What's Killing the Animals at Ukraine's Biggest Zoo?"

Samka the rhino looks sad. When her longtime companion, Boy theelephant, died in April, she watched over his body for an entire dayuntil it was taken away. Today, the elephant's pen sits empty. Boy isjust one of several animals at Kiev Zoo — including a camel, a bisonand a zebra — that have died in recent months, some in mysteriouscircumstances. As the city carries out an official investigation, thedeaths have prompted outrage and denial, with activists accusing thezoo of negligence and corruption and authorities pointing to ananonymous killer as the culprit. Boy's death has brought fresh attention to a scandal that has beenrunning for months. Serhiy Hryhoryev, a former zoo worker who runs asite campaigning for the rights of the zoo's animals, says the Indianelephant was underfed, kept in poor conditions and stressed byconstant changes to the staff of handlers. "By the end, you could seehis ribs," says Hryhoryev. (See the top 10 militant animals.) According to animal rights activists, the number of animals at KievZoo has almost halved in the last two years; they accuse the zoo'sauthorities of shoddy management, corruption and neglect. The claimsstretch into city hall, with critics charging city officials ofcarrying out shady schemes to privatize the land the zoo is located onin the center of the Ukrainian capital. The zoo's management deniesthe allegations, as do city officials. -- full story:http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2006074,00.html

Indian officials order elephants out of zoos, circuses

Animal rights advocates are heralding the decision, announced this
month by officials with India's Central Zoo Authority, that the
country's zoos and circuses will no longer be allowed to keep captive
elephants.

The decision means that all elephants living in India's zoos and
circuses -- an estimated 140 pachyderms in 26 zoos and 16 circuses --
will be moved to "elephant camps" run by the nation's forestry
department. (Those elephants currently employed in logging camps or
living in Indian temples -- by all accounts, a larger number than
those in zoos and circuses -- are unaffected by the decision.) In the
camps, the elephants will be able to move freely in a large space and
graze as they would in the wild. A group of mahouts will be employed
to monitor their well-being.

--
full story:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2009/11/elephants-sanctuary-india.html

URGENT ACTION ALERT: Cancel Abusive Commerford Traveling Zoo!

*URGENT ACTION ALERT: *

*Stop Abusive Commerford Traveling Zoo!*

*Contact the David L. Lawrence Convention Center and Demand Its
Cancellation!*

* *

****Please Forward Widely****



Voices for Animals of Western Pennsylvania recently discovered a traveling
zoo event is being planned to come to Pittsburgh to the David L. Lawrence
Convention Center called the Commerford Kid’s Fun Fair and Traveling Zoo on
November 21st and 22nd. *We were shocked and outraged by the picture of the
ticket below: this fair features over 125 animals including elephants,
camels, ponies, emus, llamas, talking birds, kangaroos(!), a giant python,
monkeys, and genetically deformed animals like a unicow!
*

*
*

This event is like a monstrous combination of both an animal circus and the
worst roadside zoo: not only are there a number of caged exotic animals, but
the elephants and camels are being forced to give rides, *there is a "monkey
farm"*, and a petting zoo where families are encouraged to "pet em & feed
em". You can see for yourself on their website –
www.CommerfordZoo.com
- Kangaroos

in sneakers advertised to “rent”, a live captive giraffe being led on a rope
and used to promote Toys R Us, and elephants being used in outrageous
wedding ceremonies. Yet there is more: *be sure to watch the video *in which
ponies, elephants (*bullhook usage visible*), and camels are exploited for
rides and a chaotic petting zoo is shown where ducks are harassed behind
cages. This all seemingly occurs in the same warehouse as noisy carnival
rides and games, which surely must stress the animals even more.



As if this blatant exploitation wasn't bad enough, R. W. Commerford & Sons
has been cited hundreds of times by the USDA for violating the minimal
standards of the Animal Welfare Act. Their citations include failure to
provide adequate veterinary care (or any veterinary care at all!), failure
to maintain enclosures and transport trailers, failure to have an attendant
present during periods of public contact, improper feeding, and poor
housekeeping. Furthermore, one elephant, *Minnie, has attempted to resist
her abusers in three separate violent and dangerous incidents while giving
rides to children and causing injuries. It appears that Minnie remains with
Commerford Zoo to this day. *Here is just a sample of their long history of
Animal Welfare Act violations. A full list can be found at this link:
http://www.wildlifepimps.com/CommerfordPettingZoo.pdf




*August 8, 2007: *The USDA cited Commerford & Sons for failure to provide a
developed and documented environmental enhancement plan for primates.

*February 21, 2007: *Bob Commerford testified before a Connecticut state
legislative committee in opposition to proposed bill 6599, which sought to
eliminate the mistreatment of captive elephants by banning the use of
bullhooks, electric prods, and chains.

*August 10, 2006: *The USDA cited Commerford for failure to have an employee
or attendant present during periods of public contact with the animals in
the petting zoo, including an elephant named Karen.

*March 5, 2006: An Asian elephant named Minnie injured two Commerford
employees while giving rides at the Best Western Royal Plaza Trade Center in
Marlborough, Massachusetts. As children were being loaded onto the elephant,
she became agitated and suddenly swung her head toward the two employees,
shifting her weight and pinning them against the loading ramp. An eyewitness
reported that one of the employees had provoked the elephant by striking her
in the face. One man sustained a chest injury and the other a broken arm.
Both were taken by ambulance to the hospital. Two bystanders sustained
bruises. Minnie has been involved in at least three previous dangerous
incidents (see August 27, 1998, and August 28, 1989). *

*March 4, 2006: *A 4-year-old girl fell through the railing of a loading
ramp while waiting to get on an elephant and camel ride at the Best Western
Royal Plaza Trade Center in Marlborough, Massachusetts. The girl fell
approximately 5 feet and landed on her back among the animals. She suffered
head trauma and was taken by ambulance to the hospital.

