo quietly moved elephants Sophie and Babe to the Little Rock Zoo on Sunday night, with no announcement until it was a done deal. This is infuriating, as both zoos were in a position to make positive changes for the elephants. As you've read in our alerts and updates, the Niabi Zoo agreed this past summer to send the Asian elephants to another facility, while the Little Rock Zoo was recently left with one Asian elephant, Zina, after three elephants died at the zoo in about two years.
With your support, IDA fought hard for Sophie, Babe, and Zina, and has worked to persuade zoo and political officials, and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, to retire all three elephants to a sanctuary, where the elephants would have flourished on hundreds of acres of natural habitat and greatly benefited from excellent veterinary care. Instead, the zoo industry sacrificed the welfare of these three individual elephants and sentenced them to a life of continued deprivation in yet another cramped, substandard zoo exhibit where conditions will only exacerbate existing, chronic health problems.
Sophie, Babe, and Zina all previously performed with Ringling circus. Reportedly, Ringling provided the truck and the handlers to facilitate the furtive move.
For more information, read IDA's press release here.

Breaking News: Bullhooks Banned in Los Angeles! 

The L.A. City Council unanimously voted in favor of a bullhook ban yesterday, which should effectively ban the use of elephants in circuses and performances in the city when it becomes effective in three years. It would make L.A. the largest city in the U.S. to enact such a ban. Stay tuned to IDA for more detailed information as this unfolds.