Send Elephants from A Worst Zoo to Sanctuary
What You Can Do For Elephants in North America’s #5 Worst Zoo
For the last thirty years, Asian elephants Ruth and Emily have been forced to share a tiny exhibit in the cold winter city of New Bedford, Massachusetts. Emily outweighs Ruth by 1,200 pounds, and these two do not DO NOT get along.
Despite the zoo’s separation policy of 2007, Ruth has been bitten, hit, rammed, tusked, and pushed down by Emily. The elderly elephant’s tail was bitten off in 2006.
Knowingly forcing two clearly incompatible Asian elephants to live in the same enclosure is not only unsafe, but it also violates the federal Animal Welfare Act. In Defense of Animals filed a complaint on behalf of Ruth and Emily to the US Department of Agriculture last year, but the USDA, and New Bedford’s Mayor and City Council, have yet to remedy this dangerous situation.
The zoo claims that elderly Ruth and Emily (55 and 50 respectively) are well cared for, but would not survive the journey to a sanctuary because of geriatric concerns, but this is simply untrue. Many sicker, older elephants are transported even greater distances and do well.
It can be done. It must be done.
Buttonwood Zoo has been on In Defense of Animals’ list of the Top Ten Worst Zoos for Elephants for the last six years. Let’s send these elephants to sanctuary and give them the lives of freedom that they deserve.
