What's the future for Dudley Zoo?
UPDATE: Flora and Flossie were sent to a zoo in France, Planet Sauvage, in April 2003. Dudley Zoo has long been criticised by animal welfare organisations, including CAPS, and animal experts. The zoo was opened in 1937, and has a number of Tecton buildings - examples of early zoo architecture that are now protected. These concrete pits and enclosures are simply unsuitable for animals. However the zoo says that their hands are tied, they cannot alter these protected buildings so there the animals remain. We have pointed out on a number of occasions that the fact that the buildings are listed, does not mean that they have to be used for animal accommodation - it's all very well protecting architecture, but who's protecting the animals from the architects. In particular the conditions for larger animals - the elephants, primates, and big cats - give cause for concern. The late Stefan Ormrod likened the ape enclosures at Dudley Zoo to a 'giants urinal'. The elephant house was condemned by experts. Yet Dudley is a member of the Zoo Federation and has their support. For the last 10 years, CAPS director Diane Westwood has campaigned for the closure of Dudley Zoo. Whilst working for a regional Animal Aid group, Diane wrote the Dudley Zoo report Animals First, which almost led to closure. The zoo has lurched from one crisis to another. Last year, the zoo was voted worst in Britain by Holiday Which. Holiday Which said the zoo had a "depressing air" before awarding it marks of one out of five. Many enclosures are badly designed, conditions inappropriate, and many animals show abnormal behaviours. The zoo is run by the local authority, and the Council have finally admitted that it is not possible to carry on as present. We believe that there is no future for Dudley Zoo and that the Council should have started to wind down the zoo years ago. Instead yet more animals have been brought in, increasing the number that now reside there. Earlier this year, the Animal Defenders offered to relocate the two Dudley Zoo elephants, Flora and Flossie to the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) in California. The sanctuary, visited by CAPS last year, would offer the elephants a more natural habitat, considerably more space, and an appropriate climate. PAWS also have considerable expertise in handling institutionalised or abused elephants. Flora was bought by the zoo from Mary Chipperfield Promotions. She was originally snatched from the wild in South Africa and then used in the circus. At Mary Chipperfield Promotions, the ADs filmed her being beaten with pitchforks and metal bars. Flora has a history of ill health and whilst she was sick, Roger Cawley whipped her to run faster and faster around a ring. Cawley was convicted of cruelty. Flossie the other elephant at Dudley is 34 years old has seen various cage mates dies. She now suffers from arthritis. Dudley Council has turned down the rehoming offer. As one dissenting councillor noted, 'they have turned down paradise for these elephants'. Dudley Zoo is subsidised by local rate payers, and CAPS believes it is time this money was put to better use. It is time to start winding down the zoo and putting first the best interests of the animals there. HOW YOU CAN HELP
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