*November 30, 2005: *The USDA cited Commerford for failure to provide
adequate veterinary care to three elephants who were found to have an
excessive accumulation of necrotic skin on their heads; failure to provide
adequate shelter to goats, sheep, and llamas; and failure to maintain
structurally sound enclosures. The inspector noted that the Asian elephant
Beulah was being treated for a foot disorder. According to *The Elephant’s
Foot*, captivity-induced foot problems and arthritis are the leading reasons
for euthanasia of captive elephants.

*August 15, 2005: *The USDA cited Commerford for failure to handle animals
so that there is minimal risk of harm to the animal and to the public. While
giving rides, an African elephant named Karen used her trunk to reach out
and touch members of the public, including a child in a stroller, while the
handler was distracted talking to other employees and not observing the
elephant’s behavior.

*June 24, 1999: *The USDA stated in a letter that Commerford’s giraffe
travels lying down on his chest and abdomen in order to fit inside the
transport trailer. According to expert guidelines, giraffe transport is very
risky. *The Capture and Care Manual *states, “Do not transport giraffes with
their necks bent for prolonged periods. … Once down, adult giraffes … regain
their feet with difficulty. If the giraffe is on [his or her] side … or in a
confined space, [the giraffe] may not be able to regain [his or her] feet at
all. Animals on their side will die rapidly from bloat.” *Restraint and
Handling of Wild and Domestic Animals *states, “Giraffes have died with the
peracute mortality syndrome during and shortly after being moved to new
locations.”

*August 27, 1998: *While carrying children on her back at the New York State
Fair, an elephant named Minnie panicked and knocked down her trainer, then
stepped on him. A 3-year-old girl was also injured after falling off the
elephant and hitting her head on the ground. Both were treated at a local
hospital. Minnie had been involved in at least two previous attacks (see
August 28, 1989).

*June 25, 1998: *Commerford was cited for failure to have a program of
veterinary care.

*August 28, 1989: *An elephant handler was attacked and critically injured
by an elephant named Minnie after he struck the elephant with a bullhook
while two children were riding on the elephant’s back. Minnie picked up the
handler with her trunk and threw him against a trailer, breaking his
shoulder and jaw, at the Champlain Valley Fair in Essex Junction, Vermont.
According to a witness, “Blood was gushing everywhere. The kids were left
stranded.” Commerford continued using Minnie for rides at the fair despite a
public outcry that the elephant was too dangerous. Years earlier, Minnie had
attacked a worker and broken his arm.



It is completely unacceptable that the Convention Center would even consider
hosting this unscrupulous and appalling business. *Please call and email the
David Lawrence Convention Center immediately and repeatedly and demand the
cancellation of the Commerford Kid’s Fun Fair and Traveling Zoo! *



*We are providing you with a pre-written email that you can send to the
Convention Center.* You can either copy and paste it straight into email or
better yet, revise it in your own words and send. Or even better still, you
can make up your own email!



Dear David Lawrence Convention Center,

I am extremely disappointed and outraged at your decision to
host the Commerford Kids Fun Fair and Traveling Zoo on November 21st and
22nd. This event is nothing more than a display of blatant animal abuse and
exploitation. Many of the animals who are forced to travel around with this
traveling zoo are sick and genetically deformed, and live in the most
decrepit conditions in small cages and enclosures, which are gravely
deficient of meeting their physical and psychological needs, and where they
are deprived of everything that is natural to them. Furthermore, R.W.
Commerford & Sons has been cited numerous times by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture for violating the minimal standards of the Animal Welfare Act.
These citations include failure to provide adequate veterinary care, failure
to maintain enclosures and transport trailers, failure to have an attendant
present during periods of public contact, improper feeding, and poor
housekeeping. One elephant with Commerford & Sons, Minnie, has been involved
in three separate violent and dangerous incidents while giving rides to
children, causing injuries, and appears to still remain with Commerford &
Sons to this day. This traveling zoo is morally repugnant and poses a major
danger to public safety and I am furious that this event was even considered.
I demand that this event be canceled immediately and urge you to never again
agree to host any traveling zoo or event that uses captive animals.

Sincerely,





*Contact Info for Convention Center:*


Phone: 412-565-6000
Fax: 412-565-6008
Email: info@pittsburghcc.com
Administrative Offices (Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM, or leave a
voicemail):
Events - 412-565-6000 ext. 1
Sales/Bookings - 412-565-6000 ext. 2

A contact page of their website for additional numbers is available at:
http://www.pittsburghcc.com/cc/contactus.html


If you receive any responses to your calls or emails please let us know at
voicesforanimals@gmail.com



This alert is viewable on our website at:
http://www.vfaonline.org/alerts/22-animalsinentertainment/134demandstoptoabusivetravelingzoo.html
--

Voices for Animals of Western Pennsylvania
Post Office Box 2751
Pittsburgh, PA 15230
1-877-321-4VFA
info@vfaonline.org

http://www.VFAonline.org


http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/PA360.html


--
Voices for Animals of Western Pennsylvania
Post Office Box 2751
Pittsburgh, PA 15230
1-877-321-4VFA
info@vfaonline.org

http://www.VFAonline.org


http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/PA360.html

Buffalo Zoo elephant 'Buki' dies at 52

http://www.9wsyr.com/news/state/story/Buffalo-Zoo-elephant-Buki-dies-at-52/q
fw4ZaGkxUmx1g7u88ui7A.cspx?rss=113

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - One of the Buffalo Zoo's three Asian elephants has
died.

The 52-year-old "Buki" had been losing weight recently as her appetite
declined and medical tests revealed a change in kidney function.

