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From: Last Chance for Animals - campaigns [at] lcanimal.org
Date: Jun 28, 2007 7:01 PM
Subject: More Elephants Die in Captivity - What Can You Do to Help?

“Elephant Sanctuaries-Not Captivity” Update; Two More Elephants Die in Captivity

MONA

Mona, the Asian elephant who lived in captivity at the Birmingham Zoo since 1955, was euthanized last Thursday, June 21st. Mona was found down twice last week in her enclosure. She was euthanized after she failed to get to her feet with assistance after the second downed instance. A necropsy is being performed to determine the cause of her illness.

Mona was captured in the wild in 1951 and has lived alone in her 1,000 square foot enclosure since the death of her companion, Susie, over two years ago.

See below to find out what you can do to get involved in the fight “Elephant Sanctuaries-Not Captivity.”

CAROL

Carol, the Asian elephant who gained fame for her appearance on “The Tonight Show” and her ability to paint, was euthanized last Tuesday, June 19th. 40 year old Carol was born in Thailand and brought to the San Diego Zoo in 1968. Zoo officials stated that Carol suffered from painful degenerative joint disease which lead to her euthanasia last week.

Degenerative joint disease and chronic foot problems are most often linked to the death of elephants in captivity. Elephants in zoos spend their lives in small enclosures, standing on compacted dirt or concrete. As a result of inadequate enclosures, elephants suffer extremely painful arthritic and dgenerative join disorders, recurrent foot infections and digestive problems. According to numerous elephant experts, these symptoms do not exist in elephants in the wild.

HANSA

Necropsy reports are still pending in the death of Hansa, a six year old Asian elephant, found dead Friday, June 8th. Born in 2000 to a 28-year-old Chai, she was the first elephant born in the state of Washington. She lived with her Mother in a herd of four elephants in the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Washington.

Preliminary tests have ruled out digestive blockages, bloating, genetic disease, nutritional disease, cancer and salmonella. According to the Woodland Park Zoo Hansa died after she “displayed colic-like symptoms”.

“We don’t need a necropsy to find out how Hansa, Carol or Mona died. They all died of captivity related diseases, like countless captive elephants before them and countless elephants to come UNLESS we do something about it. It’s our responsibility to help these amazing animals. Join LCA and help end animal suffering!”

- Chris DeRose, President & Founder LCA

WHAT YOU CAN DO

1. Contact the Birmingham Zoo.

Tell the CEO of the Birmingham Zoo that elephants do not belong in zoos and ask them to permenantly close their elephant exhibit.

Dr. Bill Foster, CEO
Birmingham Zoo, Inc.
2630 Cahaba Rd
Birmingham, AL 35223
wfoster [at] birminghamzoo.com

2. Visit www.FightBack4Elephants.com.

Join LCA and help save the elephants in your town from a life in captivity.

For the Animals,
Campaigns Department

Last Chance for Animals | 8033 Sunset Blvd. #835 | Los Angeles | CA | 90046

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