Franklin Zoo (Closed) Elephant Kills Woman at Franklin Zoo

[zooboy28]

The roads I travelled on to get to Franklin Zoo were sealed, however



Mila travelled in her own trailer in her final circus years, but if she is in a crate she will probably be transported on the back of a large truck. Some of the roads to Franklin Zoo have quite a drop right on the edge, and narrow. That might be what they are referring to? Just a theory

I can see no valid reason to alter any roads outside the zoo for a single use like this. If necessary they can close the road so that the truck can use both lanes in narrow places, but there is no need to do any physical work to them. I think this just sounds like an excuse to get money to improve the zoo itself, in the guise of helping Mila.

 

[Chlidonias]

I think this just sounds like an excuse to get money to improve the zoo itself, in the guise of helping Mila.

it is extremely hard to not be cynical about every part of this story at this point isn't it?

With regards to the roads, it cannot be the roads outside the zoo as that is the problem of the local council or equivalent. If the public roads are not up to par then they have to be fixed but it is not up to the zoo to fund it in any way, any more than it would be for a home-owner to pay for fixing the holes in the street running past their house. If money is needed for road repairs it can only be those within the zoo itself as zooboy28 surmised in post #257. I suppose when the elephant first arrived she may have been walked through the zoo to her enclosure by Ratcliffe, and hence maybe the internal roads aren't capable of taking a truck of the size needed for carrying an elephant.

 

[Steve Robinson]

maybe the internal roads aren't capable of taking a truck of the size needed for carrying an elephant.

The internal "roads" are paths. To convert them into "roads" would require the demolition of a major part of the zoo.

In the Voxy article, what does "fines for Mila's walking tracks" refer to??

 

[zooboy28]

The internal "roads" are paths. To convert them into "roads" would require the demolition of a major part of the zoo.

In the Voxy article, what does "fines for Mila's walking tracks" refer to??

I don't think that to back a big truck in would require much demolition, although possibly some. I presume trucks were used to bring in machinery and materials to build the elephant enclosure? If you look at google maps you can see a large open area leading from the old entrance across to the elephant barn. I have attached a picture to illustrate. Would this not work?

I think fines might have been fences? If you miss out the 'c', the auto spell check might change it to fines?

 

[Steve Robinson]

Thanks zooboy28.

The thumbnail pic seems to have been taken before the barn was built and the rectangle adjacent to the enclosure at the end of your red line seems to be her circus trailer. If so, there would be no need to raise money for internal roadwork if such a huge trailer could access the enclosure.

And, why does she need fenced walking tracks now if she is going to be emigrating shortly?

 

[felix]

fines are small pumice or rock chips used for walking tracks for stock on farms
usually left over from quarry operations
pack down to form a firm base that doesn't muddy in wet weather

 

[chip]

In circumstances like this i feel i would rather all the animals in the world be left where they are, all the zoo money being spent on game wardens, then, if they go extinct, so be it.

The human race have messed up just about everything , including the rest of the animal kingdom.

Jumbo............On behalf of the Human Race, please accept my humble apologies for what we have done and remain doing to you.

 

[Steve Robinson]

fines are small pumice or rock chips used for walking tracks for stock on farms
usually left over from quarry operations
pack down to form a firm base that doesn't muddy in wet weather

Thanks for that felix - they must be very expensive eh?

Not sure that rock chips are good for an elephant's feet - don't you have pine bark or something more suitable over there?

 

[felix]

yes very expensive, about 3 bucks a cubic metre
they are very small and are used in cattle races a lot over here

 

[kiwipo]

When Mila first arrived the Circus artic truck she travelled in had been driven right down to where her enclosure had been built, and she was still using the box trailer as her night accommodation. The tractor truck that towed it was parked along side.
I also paid a visit when they were doing improvements to the elephant enclosure, and they had a large six wheeled dump druck, a digger and a bobcat inside the zoo grounds next to the elephant enclosure. And they were driving the truck through some large double gates adjoining her enclosure to get to the rear of it.

So a large truck wouldn't have any problem getting in there and up to the elephant enclosure. Anyone who has seen house movers work will know there is no need to build special roads just to load an elephant on a truck.

I'm wondering if Jenny Chung is drawing a salary for her work on this project.

 

[Steve Robinson]

Yes - that is the trailer pictured, with the prime mover adjacent to it. The barn has not yet been constructed in this picture.

"Salary"????? You are a bit of a cynic kiwipo!!

 

[kiwipo]

Yes - that is the trailer pictured, with the prime mover adjacent to it. The barn has not yet been constructed in this picture.

"Salary"????? You are a bit of a cynic kiwipo!!

Maybe so, however like a few others I am wondering why it costs so much to transport an elephant to the US. Especially the estimated cost of training her to enter a shipping crate, when as a circus elephant doing tricks on command she spent most of her life in a similar sized crate.

I realise it the distance covered is far shorter, but they put wild full grown African bull elephants into a crate and transport them from one reserve to another without any training or time spent getting used to the transport crate.

 

[chip]

Are not the details of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ available?

considering it appears to be public money funding it now

 

[zooboy28]

Franklin Zoo to Close (?)