Her keepers spent each morning reading to her from hundreds of get-well
wishes from the community. She died just after 5:30 a.m. Monday.

Results of a necropsy are not expected for several weeks.

A study published in Zoo Biology magazine in 2004 found the average life
expectancy for female Asian elephants in captivity is 44.8 years, about the
same as elephants in the wild.

Buki was born wild in Thailand and was in circuses from about 1959 until
1984, when she was retired and sent to Buffalo.

Los Angeles Zoo elephant lawsuit moves forward

A lawsuit charging the Los Angeles Zoo with abusing elephants will be
allowed to go to trial, a three-judge panel of California's 2nd
District Court of Appeal ruled on Wednesday.

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge had initially ruled that the
issues raised in the suit were political and not for a court to
decide.

--
full story:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/09/los-angeles-zoo-elephant-lawsuit-moves-forward.html

AZA'S COZY RELATIONSHIP WITH CIRCUSES

It's kind of like a conductor leading an orchestra"

- AZA Elephant Group Head Mike Keele, on using a bullhook

So why is the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' (AZA) elephant group leader defending the treatment of elephants by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus?

Tell the AZA to sever all ties with circus elephant cruelty

September 16, 2009

AZA'S COZY RELATIONSHIP WITH CIRCUSES

Despite the overwhelming amount of evidence of cruelty to elephants and other animals, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) maintains close ties with circuses. In doing so, zoos give credibility to the circus and help perpetuate the abuse and suffering inherent to the use of elephants in entertainment.

IDA CONFRONTS THE AZA

While the AZA holds its annual conference in Portland this week, IDA is there to pressure this trade association to sever all ties with the circus industry. Our activities include running a hard-hitting ad in USA Today, holding a press conference and organizing leafleting outside the convention center where AZA members are gathering.

IDA is also seeking censure of Oregon Zoo acting director Mike Keele, head of the AZA's Elephant Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) and acting director of the Oregon Zoo. In a complaint to the AZA Ethics Committee, IDA detailed Keele's self-serving and disturbingly close relationship with the Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus.

KEELE TESTIFIES AS EXPERT FOR RINGLING CIRCUS

In March 2009, Keele testified as a $125-per-hour expert witness for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus at a trial in the U.S. District Court in Washington, DC. That complaint accused the circus of violating the Endangered Species Act by harming endangered Asian elephants through routine and abusive elephant handling practices. By appearing as an expert for the circus, Keele gave a tacit seal of approval to Ringling's unconscionable practices that were documented through mountains of evidence presented at trial. These include:

Chaining elephants at the Ringling Center for Elephant Conservation for 16 to 22 hours per day;
Using chains and ropes to tear babies away from their mothers at age two or younger (before they are weaned) to begin their training for the circus;
Training baby elephants by breaking their spirits through maternal separation, prolonged restraint (tying up their legs), isolation from other elephants and hitting with bullhooks. (One 2-year-old baby elephant, Aria, was chained nonstop for four months and only let off chains for 40 minutes a day to be trained);
Striking the elephants with bullhooks, the steel-tipped rods used to hit, stab and hook elephants into compliance. Ringling head Kenneth Feld, CEO of Feld Entertainment International admitted under oath that all his handlers strike elephants with bullhooks.
Adding to the incontrovertible evidence of elephant abuse and suffering in the Ringling circus is undercover video of Ringling handlers repeatedly beating and whipping elephants and tigers. The video was taken while the Ringling trial was underway and Keele was testifying on behalf of this egregious abuser of elephants and other animals.

Keele was well-compensated for his association with the Ringling circus, both in terms of the money he was paid as an expert witness and by advancing his goal of cementing closer cooperation between Ringling and AZA zoos for breeding purposes. In return, the circus received credibility from Keele, whose credentials as a zoo and AZA official were made clear at the trial.

Keele's behavior brings shame to the AZA, harms those within the industry who truly care about protecting elephants and makes a mockery of the group's stated commitment to promote "respect for the dignity of the animals in our care."

TIME FOR AZA TO CONDEMN THE CIRCUS

Several AZA specialist groups, including those that deal with Great Apes and monkeys, have officially condemned the use of these species in entertainment. It's past time for AZA's elephant group to follow suit.






Tell the zoos to sever ties with the cruel circus industry. If zoos want to educate the public about elephants, the place to start is by taking a stand against the use and abuse of these magnificent animals for entertainment.

Contact:

Jim Maddy, President and CEO
Association of Zoos & Aquariums
8403 Colesville Road, Suite 710
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3314
(P) 301-562-0777 X222
(F) 301-562-0888
(E) jmaddy@aza.org

Also write to the zoo in your community and request that it adopt a policy condemning the use of elephants in circuses and other entertainment venues. Find zoo contact information here.


http://www.aza.org/findzooaquarium


In Defense of Animals, located in San Rafael, Calif., is an international animal protection organization with more than 85,000 members and supporters dedicated to ending the abuse and exploitation of animals by protecting their rights and welfare. IDA's efforts include educational events, cruelty investigations, boycotts, grassroots activism, and hands-on rescue through our sanctuaries in Mississippi, Mumbai, India, and Cameroon, Africa.

In Defense of Animals is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We welcome your feedback and appreciate your donations. Please join today! All donations to IDA are tax-deductible.

In Defense of Animals
3010 Kerner, San Rafael, CA 94901
Tel. (415) 448-0048 Fax (415) 454-1031

Save the lions -Donations Needed!Urgently!

Save the lions
Caged in a cramped and rusty Romanian hell-hole these starving big cats face death...unless we help


PITIFUL: The lions have been kept like this for years


RAW: Sore on Caesar's tail


DOOMED: Caesar
By Philip Whiteside, 30/08/2009

LEANING her emaciated body against the small rusty cage, starving lioness Anetta paws at the bars forlornly as the days count down to her pride's execution.

