Franklin Zoo (Closed) Elephant Kills Woman at Franklin Zoo

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kiwipo said:
You shouldn't have taken this in any way seriously, :cool:

But it would be useful if they actually supplied a breakdown of the costs involved, along with reasons why they seem to want to refuse offers of cheap help.

I already donate to a Zoo in NZ, and would even donate to this cause, if I could be assured of what the money would be used for.

As would many others I think. Would you be willing to donate money to a cause without knowing what it was actually going to be spent on.
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This is a basic cost list:

Care for Mila at Franklin Zoo for 12 months to
prepare her for the move:
$570,000
Moving Mila to her new home: $580,000
Caring for all the other animals at Franklin Zoo &
Wildlife Sanctuary for the next 12 months:
$300,000
Total Fund Raising Required: $1,450,000
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driftaguy said:
I hope Auckland Zoo can take the Pigtail Macaque and maybe the emus, as they currently only have 2 emus; and the Bonnet macaques were originally going to be sent to Franklin Zoo to be with Carol (the Macaque).
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I really doubt Auckland would take anything except maybe a few birds. Franklin really only holds domestics and surplus exotics, species that the ZAA zoos have largely or completely phased out (macaques, bobcat) or individuals that are surplus for various reasons such as incompatibility with group, medical issues, etc, (lemur, capuchins, spider monkeys).

So I would say that, while Auckland and Hamilton (and maybe some of the other ZAA institutions) may take birds or reptiles if they are complementary to their pre-existing collections (and haven't already been snapped up), few of the exotic mammals will be suitable, although Hamilton may take back some of its primates. I suspect the bobcats, zebra, otter, macaques (both Carol and ultimately Auckland Zoo's) and other surplus primates will be largely headed to smaller private zoos, with Pouakai most likely to benefit. The only animals that are likely to remain with ZAA institutions are the native birds (kea, morepork, wood pigeon), and possibly the Cotton-top Tamarins, which may at least be of use as non-breeding display animals at ZAA zoos wanting to acquire. The brolga and agouti may also be wanted by ZAA.

I would also say that had Ruby the lioness still been alive, no-one would have taken her and she would probably have been euthanased.
 
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zooboy28 said:
I really doubt Auckland would take anything except maybe a few birds. Franklin really only holds domestics and surplus exotics, species that the ZAA zoos have largely or completely phased out (macaques, bobcat) or individuals that are surplus for various reasons such as incompatibility with group, medical issues, etc, (lemur, capuchins, spider monkeys).

So I would say that, while Auckland and Hamilton (and maybe some of the other ZAA institutions) may take birds or reptiles if they are complementary to their pre-existing collections (and haven't already been snapped up), few of the exotic mammals will be suitable, although Hamilton may take back some of its primates. I suspect the bobcats, zebra, otter, macaques (both Carol and ultimately Auckland Zoo's) and other surplus primates will be largely headed to smaller private zoos, with Pouakai most likely to benefit. The only animals that are likely to remain with ZAA institutions are the native birds (kea, morepork, wood pigeon), and possibly the Cotton-top Tamarins, which may at least be of use as non-breeding display animals at ZAA zoos wanting to acquire.

I would also say that had Ruby the lioness still been alive, no-one would have taken her and she would probably have been euthanased.
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Auckland Zoo have put their Bonnet Macaques in an off-display enclosure.
Zion might offer a home to the bobcats?
 
driftaguy said:
Auckland Zoo have put their Bonnet Macaques in an off-display enclosure.
Zion might offer a home to the bobcats?
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It is ZAA's policy to phase out all macaque species, which is why Auckland's Bonnets are the only left in NZ ZAA zoos, and have not been bred for a great number of years. Auckland has essentially only been holding onto them until a replacement came along (specifically the Squirrel Monkeys). I imagine they are still keen to offload them, and Pouakai is the most likely destination.

Pouakai also already hold bobcats, and were where Franklins originated from (although they arrived via Hamilton). So that why they are more likely to go there, although Zion is an option, I'm not sure who ultimately 'owns' these animals.
 
kiwipo said:
if they are closing down the zoo the land it sits on would easily be worth more than even the cost stated for shifting Mila, but I guess Jenny won't want to be dipping into her inheritance.
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If PAWS want her, why don't they pay the costs for her? They have more than enough cash on hand to do so several times over.
 
driftaguy said:
This is a basic cost list:
Click to expand...

Id like to see how they justify a million dollars to look after an elephant and ship her to the US. Can you provide a cost break down for that?

$300,000 to run the zoo for 12 months? And that doesn't include the elephant as the other million or so are for her? The lion has gone, whats left apart from monkeys and birds?
 
Franklin Zoo Confirms Closure

Franklin Zoo To Close After Keeper's Death | Stuff.co.nz

The zoo where an elephant crushed a woman to death has announced it will close.