Fate of Elephant Who Killed Keeper in Doubt as Franklin... | Stuff.co.nz

Franklin Zoo is closing, leaving the fate of African elephant Mila in doubt.

Jenny Chung, whose sister Dr Helen Schofield was killed by Mila in April, has told Closeup the sanctuary will close after failing to get sufficient funds to remain operating.

The zoo must find homes for about 430 animals and birds, including Mila.

"It's been a very difficult decision to close the zoo," Chung told Closeup.

The loss of Schofield's expertise was partly behind the closure.

Chung said she still hoped to send Mila overseas with the help of public donations, but would not say outright if the move was certain.

The Animal Sanctuary for unwanted animal, south of Auckland, had appealed for donations to remain open and cover the costs to send Mila to a new home in the United States.

In June, the Franklin Zoo Charitable Trust announced it needed $1.45 million to secure Mila's care or she may be put down.

The Ministry of Primary Industries had a legislative requirement for the trust to have an accredited zoo manager and elephant programme manager on staff in order for it to remain open.

Schofield was killed by Mila on April 25 when the elephant picked her up with its trunk before bringing her down and crushing her.

Schofield was preparing the ex-circus elephant, formerly known as Jumbo, to be transported to the Performing Animal Welfare Society in San Andreas.

The $1.45m needed would go towards funding an accredited zoo operator, an elephant programme manager, two more elephant keepers, a custom-built travel crate, vet care, medical testing, crate training, freight to her new sanctuary, quarantine and the final transfer to her new home.

Chung had said Mila may be euthanised if the money wasn't raised and no other facility in New Zealand could care for her.

Sounds like another desperate plea, I can't believe what this 'sister' is doing.

They are advertising for an elephant keeper as well, on the ZAA website an advert appeared a week ago: Elephant Manager – Franklin Zoo | Zoo Aquarium Association

 

[Steve Robinson]

I wonder why they have built a big fence across the front of the zoo?

Jenny Chung has been offered a way to ship Jumbo to PAWS very cheaply and very quickly. She has refused that offer. One has to wonder about her real motives.

 

[chip]

It makes me wonder what the priorities are!


I think Jumbo is way down the list.

One things for sure, Jumbo`s future has to be decided by somebody other than FZ and the "Authorities in NZ.


the sooner the better.

What about the mystery benefactor`s donation?

 

[Chlidonias]

what a load of rubbish this whole saga has turned into. Jenny Chung's attitude through the whole thing has really come across as one of trying to get the zoo to fail! She literally appears to have done nothing during that time except whine for money. Why wait over two months to even advertise for the essential vacant positions at the zoo? Why the constant "threats" over donating money or the elephant dies, but not taking the available options (as mentioned by Steve above)? The whole thing stinks like months-old cheese.

 

[Chlidonias]

another article here: Franklin Zoo closes after seven years | Television New Zealand | News, Sport, Weather, TV ONE, TV2 | TVNZ | NATIONAL News
and the video: Franklin Zoo closes after seven years | Television New Zealand | News, Sport, Weather, TV ONE, TV2 | TVNZ | News Video (EDIT: just watched the video and although dated today and attached to the article below, it is an old news video which has already been linked to on this thread)

The south Auckland zoo where a keeper was crushed to death by a former circus elephant is shutting its gates after seven years.

Staff at Franklin Zoo say they can no longer run the sanctuary without veterinarian Helen Schofield who was accidentally killed by African elephant, Mila, three months ago.

Schofield's sister Jenny Chung has been running the zoo since but says she can no longer keep the it open without Schofield's enthusiasm and expertise.

"Helen was a very qualified, accredited person in that sanctuary and I was determined to carry on for her, however, I've found that Helen's multiple roles and experience are irreplaceable," Chung told TV ONE's Close Up.

"It's been a very difficult decision to shut the zoo."

Now Chung is tasked with finding a home for the sanctuary's exotic animals, including monkeys, zebras, lemurs and a raft of exotic birds.

The majority of the animals homed at the zoo were often injured and would have not been welcomed by another zoo or been able to be released into the wild.

Zoo keeper Sam White said the sanctuary had been working with the Zoo and Aquarium Association to find homes for all 430 animals, including special needs animals Tommy, a one-eyed otter, and Milly, a goat with a bent neck.

He said the animals will either be sent to zoos to be displayed, used in breeding programmes or be housed by private owners.

"Some will be very hard to home but we've got great expertise helping us try to home them. We've had zoos from around the world trying to help out."

At the time of her death, Schofield was preparing for Mila the elephant to be sent to a California sanctuary where she could spend the remainder of her life with other African elephants.

Chung said the sanctuary was still determined to send Mila overseas and they had already received a number of generous donations to fund the trip.

"We're hoping to send Mila overseas to an animal sanctuary where she can live with other Afrian elephants. That's the ultimate goal."

Fundraising had allowed the zoo to advertise for an elephant programme manager who will be able to prepare Mila for the journey overseas.

They had also received offers from companies offering to build Mila a travel crate and a freight organisation has offered to cover the cost of travel.

 

[Jarkari]

I imagine it will be difficult to find an experienced keeper willing to take on that role unless already unemployed or atleast not currently working with elephants. elephant keeping is highly competitive and jobs are few and far between.

 

[chip]

you mean like the man who already knows her