For Anetta and 13 other kings and queens of the jungle - some too weak to stand or even roar - are to be SHOT unless something is done to save them.


The squalid, ramshackle Romanian zoo that has been their home all their lives has been condemned as unfit for animals by the European Union.


And its director has no money to build proper enclosures to replace the tiny 15ft by 12ft cages into which up to FOUR lions at a time are crammed.


So today we are launching a fundraising campaign . . . to help these manigficent animals roar with pride again.


"We cannot afford to do any more for them," said Daiana Ghender, 43, who is in charge of the state-run zoo built 37 years ago under the communist regime of Nicolae Ceausescu. "I feel terrible when I look at them. They are sick and do not have the space for their bodies."


Caesar, head of the pride, is barely able to walk. His once mighty muscles have atrophied for lack of exercise. He shares his cage with females Annetta and Alis, both seven, and their two cubs. Like all the lions here they sleep on a concrete floor, live in their dirt and are covered in sores.


Most were bred into their hellish captivity at Oradea Zoo. "It was originally created to keep the people happy," said Daiana. "At first there were only a couple of lions. Now we have too many and there is no way to keep them apart to stop them breeding further."


Sickeningly, some visitors to the zoo laugh at the lions' plight. "There is no money and little food for them," said a tearful Daiana. "Any money we make goes straight to the government. "It upsets me so much to see them like this." Soon the zoo will have no choice but to put the animals down.


There is only one way they can escape their fate. Backed by the News of the World, the Yorkshire Wildlife Park wants to bring all the lions to Britain. They need to raise £150,000 to ship the animals to the UK and create a proper enclosure for them to live in comfort.

Full story and links to donate:http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/477986/Lions-face-death-at-Romanian-zoo.html

Thank you Simone for this action alert!

USDA MOVES TO CONFISCATE ELEPHANT JEWEL

USDA Moves to Confiscate Elephant Jewel
Belligerent Davenport Defies Federal Order
IDA has learned that on Saturday August 15, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) attempted to confiscate Jewel, one of three suffering and abused elephants who we have been working for over two years to rescue. The USDA temporarily aborted the confiscation attempt in the face of a defiant and uncooperative Will Davenport, the elephants' handler.
IDA members will recall that Davenport has a long history of chronic Animal Welfare Act violations including abusive and unsafe handling practices, inadequate veterinary care and negligent treatment of the elephants Tina, Jewel and Queenie. Davenport has also violated the U.S. Endangered Species Act in the illegal purchase of Tina and Jewel from the Cole Brothers Circus.
Although Davenport doesn't have a legal leg to stand on, he refused to cooperate with the confiscation and told his distorted and factually-incorrect side of the story to his local newspaper in Polk County, Texas. This newspaper appears to be sympathetic to Davenport's philosophy that the federal government is interfering with his private property rights, the elephants being his private "property."
See the story here and be sure to watch the video of Davenport - sporting a Popeye T-shirt and spouting lies - here.
IDA applauds the USDA for taking action to confiscate Jewel. We recognize this as an important step toward protecting elephants, and we hope the agency will move immediately to confiscate all three elephants and place Will Davenport behind bars where he belongs.
There are strong legal grounds for this action. Under Davenport's care, all three elephants have lost significant weight (nearly a ton between them in less than a year) and the USDA has documented their ongoing and unrelieved suffering at his hands. In addition, Tina and Jewel have been together for decades and Queenie has been with them for two years. Separating these bonded elephants, even for a short time, would cause untold and unnecessary stress and trauma. Regarding Davenport, the AWA (section 2146(b)) provides for penalties and/or imprisonment of any person who interferes with the USDA's official duties.


Write and/or call your Congressional representatives and the USDA today. It's very important that we recognize the important step the agency is taking to rescue Jewel. Politely urge the USDA to confiscate all three elephants and send them to a sanctuary where they can get the care and attention they need to heal.
Note - we have not included a sample letter this time, as we'd like your letters to be unique, personal, and from the heart. If you don't have time to compose a letter, a quick phone call will work also!
Find your federal representatives here:
http://ida.convio.net/site/R?i=-hpJ4HHzlfLvVo56Uj_bWw..
For the USDA, call, e-mail, or write to:
Ann WrightDeputy Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory ProgramsU.S. Department of AgriculturePhone: 202-720-4256 OR 202-720-7813Fax: 202-720-5775Email: http://us.mc337.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=ann.wright@osec.usda.gov
More information about Tina, Jewel and Queenie here.
In Defense of Animals, located in San Rafael, Calif., is an international animal protection organization with more than 85,000 members and supporters dedicated to ending the abuse and exploitation of animals by protecting their rights and welfare. IDA's efforts include educational events, cruelty investigations, boycotts, grassroots activism, and hands-on rescue through our sanctuaries in Mississippi, Mumbai, India, and Cameroon, Africa.
In Defense of Animals is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We welcome your feedback and appreciate your donations. Please join today! All donations to IDA are tax-deductible.
In Defense of Animals3010 Kerner, San Rafael, CA 94901Tel. (415) 448-0048 Fax (415) 454-1031

idainfo@idausa.org

(CA) Animal rights activists plan Lucy freedom march

A local animal activist group will walk through the streets of
Edmonton today, petition in hand, to put pressure on the city to free
Lucy the elephant from the Valley Zoo.

The Friends of Lucy will be approaching members of the public to sign
a paper petition, which they plan to submit to city council in the
fall.

"This northern climate is too cold for elephants and then they're kept
inside for much of the year," said group spokesman Melissa Murphy.

She added that zoo officials "continue to disregard the evidence of
how Lucy's health is being negatively impacted by Edmonton's winters."

