URGENT ACTION ALERT
As many already know, breeding Kallie and Bette for the first time at their age is life-threatening to them. It's unlikely they will even become pregnant, and if they do, a first-time pregnancy at their age of 28 (next summer, when the breeding is supposed to occur) is highly likely to reduce in death or a life-threatening condition. Earlier this year, when the dangers of the breeding plans were beginning to be exposed to the public, zoo officials backtracked and claimed "At this time, no one is even thinking about whether or not the elephants will be bred."(click here for article).
And many of us have written to Vik Dewan, director of the Philly Zoo, to express our concerns. Here is his response in July of this year:
Date: Wed, Jul 22, 2009 at 7:38 AMSubject: Kallie and BetteTo: Rowan Morrison friendsofphillyzooelephants@gmail.com
Ms. Bessey, Thank you for your recent email message. The ICC's strategic objective is to promote the care and conservation of animal species, particularly the African elephant, and will include conservation research, education and staff training programs. At this time, our shared focus is on helping Bette and Kallie acclimate to their new home. Only when and if it is appropriate, will we work with Pittsburgh Zoo, national, and international experts to establish whether it is in the best interests of the elephants to undertake any breeding efforts. Therefore, any discussion of options or methodology of breeding is premature at this stage. Whatever may be the outcome, we and the Pittsburgh Zoo are committed to providing an excellent home for Bette and Kallie for the rest of their lives. Vik Dewan
Mr. Dewan and other zoo officials also made similar claims to reporters, including Don Hopey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Stu Bykofsky of the Phiadelphia Daily News.
Please take a moment to write Mr. Dewan to request details of how and when the team of "national and international experts" determined it was in Kallie and Bette's best interests to breed. Please cc Mr. Hopey and Mr. Bykofsky as well.
dhopey@post-gazette.com
bykofss@phillynews.com
dewan.vik@phillyzoo.org
As many already know, breeding Kallie and Bette for the first time at their age is life-threatening to them. It's unlikely they will even become pregnant, and if they do, a first-time pregnancy at their age of 28 (next summer, when the breeding is supposed to occur) is highly likely to reduce in death or a life-threatening condition. Earlier this year, when the dangers of the breeding plans were beginning to be exposed to the public, zoo officials backtracked and claimed "At this time, no one is even thinking about whether or not the elephants will be bred."(click here for article).
And many of us have written to Vik Dewan, director of the Philly Zoo, to express our concerns. Here is his response in July of this year:
Date: Wed, Jul 22, 2009 at 7:38 AMSubject: Kallie and BetteTo: Rowan Morrison friendsofphillyzooelephants@gmail.com
Ms. Bessey, Thank you for your recent email message. The ICC's strategic objective is to promote the care and conservation of animal species, particularly the African elephant, and will include conservation research, education and staff training programs. At this time, our shared focus is on helping Bette and Kallie acclimate to their new home. Only when and if it is appropriate, will we work with Pittsburgh Zoo, national, and international experts to establish whether it is in the best interests of the elephants to undertake any breeding efforts. Therefore, any discussion of options or methodology of breeding is premature at this stage. Whatever may be the outcome, we and the Pittsburgh Zoo are committed to providing an excellent home for Bette and Kallie for the rest of their lives. Vik Dewan
Mr. Dewan and other zoo officials also made similar claims to reporters, including Don Hopey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Stu Bykofsky of the Phiadelphia Daily News.
Please take a moment to write Mr. Dewan to request details of how and when the team of "national and international experts" determined it was in Kallie and Bette's best interests to breed. Please cc Mr. Hopey and Mr. Bykofsky as well.
dhopey@post-gazette.com
bykofss@phillynews.com
dewan.vik@phillyzoo.org
Rest in Peace, Petal.
posted by Rowan Morrison at 2:41 PM
1 Comments:
Even the Jacksonville Zoo keepers said that 20s is too old to breed their elephants - a zoo said that! ... Tory
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