Franklin Zoo (Closed) Elephant Kills Woman at Franklin Zoo

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I was at that meeting too. So, who does own the elephant? Is it SPCA? And I was of the same thoughts, that Mila as at FZ to stay, so was pleasantly surprised to hear she may be moving on.
 
You were at the meeting? Really? Cripes I am getting old, but there were a couple who I can't remember. Ownership? Well, at that meeting it was agreed that it was not important who owned the elephant, only that she was owned so that export papers could be filed.

Harry Weber signed Mila over to me as representative of the RNZSPCA. I really could not understand why it then became such a huge issue but, looking back, I guess my boss was thinking that perhaps FZ had other ideas that did not include Mila going to Tennessee. As far as I am aware Mila is still 'owned' by the RNZ unless she has been gifted to FZ. It all seems to detract from the point however, which is that the whole plan was for her to go. There was the protected contact protocol in place, training (for trunk washes etc for TB tests) developed, an experienced ele keeper (Bruce Ireland) sourced and in place. The time scale given for her to be in a crate and on a plane was from 6 months to 1 year. Two and half years later and this tragedy happens.
 
I used to do a bit of PR/media work for the zoo but that came to an end pretty soon after Mila arrived. The Aussies and Bruce are good friends of mine, and I introduced Helen to them. It was a pretty exciting time and I'm very proud to have been a part of that, as I'm sure you are. I do think it's sad that it has taken so long and Mila still doesn't have a definite future. I only ask about ownership because I guess funding for her future would be the responsibility of the owner, would it not? PS: You're not as old as me, Cadders.
 
I always advocated that the SPCA should fund Mila's care but (a) the will was not there on the part of the society and (b) Helen wouldn't accept it anyway.

My feeling is that the SPCA would shed Mila like a hot brick if they could do so whilst retaining any credibility. But I also feel that raising a mill+ could be a daunting task for FZ, especially as they will no doubt be feeling pretty fragile right now.

I investigated help from the Born Free Foundation and they seemed fine to assist with advice etc. This still did not appease the concerns of my paymasters at the time. I think that the SPCA would like the kudos, but not the hard graft. But how magic for an animal welfare society would it be to actually do this thing? Alas, I am not holding my breath.
 
Are they serious about it being a million? I've heard from one who's done enquiries that it would be a tenth of that amount.
 
sharonbm said:
Are they serious about it being a million? I've heard from one who's done enquiries that it would be a tenth of that amount.
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If, thats the right thing for Mila, has nobody thought of approaching the shipping / airlines about some money for this?

I am sure Richard Branson would love to help.

DHL may like a slice too!

A million..............How could it be anywhere that much?

Surely people and companies that where required in the move,would help here?
 
The budgeting included two full-time keepers + one half, (about eight dollars fifty cents...) and ele feed for up to 1 year, vet input, meds, lab fees, consultant fees, admin re MAF and USDAW requirements, crate, insurance, land transport in NZ, flight, land transport US, any layerage fees, sundries, contingency fund etc. That little lot came to a lot over $100K.. I'll see if I can find the project management plan with budgetary plan and commentary that I did.
 
If the best option is for resettlement in US .

I am sure there must be funding help about.

ref. land transport in NZ and US. I had a transport co. at one time and would have jumped at the chance to do the hauling for free....I bet another trucking co. would do the same.

Air freight , I am sure an airline would support this.

Blimey.... vets etc, c`mon, I dont believe these cant be done for free.


But even if they all need paying for.

The money can be raised ever so quickly if enough people knew about it.

BUT, is the other option that Mila could stay in NZ?
 
Cadders said:
The budgeting included two full-time keepers + one half, (about eight dollars fifty cents...) Can you get me some of those keepers please! ,consultant fees, aha ...... that's where the big costs will be
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Sounds like there was going to be a Jumbo "industry".
 
The biggest problem would be coordinating it all, and for someone/group to take the lead. That was going to happen via the two consultants (who were working for free by the way.. expenses + travel only) but then there was this major stoush, and that was that. At this time, possession being 9/10ths of the law, it would be most appropriate to look to FZ for this leadership. They could delegate maybe but it's all still a bit messy.
 
chip said:
Has anyone asked FZ recently what their preferred option is?
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Good point - this is all academic without knowing the wishes of Helen's heirs.

I would imagine that it will take some time for them to form a considered opinion - they will have more important matters on their minds at the moment. My thoughts are with them.
 
Ditto - they must be going through misery just now. They did make clear on their FB page that euthing Mila was not an option for them though, which is good.
 
It would be the right and proper thing to do what Helen would have wished for Mila`s future.

Hopefully, this will be the case.
 
hat was going to happen via the two consultants (who were working for free by the way.. expenses + travel only) but then there was this major stoush,
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it is a pity that we humans let our personalities get in the way of an animals welfare sometimes
 
Steve Robinson said:
Euthanasing a healthy elephant would certainly be immoral and entirely unnecessary.

Donating her to the SPCA gave them a huge PR boost, lots of extra donation dollars and her new circus owners a significant tax write-off.

Had she been worked in Protected Contact this thread would not be here.

In my own humble opinion I can't see any problem with leaving her at Franklin - providing Helen's heirs want her, of course.

She has a magnificent, purpose built facility there, she can be handled PC quite safely, she is used to being on her own - indeed she may now be incompatible with other elephants. There would be no benefit in shipping her all the way to America to find that she would have been better off left in NZ. She is over 30 years old so, despite what the "experts" from the AR movement tell us, she really doesn't have too many years left.

One person's opinion.
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But is she in good health? Some of the stories reference foot problems, everyone knows how quickly they can escalate in elephants. Any elephant that has been isolated and chained for decades is going to have severe zoonosis and behaviour problems.
 
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