--
full story:
http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/edmonton/2009/08/15/10470781-sun.html

Cherokee’s Unbearable Bear Pits

By Bob Barker
Even though my life has been full of incredible experiences and I’ve learned that there’s always more on the horizon, I never imagined I’d be writing a blog post for CNN at the age of 85. But when I was asked to write about my work for animals and my recent campaign to free some bears who are living in appalling conditions in Cherokee, North Carolina, I knew it was time to ask Debbie Leahy of PETA to help me with my computer skills.
Knowing about my love for animals, a few months ago my good friend Rep. Bill Young of Florida called me about an unfortunate experience that his family recently had involving caged bears. His wife, Beverly, had taken their children and grandchildren to Cherokee to educate them about life on a reservation. Being part Native American myself and having grown up on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota, I appreciated their interest in Indian culture.
Beverly saw a sign that said, “Come Feed the Bears,” so they stopped at a roadside zoo. She described what she saw as “sickening.” There were six to seven bears in concrete cubicles. Their fur was hanging off, they were begging for food, and an employee was tossing one bear cub around by the scruff of his neck. Beverly said she had an uncomfortable confrontation with the person who was mishandling the cub and was asked to leave. I remember her saying, “The prisoners at Guantanamo Bay are treated better than these bears, who have done nothing.”
I contacted my friends at PETA, and they sent a staff member and a bear expert to investigate. They reported that the situation was much worse than what the Young family had witnessed. There are actually three roadside zoos in Cherokee—Cherokee Bear Zoo, Chief Saunooke Bear Park and Santa’s Land. They house close to 30 bears in unimaginably awful conditions. The bears are confined to desolate concrete pits or cramped cages where they often pace back and forth, walk in endless circles, get into fights with each other, cry and whimper and beg tourists to throw food at them. They have no dirt to dig in or trees to climb—just the same four walls every single day of their lives.
Accompanied by representatives from PETA and the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) sanctuary in California, I went to Cherokee to appeal to Michell Hicks, principal chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, to intervene in behalf of these beautiful animals. Before the meeting, I planned to visit these zoos to see the conditions for myself. I guess the owners of the two facilities where bears live in pits were too ashamed to let me see what was going on there because they refused to let me in.
I told Chief Hicks that I’m not an expert on bears. I’m an expert on giving away refrigerators. But I can tell you that these bears are not properly housed or fed. Cherokee has a rich cultural history and much to be proud of. The cruel bear displays are a glaring blemish on the area, and I hope that the members of the Tribal Council for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will open their hearts and do the right thing by shutting them down.
The good people of Cherokee welcomed me warmly, and many told me they agreed that the bears are kept in deplorable conditions. Bears are very intelligent, active and curious animals. They need room to roam, natural surroundings to investigate and opportunities to forage, climb and dig dens.
Earlier in my career, I hosted a show called Truth or Consequences. I closed the show by saying, “… hoping all your consequences are happy ones!” I hope with all my heart that Chief Hicks and the tribal council will make the consequences for the Cherokee bears happy ones. Until then, my heart and my conscience won’t allow me to do anything but ask people to stay away from Cherokee and voice their support for allowing the bears to retire to a sanctuary.

http://larrykinglive.blogs.cnn.com/2009/08/04/lkl-web-exclusive-bob-barker-im-not-an-expert-on-bears-im-an-expert-on-giving-away-refrigerators/

Protesters want Lucy moved immediately

[video at full story link]

It's a fight that's been going on for several months, but animal
rights activists aren't giving up; they staged a protest outside the
Edmonton Valley Zoo Saturday saying Lucy the elephant needs to be
moved immediately.

'We are asking for Lucy to be moved to a sanctuary immediately," said
Ashley Byrne, a volunteer with People for the Ethical Treatment of
Animals (PETA).

The animal rights group claims Lucy is showing signs of depression and
severe arthritis, something they say is due to decades of confinement
at the zoo.

"She spent the last 30 years being used for human entertainment, the
least thin she deserves is to be transferred to a sanctuary," said
Byrne.

--
full story:
http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20090808/EDM_lucy_090808/20090808/?hub=CalgaryHome

(CA) Move elephant to sanctuary: local vet

Contact information for the zoo if you wish to send in your comments:

The Valley Zoo is owned and operated by the City of Edmonton.
Zoo Director: denise.prefontaine@edmonton.ca

Address
13315 Buena Vista Road (87th Avenue)
Valley Zoo PO Box 2359 Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2R7, Canada


Move elephant to sanctuary: local vet

Last Updated: Wednesday, July 15, 2009
CBC News

Lucy the elephant needs to be moved out of the Edmonton Valley Zoo and into
an elephant sanctuary, because she isn't getting the care she needs, an
Edmonton veterinarian said Tuesday.

A 65-page report, which includes Lucy's medical records, was compiled by
veterinarian Debi Zimmermann.

Lucy's quality of life would be greatly improved if she lived in a warmer
climate with other elephants, Zimmermann said.

"It doesn't take a medical degree, but since I have one and in review of the
records and the natural biology of elephants, it's just a no-brainer when
you look at what they need and what's provided, " she said.

A number of animal rights activists have stated publicly that Lucy needs to
be moved out of the zoo, but Zimmermann is the first veterinarian to take
that position publicly.

Officials at the Valley Zoo dismiss Zimmermann's report. "No contact, no
review of this elephant other than just to look at a written record ‹ [it's]
kind of disappointing really," said Dean Treichel, the supervisor of animal
care at the zoo.

It's more important to take the advice of veterinarians who have actually
examined Lucy, he said.

The zoo has a veterinarian with the same qualifications as Zimmermann who is
involved with the elephant on a daily basis.

"My personal and professional reputation is on the line here, and I say
Lucy's best situation right now is that she should remain here," Dr. Milton
Ness said.

