Today's Elephant-Breeding Death Supports Animal Advocates' Argument Against Breeding Philly Elephants

October 29, 2008

For Immediate Release: October 28, 2008

Philadelphia Zoo's Plans to Subject Elephants to Life-Threatening Breeding Procedure Outrages Local Residents

October 28, 2008, Philadelphia: In the wake of last night's death of pregnant Atlanta Zoo African elephant Dottie, aged 26, outraged local residents request the Philadelphia Zoo to halt plans to breed Kallie and Bette, both 26-year-old African elephants, and instead send them to a sanctuary. Dottie's death follows the similar premature death of Mary, a 23-year-old African elephant who died at the Montgomery Zoo this summer during her first-time pregnancy.

Wild-caught African elephant Dottie, in the third trimester of her first pregnancy, died late last night. She had recently lost ten percent of her body weight and was on antibiotics. Over seventy (70) percent of elephants who are 24 years or older at their first pregnancy or birth either die or face life-threatening situations such as a calf stuck in utero requiring surgical removal. In European zoos, female elephants who haven't given birth by the age of 24 are considered post-reproductive.

Nearly two years ago, the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) sanctuary in California offered to take the then-three African elephants at no charge (52-year-old elephant Petal has since died, collapsing in her cement stall in June). Zoo Director Vik Dewan refuses to send the elephants to the spacious sanctuary, opting instead to keep them here in Philadelphia in conditions that zoo officials themselves admit are inadequate, while awaiting the construction of a breeding facility near Pittsburgh. At the breeding facility, plans are to first attempt to breed Kallie and Bette will be bred with a bull elephant, and then use artificial insemination – an extremely invasive and painful procedure for elephants. "It is clear the Philadelphia Zoo is not doing what is in the best interest of Kallie and Bette," said Marianne Bessey, spokesperson of local grassroots group Friends of Philly Zoo Elephants. "It is unlikely that Kallie and Bette can get pregnant for the first time at their age and Dottie's death highlights the risks associated with first-time breeding. Zoo director Vik Dewan needs to do the right thing and follow the examples of the San Francisco Zoo and the Detroit Zoo by putting the elephants' interest ahead of the zoo's business interests and sending them to the PAWS sanctuary, before it is too late for Kallie and Bette." On average, elephants in zoos die at roughly half their natural average lifespan of 60-70 years. The leading cause of death for elephants in zoos is foot- and joint-related problems created by the lack of space in zoos. Friends of Philly Zoo Elephants is a group of local advocates who are concerned about the elephants at the Philadelphia Zoo. For more information, please visit www.helpphillyzooelephants.com or call 610-733-1248. ###