Copy of letter to Taronga Zoo

June 6, 2001

The Director, Taronga Zoo:

Email: tz

Wednesday, 06 June, 2001.

Dear Sir/Madam,

It has been brought to my attention that NSW Government announced $225

million would be spent on reconstructing Taronga Zoo on the foreshore of

Sydney

Harbour. This seems a very large sum to commit at this time when the whole

justification for having zoos at all is being seriously questioned.

I understand that part of the plan is to reintroduce elephant rides.

Certain aspects of zoos are certainly still controversial but I think that

all enlightened modern zoo directors are of the opinion that there is no

place a in a zoo for the very large mammals such as elephants and polar

bears - it is just impossible to provide sufficient area for them to express

their natural behaviours - and therefore to keep them constitutes prima

facie cruelty. As for interaction between zoo visitors and elephants,

surely this has long been considered by all who are knowledgeable on the

subject to be too fraught with danger to be worthwhile (and the same logic

applies to swimming with dolphins and leopard seals). And the training of

elephants for elephant rides involves inevitable gross cruelty - there is NO

kind way of training these wild animals.

If it is true, as has been reported, that you intend to bring in elephants

from overseas - this is another point to be condemned - wildlife should be

left in their natural habitat or as close to it as possible.

The plan degrades animals such as elephants and seals to the level of theme

park attractions such as a roller coasters and ferris wheels - reintroducing

elephant rides and allowing visitors to swim with seals is purely a

marketing ploy and has nothing to do with conservation or education.

If you are still in doubt as to what to do, may I suggest that you consult

with David Hancocks - the excellent Director of the Melbourne Zoo.

Yours sincerely,

Dr John Wedderburn.

Copy to: NSW Premier Bob Carr

Email: bob.carr

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