Moving the elephant in the near future is out of the question, because Lucy
has respiratory problems and a move could prove fatal, both Ness and
Treichel said.

They also dismiss claims that Lucy isn't being well cared for.

Canadian authors including Margaret Atwood and game show host and animal
activist Bob Barker have also come forward and made a plea for Lucy to be
moved from the Valley Zoo to a sanctuary in the U.S.


http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2009/07/15/edmonton-elephant-lucy.html

New zoo planned for Glasgow!Action Alrert!

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland and Glasgow/ South Lanarkshire local authorities have resurrected plans for a £35 million "animal-based visitor attraction" on the banks of the River Clyde in Glasgow..

You might remember this was attempted a few years ago but plans were quietly dropped in no small part due to local opposition and pressure on Councils from organisations such as ourselves and Animal Concern.

The consortium pitching this ridiculous idea are boasting of bringing amongst other species giant Panda's, manatees, jaguars and primates to the streets of Glasgow.

Profiteering from the capture and confinement of animals is completely nacceptable, Scotland for Animals will be fighting to block this venture and to do this we need your help.

Dear Sir

I would like to raise an objection to plans for a zoo attraction which has been suggested for Cunningar Loop on the River Clyde.

There is ample documentary evidence that confining animals to unnatural environments and captivity has a severely detrimental effect on their welfare. With public opinion becoming increasingly critical of zoos and other captive environments due to evidence available i feel that if this project goes ahead it will have a very negative impact on the image of Glasgow, Lanarkshire and indeed Scotland as a whole.

If you require any information regarding animals in captivity and the consequences of this please contact Scotland for Animals; info@scotlandforani mals.org

Yours Sincerely

Please include your postal address on all correspondence. If your outside Glasgow/ Lanarkshire please emphasise how bad this will look for the areas and those responsible for letting it go ahead should this go ahead.

contact;

South Lanarkshire Council Chief Exec. Archie Strang; pach.exec@southlanarkshire.gov.uk

Leader of SLC Cllr Eddie McAvoy; Councillor.McAvoy@southlanarkshire.gov.uk

Glasgow City Council Chief Exec. George Black; george.black@ced.glasgow.gov.uk

Leader of GCC; steven.purcell@councillors.glasgow.gov.uk

If you're writing please head letters FAO officials listed above. Postal addresses;

Glasgow City Council
City Chambers
George Sq.
Glasgow
G2 1DU

South Lanarkshire Council
Almada St.
Hamilton
ML3 0AA
SA Scotland for Animals
Registered Charity No. SC039109

info@scotlandforanimals.org
www.scotlandforanimals.org

US/Questions Mount Over Jackson Animal Kingdom

Besides leaving a musical legacy, Michael Jackson orphaned an array of
exotic pets with some of them unaccounted for and even his beloved
chimpanzee Bubbles depending on donations.

In what was once seen mostly as a harmless eccentricity, Jackson at
the height of stardom amassed a private zoo of giraffes, tigers and
other foreign animals at Neverland, his sprawling fantasy estate in
California.

Nearly all of the animals have been moved to new homes in the past few
years as Jackson's personal and financial woes worsened, with animal
rights activists saying some have become roadside attractions in
uncertain conditions.

Bubbles, once the world's best known ape who slept in the superstar's
bedroom and mastered his Moonwalk dance, has lived since 2005 at the
Center for Great Apes in Florida, the head of the sanctuary said.

Jackson did not provide financial support for Bubbles and, despite his
stated desire, never visited him there, said Patti Ragan, director of
the Center for Great Apes.
...
Lisa Wathne, PETA's specialist in captive exotic animals, voiced
particular concern about two of Jackson's orangutans sent to a private
owner in Connecticut and reptiles at a roadside zoo in Oklahoma.

She said Jackson's case showed why wild animals should not be kept as pets.

"All too often even people who start with good intentions, as Michael
Jackson certainly did, don't have the ability to properly care for
these animals," she said.

"And unfortunately in Michael Jackson's case he did apparently run
into financial problems that ultimately led to his animals being
disbursed to places all over the world. We don't know, frankly, where
most of them ended up."

--
full story:
http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/breaking-news-world/questions-mount-over-jackson-animal-kingdom-20090629-d21g.html

CA-ANIMAL RIGHTS GROUP RALLIES FOR LUCY THE ELEPHANT

A local animal rights group rallied at the Valley Zoo this morning to
raise awareness about the well-being of Lucy the elephant and to mark
the First International Day of Action for Elephants in Zoos.

The Edmonton-based Voice For Animals group claims that the 32-year-old
elephant and Valley Zoo favourite is suffering from various health
issues, including arthritis, dental and respiratory problems, and
should be moved to a sanctuary to roam free with other elephants.

“Lucy looks unhappy,” said group spokesman Tove Reece. “This is our
on-going campaign to put pressure on the zoo and on the city to have
Lucy moved.”

Reece said two elephant sanctuaries in the U.S. have offered a place
for Lucy and to send their veterinarians to examine her. Reece has
been in touch with zoo officials over the years but they refuse to
move Lucy because she is a “cause celebre” for the zoo’s fundraising
efforts, she added.

About 10 ralliers and the group’s elephant mascot stood at the
entrance of the zoo waving signs that read “Set Lucy Free” as
participants for the Memory Walk strolled past. Some walk participants
waved while vehicles passing by honked in support. But others rebuked
the group for demonstrating during the event, which raises money for
Alzheimer’s disease.

--
full story:
http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/edmonton/2009/06/20/9875011.html

TAKE ACTION:SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR GREAT APES

PETITION: No Great Apes in Entertainment² Pledge

Take Action‹Show your Support for Great Apes
Add your name to the growing list of individuals who are asking business totake the pledge.
No Great Apes in Entertainment² Pledge:
As a leader in our industry, our organization pledges not to use live greatapes (gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans or bonobos) in connection with anyof our products or services or for advertising, entertainment or any otherpurpose.
http://www.janegoodall.org/CaptivePrimatesAct/

MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS:SPEAK OUT FOR ANIMALS!

