Zoo trend: Let the elephants go

PHILADELPHIA — When the Philadelphia Zoo, the nation's first, opened in 1874, its curators bought an elephant from a traveling circus and chained it to a tree, delighting children and adults who had never seen such an animal up close.

In the ensuing 132 years, elephants have been a big part of the zoo's attraction. They have often been featured on advertising posters and commercials, and zoo administrators say visitors spend an average of five to eight minutes gazing at them in their rather small habitat.

But this spring, the zoo's affair with elephants will end. Instead of expanding the space for the exhibit, the board of directors will put the money elsewhere. The four elephants will be split between the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore and an elephant sanctuary in central Tennessee.

The current thought among experts in the animal world, particularly the members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, is that elephants need room to roam. Even with conscientious veterinarians and keepers, they say, quarter-acre habitats like Philadelphia's are not sufficient for the world's largest land mammal.

Zoos in Detroit, Chicago, San Francisco and New York also have decided to eliminate their elephant exhibits.

"This is a flagship animal at any particular zoo. Denver is building a new facility; Albuquerque and San Diego are expanding. The Pittsburgh Zoo is purchasing land outside the city for an elephant area."

He added, "When I was 3 ½ and saw Rosie, the elephant at the Portland, Oregon, zoo, it had a huge impact on me, which is why I am in the business today."

Dr. Andrew Baker, vice president for animal programs of the Philadelphia Zoo, said that instead of expanding the elephant habitat, the zoo decided to devote more space to its children's zoo and to its big cats and gorillas.

"We feel good about the level of care we've given the elephants over the years," Baker said, but it became clear "that we would need to expand the space we were devoting to them."

A group calling itself Friends of Philly Zoo Elephants had started a campaign to persuade the zoo to send its elephants to a sanctuary, claiming the zoo was making them stand on hard surfaces, not letting them roam enough and allowing them to fight.

When the lone Asian elephant, Dulary, now 42, got into a fight with one of the three African elephants last year and the zoo put her in isolation, the group demanded to see her. When it was rebuffed, its members picketed and handed out pamphlets denouncing what they called the mistreatment of elephants in Philadelphia and at other zoos.

Baker said his zoo's decision was purely financial and the protests had no effect.

Carol Buckley, who runs the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tenn., said she became interested in the cause when she saw a circus elephant being shocked and whipped. She started a nonprofit corporation and in 1995 bought 2,700 acres about 85 miles southwest of Nashville for the sanctuary, which will include 23 female elephants when Dulary arrives in the spring.

"Our goal is to give elephants space and autonomy," said Buckley, who does not allow outsiders, including financial donors, to visit the refuge or have any contact with the elephants. A dozen staff members care for the animals, and an Internet "elecam" allows people to view the elephants.

The Maryland Zoo is taking the Philadelphia Zoo's other three elephants, Petal, 51; Kallie, 24; and Bette, 23. A $5 million project will expand the zoo's exhibit to five elephants, several acres and a half-mile walking trail.