Dudley Zoo elephants to go UPDATE: Flora and Flossie were sent to a zoo in France, Planet Sauvage, in April 2003. At a secret meeting in January 2002 Dudley Council accepted that they do not have the funds to rebuild the zoo elephant house and so the elephants would have to leave. The news broke in February with extensive TV, radio and press coverage. The Animal Defenders again offered to rehome the elephants at no cost to Dudley Zoo or Council. The elephants would be taken to the Performing Animal Welfare Society sanctuary in Galt California. CAPS Director Diane Westwood, who visited the sanctuary when she was in California to speak at the Captive Wildlife Conference organised by PAWS, described the sanctuary as 'a paradise for needy elephants'. Here Flossie and Flora would have acres to roam, a lake to swim in and company of their own kind. Instead, the two elephants will most likely be moved to another zoo or safari park in the UK or Europe, kept in confinement in an often questionable management regime. Dudley Council has long been criticised by animal campaigners for the conditions at the zoo. If the council agreed that the elephants could go to California it would be an ideal way for the council to show that they truly care about the future of these elephants. However, last year CAPS secretly filmed one of the Dudley Zoo keepers discussing the elephants She said:
We at CAPS believe that the zoo management and or council do not want to let the elephants go to an animal protection organisation as it would somehow reflect badly on the zoo. It might be perceived as a victory for Animals Defenders, and a defeat for the zoo. It is quite evident that the best home on offer for these elephants is in California. The Animal Defenders appeared on television saying, surely differences could be set aside in order to act in the best interests of these elephants. Sadly it seems likely zoo industry pride will come first. In March, the Zoo board of Directors were asked to resign. The local newspaper wrote that new directors were to be appointed to oversee the future of the zoo, after councillors voted to oust the existing board by 38 votes to 18. Predicted loses for this year were quoted at almost half a million pounds, plus £750,000 which the zoo owed the council for catering services. The decision as to where Flossie and Flora will go will be decided soon. Not for the first time, Dudley Zoo is in crisis. Back in 1992, Diane Westwood wrote the animal section of a report called Animals First on the subject of Dudley Zoo. This noted that when the zoo's license was renewed in 1989 one of the recommendations was that an outer pool should be provided for the elephants. It was not. Ian Redmond elephant biologist said that the outside elephant enclosure was far too small, has no shade and is unsuitable for elephants. The Zoo manager in 1988, Peter Barnes, said improvements were on the way and some of the money was already available. 10 years on, the situation has not changed. When Vet Trevor Duckham visited the zoo in 1988 Flossie was alone. Her young companion Estar had died. Duckham commented that he would be reluctant to recommend the introduction of another elephant, given the general inadequacy of conditions and facilities provided for the elephants at Dudley Zoo. Since his visit, and prior to the arrival of Flora, another young elephant Kasama died at the zoo. Extraordinarily, one of the zoos slogans is 'Conservation in action'. Dudley is indicative of the zoo malaise. An underfunded, inadequate zoo limping on for decades. Buying in new animals for the collection instead of radically scaling down and improving the care of the animals that are left. A reminder that these establishments are there for the perpetuation of the zoo industry and entertainment. Having had for years the dubious honour of probably the worst elephant enclosure in the UK, Dudley Zoo has at the last gasp a chance to do the right thing for the poor elephants. Instead they'll probably sell them to another zoo. HOW YOU CAN HELP
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