Support Massachusetts Senate Bill 1870
S. 1870, authored by Senator Hedlund, would prohibit any person who houses, possesses, or travels with elephants utilized in traveling shows from using any implement that would result in physical harm, orfrom keeping the elephants constantly restrained by chain or similar device._http://ida.convio.http://idhttp://ida.convihttp://ida_(http://ida.convio.net/site/R?i=aynArmwTTZryr2JyNhRUpg) ..
Please use this form to contact your State Senator andRepresentative TODAY and urge him/her to support S. 1870._http://ida.convio.http://idhttp://ida.convihttp://ida_(http://ida.convio.net/site/R?i=NEjX1WRSgUG_pcPOsAnPUg) ..
After the conclusion of a six-week-long federal lawsuit againstRingling Bros. for its mistreatment of Asian elephants, volumes ofevidence were compiled by Born Free USA regarding how long the animalsare kept immobilized in chains; video footage shows employees hitting elephants with bullhooks; correspondence and government enforcement records discussanimal welfare concerns at the circus; and Ringling's own medicalrecords describe the poor health conditions of the elephants.
(http://ida.convio.net/site/R?i=C3vHP2dc2cUkZeIwcNsrTA) ..
In addition, Kenneth Feld, CEO of Feld Entertainment, Ringling'sparent company, admitted under oath on cross examination that all ofhis handlers strike the elephants with bullhooks. This comes afteryears of denying this very fact - a fact that we knew all along.
In light of all this new evidence, NOW is the time to act to helpthese magnificent animals. Please contact your state legislators todayand urge their support for Massachusetts Senate Bill 1870._http://ida.convio.http://idhttp://ida.convihttp://ida_(http://ida.convio.net/site/R?i=bSvvvFQJknu7sXwb-zhSjg) ..
Thank you!

DEATH OF ELEPHANT NED REINFORCES IDA'S DEMAND FOR ACTION!

Death Of Elephant Ned Reinforces IDA's Demand For Action
Death Highlights USDA Failure To Protect Captive Elephants And Enforce Federal Law
Other Abused Elephants Are In Jeopardy
IDA is deeply saddened to report that the elephant Ned, who was confiscated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in November 2008 and sent to The Elephant Sanctuary thanks to the diligence of IDA, has passed away. Ned's sad life was filled with abuse and suffering, but in his last six months he finally experienced love, caring and trust.
Despite the sanctuary's heroic efforts to heal Ned, his body appears to have been too damaged from his years of abuse. Only 21 years old, Ned left us far too soon. Amazingly, he died just 12 hours after the passing of Bunny, another of the sanctuary’s elephants and the first to die from natural causes related to old age.
Ned’s passing is a tragic reminder of the inaction of the USDA, which waited until Ned was at death's door before confiscating him. Our staff will work hard in Ned's memory to force the USDA to fulfill its mandate to uphold our nation's animal welfare laws before it is too late for Tina, Jewel, Queenie, Val and other elephants who are victims of abuse at the hands of the circus and zoo industries.
Read more about Ned’s passing below.


1) Email Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and demand that his agency start to enforce the Animal Welfare Act to protect elephants. The USDA must start by confiscating Jewel, Tina and Queenie and send them to an elephant sanctuary.
We are not including a prepared letter for you on this alert, as we want your letters to be unique and from the heart. Please tell the Secretary in your own words how you feel about the USDA's slowness in protecting elephants in trouble.
Please copy your letter to your U.S. Senators and Representative. You can find their contact information by entering your zip code here.
2) Join IDA's Elephant Task Force and stay up-to-date with news you can use to help elephants in captivity.
Here is our news release on the death of Ned for you to use to help compose your e-mail:
Washington, DC - The tragic death of Ned, a 21-year old male elephant at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, may have been prevented had the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) not waited until the elephant was at death's door to confiscate him from an abusive trainer, the animal protection organization In Defense of Animals (IDA) charged today. "Similar inaction by the USDA, charged with enforcing the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), is jeopardizing the lives of other captive elephants," said IDA President Elliot M. Katz, DVM. Currently at risk is an emaciated elephant named Jewel, who continues to travel and perform in circuses despite her debilitated condition, her handler's chronic violations of animal welfare law and her possible infection with the human form of tuberculosis. "Ned had an absolutely tragic life and the USDA knew about his life-threatening situation almost a year before it acted to confiscate him," said Dr. Katz. "Despite The Elephant Sanctuary's heroic efforts, it was too late for Ned. How many more elephants have to die before the USDA starts fulfilling its legal responsibility to enforce our nation's animal welfare law?" The USDA confiscated Ned in November 2008 after complaints by IDA and others about his emaciated appearance prompted the first agency inspection in ten months, despite prior findings that Ned was extremely underweight. Ned’s trainer, Lance Kollman, had been ordered to keep regular records of Ned’s weight, but nobody from the USDA ever followed up to note that he was failing to do so. This was despite investigations dating to 2000 into the care Kollman provided to animals, prompted by the sudden and unexplained death of his family’s previous elephant. At the time of his confiscation, Ned was noted to be at least a ton underweight. Other elephants whom the USDA has jeopardized due to inaction include:
Tina, Jewel and Queenie, who remain in the hands of a trainer who has repeatedly abused and failed to properly care for them. Despite chronic AWA violations, the USDA has refused to revoke the trainer's license. All three elephants remain on the road and are losing weight, two for the second time in as many years. Jewel is shockingly emaciated, ill and frail in appearance.
Dehli was found by the USDA in 2002 to be "in a serious health emergency” after sustaining severe chemical burns to both front legs. (Her "owner" had used undiluted formaldehyde to soak her feet causing both of her front legs to be swollen to twice their normal size). It took a full 20 months after this finding for the USDA to take action to remove the critically injured elephant from her abuser and send her to The Elephant Sanctuary.
In 2001, the USDA found that Lota was losing weight. By the time she reached the Sanctuary in November of 2004, she was so ill from tuberculosis that she only lived another 2 ? months.
Just last week, IDA wrote to the Secretary of Agriculture demanding that the agency confiscate Tina, Jewel and Queenie. There has been no reply, and the elephants remain unprotected by the federal agency empowered to save them. Despite the fact that in 2006 IDA filed a citizen’s petition with the USDA to compel the agency to enforce the AWA at zoos and circuses, where elephants are suffering from inadequate care, the USDA’s negligent enforcement of the AWA continues.
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In Defense of Animals, located in San Rafael, Calif., is an international animal protection organization with more than 85,000 members and supporters dedicated to ending the abuse and exploitation of animals by protecting their rights and welfare. IDA's efforts include educational events, cruelty investigations, boycotts, grassroots activism, and hands-on rescue through our sanctuaries in Mississippi, Mumbai, India, and Cameroon, Africa.
In Defense of Animals is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We welcome your feedback and appreciate your donations. Please join today! All donations to IDA are tax-deductible.
In Defense of Animals3010 Kerner, San Rafael, CA 94901Tel. (415) 448-0048 Fax (415) 454-1031

