Woodland Park Zoo Woodland Park Zoo news 2015

Milwaukee Man

Milwaukee Man

Well-Known Member
10+ year member
I know this is late in discussing the phase-out of the elephant program, but I've been thinking:

First, I've never been to Woodland Park Zoo (though I really want to), so I can't really give an opinion on the exhibit quality or anything like that. Second, I have no problem with a Zoo deciding to phase out an animal species, especially if it's for the good of the welfare of the animals.

However, the Zoo has stated one of the reasons for the phase-out is that it was unable to find another elephant to add to the herd. What I don't understand is this - there are a few establishments around the country with single Asian elephants living amongst African elephants (like Louisville, Topeka, and I believe Six Flags Discovery Kingdom). Why couldn't Seattle take one of those elephants? I believe I read that Woodland Park stated the third elephant they wanted (back in March 2014) was an older female, the AZA frowns upon the mixed elephant species set-up, and the mentioned zoos might either phase out their own elephants soon or focus on the African species (Topeka's case at least) anyway.

Just a thought.
 
What I don't understand is this - there are a few establishments around the country with single Asian elephants living amongst African elephants (like Louisville, Topeka, and I believe Six Flags Discovery Kingdom). Why couldn't Seattle take one of those elephants?
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For the same reason why I don't take my neighbor's dog, even though I only have 1 and they have 3.
 
I'll just be happy if the Elephants get another AZA home with the chance to maybe raise a calf as opposed to being sent to one of those "sanctuaries."
 
Last year was a record-breaking year for Woodland Park Zoo, with almost 1.3 million visitors. Upcoming in 2015 will be the brand-new Malayan Tiger/Sloth Bear complex as well as Maned Wolves:

http://www.zoo.org/document.doc?id=1487
 
A group that insists on sending the Elephants to a "sanctuary" is threatening the Zoo with a lawsuit claiming that they are violating the endangered species act. The group is saying that the lawsuit will go away if they send the animals to a "sanctuary."

Animal rights group to sue Woodland Park Zoo over elephants | Local & Regional | Seattle News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News | KOMO News

What chance does this lawsuit have of actually being successful? My gut feeling is that it won't, and that they are just threatening a nuisance lawsuit.
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
It is called black-mail!
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Good way of putting it.

City Hall is trying to figure out a way to force the Zoo to send their elephants to a "sanctuary" most likely paws, I won't lie and tell you I don't despise that facility, I find paws to be a very sleazy organization.

Behind The Scenes, Seattle Officials Battle Over Zoo Elephants' Future | KUOW News and Information

I imagine we will have a decision in the very near future. In a letter to the city hall they said they anticipate a decision by the beginning of March.

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/1676155-wpz-response-to-mayor.html
 
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That's the way those animal rights activists act. They don't have the power (yet) to let close all zoos, marine parks and aquarias, so they try it over the permission of keeping single but very popular species like killer whale, polar bears, apes and elephants. Then big cats, monkeys, hippos and rhinos will be next until zoos became so unpopular that they will close voluntary.

Woodland Zoo migth have good reasons to stop keeping elephants (which I can't see or I don't want see). But in general, I think that some zoos that gave up their elephants recently, did it because they (also) feared animal rights activists. So do improvements, raise your efforts to get money for new exhibits, but don't be a coward und face the enemy.

By the way: Do I understand right that PAWS does not have the intention to breed elephants, even when some of their elephants are/could be in breeding age, so they refuse them a natural behaviour?
 
zoomaniac said:
That's the way those animal rights activists act. They don't have the power (yet) to let close all zoos, marine parks and aquarias, so they try it over the permission of keeping single but very popular species like killer whale, polar bears, apes and elephants. Then big cats, monkeys, hippos and rhinos will be next until zoos became so unpopular that they will close voluntary.

Woodland Zoo migth have good reasons to stop keeping elephants (which I can't see or I don't want see). But in general, I think that some zoos that gave up their elephants recently, did it because they (also) feared animal rights activists. So do improvements, raise your efforts to get money for new exhibits, but don't be a coward und face the enemy.

By the way: Do I understand right that PAWS does not have the intention to breed elephants, even when some of their elephants are/could be in breeding age, so they refuse them a natural behaviour?
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They know they don't have the power to shut down every zoo and aquarium, so they are restricted (at least for now) to giving them a hard time whenever possible, picking on them for keeping this species and that species, etc. I am seeing parallels with the anti abortion movement here (which you can think whatever you want about.) For example the antiabortion movement (at least in America) will campaign against this procedure or this practitioner doing them claiming that the risks are too great (even when they aren't), trying to institute unnecessary requirements (a good analogy might be space for elephants and the requirement that Texas has for abortion clinics needing to be surgical centers), claiming that this that and the other thing are caused by it, etc. I'm just saying, there might be a paper topic for a political scientist in here.

No, they don't plan to breed the Elephants, to me that is a travesty because that means that they are being denied the single best form of stimulation available to them at a time when we are running out of members of their species at an alarming rate. And even if they aren't of breeding age they are still being denied the chance to serve as aunties to any calves.

I worry that the Roger Williams Park Zoo Elephants (the Elephants I have been periodically visiting since I was a toddler) are being eyed by a "sanctuary." I sincerely hope this does not happen. I don't think it will in the near future but...
 
I think this will be a nice fit. I am glad it's a zoo with a newer exhibit where they can be in a herd. Also, that it's not National since in my opinion, their herd is big enough now. But I still await the crazy sanctuary people condemning this decision.
 
Why couldn't it be Denver or Columbus? Oklahoma City has a calf, and there are better elephant exhibits out there- like Denver, National (even though their herd is large), LA, and Columbus.
 
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Darn, I was hoping for the pair to come down to Los Angeles...new flexible exhibit, great weather year round, and opportunity for the elephant herd to grow.
 
Oklahoma City Zoo is one of the best zoos in America, with significant exhibit complexes like Oklahoma Trails, Cat Forest/Lion Overlook, Great EscAPE, Wild Dog Drive and Children's Zoo; plus, a long history with a variety of hoofstock. The Asian Elephant complex is 9.5 acres in size (with almost 4 acres for the elephants) and it was only just built in 2011 and thus is spacious and modern. There are many reasons why the zoo's elephant set-up is Woodland Park's #1 choice, but the zoo as a whole will only get better with a Giraffe Habitat, relocated Herpetarium, Aquaticus renovation and Monsoon Asia all scheduled in the near future.
 
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I'm just glad it hasn't been a "sanctuary." I think that it will be great that they will have the chance to help raise a calf. Now could someone please reassure me that the threatened lawsuit has little to no chance of actually succeeding.
 
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