Franklin Zoo, near Auckland, said this afternoon it will shut its doors permanently in the wake of the death of zoo keeper Dr Helen Schofield.

In a statement released today, a spokesperson said it has been a difficult few months trying to find someone to take from Schofield, who had also acted as a vet and mentor at the zoo.

“Helen is irreplaceable and this is why the Trustees have now had to make the incredibly difficult decision to close Franklin Zoo.”

The future of Mila, the elephant who killed Schofield, is still uncertain.

“Helen dedicated her life to animals, and her greatest dream was for Mila to be moved to another facility where she could live out the rest of her days with other elephants.

“We will not give up on Helen's dream, and we believe that the best way to honour this is to focus resources into our goal of working towards Mila’s relocation to a facility overseas so that we can try to secure her future.”

The spokesperson said the zoo would work closely in the coming weeks with the Australasian Zoo & Aquarium Association and the Ministry for Primary Industries to find homes for its animals.

Auckland and Hamilton zoo staff will continue to assist in the day-to-day care of Mila, and preparing her for her relocation overseas.

The zoo has been in financial dire straits since Schofield died.

A recent zoo newsletter said Schofield was paid just $29,731 for her work in the last six and a half years.

"She even objected to this amount, saying she was paid too much and the funds should be left in the trust for the animals. Helen gave everything she had to the sanctuary and the care of the animals."

In June, an appeal was made to raise $1.5 million to secure Mila's future.

The zoo spokesperson said they have been pleased with their fundraising to date and will continue to raise money for Mila's care.

Donations can be made via the zoo's website Franklin Zoo | Have A Wild Time
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Very sad business.
 
I wonder who the melodramatic idiot was that thought up this headline.

<Zoo, home to killer elephant, closes>

Followed by this sentence.

"A south Auckland zoo where a keeper was crushed to death by an elephant is closing and the fate of its 420 animals, including the killer beast, is up in the air"


And this comment also is odd

"But costs were too high and staff too difficult to find"

Staff for a zoo are difficult to find, perhaps Orana could send up the CVs they received for their jobs.


Full article here

Zoo, home to killer elephant, closes
 
I wonder who the melodramatic idiot was that thought up this headline.

<Zoo, home to killer elephant, closes>

Followed by this sentence.

"A south Auckland zoo where a keeper was crushed to death by an elephant is closing and the fate of its 420 animals, including the killer beast, is up in the air"


And this comment also is odd

"But costs were too high and staff too difficult to find"

Staff for a zoo are difficult to find, perhaps Orana could send up the CVs they received for their jobs.


Full article here

Zoo, home to killer elephant, closes
 
get the best of the best TONY RATCLIFFE and he will show you all in a heart beat why in 28 years he had an impeccable record , i know because i was the other man in the background , all you people should get your facts right
 
frankwilliam said:
get the best of the best TONY RATCLIFFE and he will show you all in a heart beat why in 28 years he had an impeccable record , i know because i was the other man in the background , all you people should get your facts right
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to what are you referring with the statement "all you people should get your facts right"?
 
if you dont know why should i give you information , the saga is far from over the zoos might get a short sharp lesson in elephant handling . and it wont cost any where near the figure CHUNG comes up with
 
frankwilliam said:
if you dont know why should i give you information , the saga is far from over the zoos might get a short sharp lesson in elephant handling . and it wont cost any where near the figure CHUNG comes up with
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ah yes, the brilliant tactic of "if you don't know I'm not going to tell you" (usually used by women angry at their husbands).

Have you even read this thread and understood the posts?
 
yess i fully understand the posts some are spot on and others off target , i know you guys are only observers , Steve Robinson knows jumbo as good as Franklin ZOO , and he knows Tony AND MYSELF , i have said my bit , leave it at that
 
Sorry if this has already been covered:

Does anyone know the last opening day of the zoo?

I'd like to go before it closes if possible.
 
frankwilliam said:
yess i fully understand the posts some are spot on and others off target , i know you guys are only observers , Steve Robinson knows jumbo as good as Franklin ZOO , and he knows Tony AND MYSELF , i have said my bit , leave it at that
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So you tell us how long would it take to teach Mila to get into a crate and be comfortable while shipped to the US.

I'll freely admit I have had nothing to do with circus or zoo elephants, however I have taken part in the transport of wild African elephants, and while a task, they were never specially trained for long periods to stand in transport crates. And some of these were full grown bulls that would kill anyone they could have got hold of.
 
I also, know nothing about the subject,BUT, an educated guess would be..........2 minutes.......


Providing Tony Ratcliffe guided her AND accompanied her to her final destination.


Like it or not, a pound to a pinch of s**t there is nobody else in the World who could do it as good.


What a pity Elephants cant talk.
 
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