http://us.mc815.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=idainfo@idausa.org

URGE BROOKFIELD ZOO TO SEND LONE ELEPHANT TO A SANCTUARY!ACTION ALERT!

Urge Brookfield Zoo to Send Lone Elephant to a Sanctuary and Shut Down Elephant Exhibit
Late last week, a 39-year-old African elephant, Affie, died prematurely at the Brookfield Zoo in Illinois. While no cause of death has been released, she likely suffered from painful foot and/or joint disease, conditions prevalent in zoos due to inadequate conditions for elephants. IDA immediately filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, stating: “If in fact Affie did succumb to a disease caused by zoo conditions, the Brookfield Zoo should be found in violation of the Animal Welfare Act.” We also called for the zoo to immediately send the sole remaining elephant, Christy, to a sanctuary and shut down its elephant exhibit.In response to IDA, the zoo issued a statement and further comments that contained a number of gross misrepresentations and falsehoods. IDA today released its own statement of fact, setting the record straight.It would be inhumane to continue to keep Christy at the Brookfield Zoo, especially now that she is alone. Bringing in another elephant is not the answer because the Zoo cannot provide a high quality of life for elephants. Even if the exhibit is further expanded, it will not significantly change overall conditions.Elephants are highly intelligent and physically vigorous animals that hail from warm climates. In the wild, they range seven to fourteen miles or more per day, and are active for 20 out of 24 hours, as they forage, explore, socialize and raise their young. Yet, at Brookfield Zoo elephants are held in a cramped elephant exhibit where they spend the majority of the long Midwest winters in tiny indoor cages that do not allow for adequate movement or mental stimulation. Simply put, the zoo just cannot provide the space and natural conditions elephants need to live long and healthy lives. This is being proven with the death of each additional elephant. Seven elephants have died at the Brookfield Zoo since 1975; more than half did not live to age 40. Elephants have a natural lifespan of 60-70 years.Help us urge the Brookfield Zoo to do the right thing and send Christy to a natural-habitat sanctuary where she would have a life much closer to what nature intended for Earth’s largest land mammals. Sanctuaries have received elephants from many Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited zoos. Eighteen zoos have closed or plan to close their elephant exhibits.WHAT YOU CAN DO1. Please write to Brookfield Zoo director Stuart Strahl and politely urge him to send Christy, now the lone elephant at Brookfield Zoo, to a sanctuary without delay. Stuart D. Strahl, PhDDirectorBrookfield Zoo3300 Golf RoadBrookfield, IL 60513Phone: 708-688-8300 Fax: 708-688-7309 Email: http://us.mc815.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=bzadmin@brookfieldzoo.org

2. Please post a comment to Stuart Strahl’s response and on stories in the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Tribunal

.3. Send a letter to the editor of the Chicago Tribune.

GET ELEPHANT LUCY MOVED TO A SANCTUARY! TAKE ACTION TODAY!

Get Elephant Lucy moved to a sanctuary
As you probably know, Voice for Animals has been working with Zoocheck Canada to have Lucy moved from her inadequate facilities at the Vally Zoo to the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee or the PAWS Sanctuary in California. Now 36 prominent Canadian authors have signed a letter sent to the Mayor and Edmonton City Council urging them to intervene on Lucy's behalf to have have her moved. It is truly a stellar lineup of authors who signed on to Zoocheck's letter including Margaret Atwood, Michael Ondaatje, Barbara Gowdy and Nino Ricci. We can't help but be optimistic that with the support of people like Bob Barker, renowned Canadian authors and people from across Canada and the US the City must take action to have Lucy moved.For more information, to read the Canadian authors for Lucy letter and to see the complete list of authors go to:http://www.zoocheck.com/campaigns_elephant_Lucyauthorrelease.html<http://www.zoocheck.com/campaigns_elephant_Lucyauthorrelease.html>

Thanks to all of you who have written letters, come out to protests or supported our Lucy campaign financially, it is making a difference.Please sign this petition, and help this poor elephant go to the Elephant Sanctuary,she s really worth it, Zoo and circus animals live a terrible and lonely life, and the Sanctuary is a wonderful, big outdoor open space,with other elephants, A real Elephant Life is waiting for poor Lucy, Just sign and give her a life.