IDA eNews: 1/16/08

Tiger Tragedy: Supervisor Calls for Re-evaluation of SF Zoo Management Contract
IDA Announces the "Ten Worst Zoos for Elephants in 2007"
A Round of Victories for Animals


Tiger Tragedy: Supervisor Calls for Re-evaluation of SF Zoo Management Contract
Take Action to ensure the SF Zoo's animal care policies and record are considered

On the morning of Friday, January 11th, the Recreation and Park Commission and the Joint Zoo Committee held a public hearing at San Francisco City Hall about the Christmas Day tragedy that took the lives of a Tatiana the Siberian tiger and a young zoo visitor named Carlos Sousa, Jr. Among dozens of concerned citizens who packed the room, IDA representatives publicly spoke out in favor of major changes at the SF Zoo, including:

- Fair and independent oversight hearings by the SF Board of Supervisors instead of merely hearings held by the Recreation and Park Commission -- the very entity that has failed for years

- The termination or resignation of Zoo Director Manuel Mollinedo, and hiring of a replacement who has a background in and commitment to animal welfare.

- Making the well-being of individual animals the SF Zoo's top priority, and providing a refuge for animals who need help (such as the grizzly bears rescued by the zoo).

In the wake of Friday's hearing, San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi ( http://www.sfgov.org/site/bdsupvrs_index.asp?id=29087 ) has introduced a resolution calling for the city to re-evaluate its contract with the SF Zoological Society to manage the zoo, which is something that IDA has been urging since the beginning of the crisis. The near-escapes in the last week of a polar bear and a leopard at the SF Zoo ( http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/01/12/MNGQUDP11.DTL ), and the untimely death of a zebra ( http://www.sfgate.com/flat/archive/2008/01/15/chronicle/archive/2008/01/15/MNURUFL91.html?tsp=1 ), make resolution of this matter absolutely urgent for the city.

What You Can Do:

Please Take Action ( %takeaction-mirkarimi% ) to thank Supervisor Mirkarimi for introducing a resolution to re-examine the city's contract with the SF Zoological Society, and ask him to include scrutiny of the zoo's animal care policies and record as part of the re-evaluation process.


IDA Announces the "Ten Worst Zoos for Elephants in 2007"
List demonstrates AZA-accredited zoos are failing elephants nationwide

Amid the controversy surrounding the Christmas Day tragedy at the San Francisco Zoo, IDA has just announced our fourth-annual list of the Ten Worst Zoos for Elephants. Though the SF Zoo closed its elephant exhibit in 2004 under pressure from IDA and other animal advocates, sending their pachyderms packing for a sanctuary, many other zoos throughout the nation persistently put profit before animal welfare in 2007. IDA's Ten Worst Zoos for Elephants list draws much-needed attention to those places that force elephants to live in cramped quarters that cause severe health problems, take bullhook beatings from their "caretakers," and even give people rides for amusement.

And the "winner" is…

For the fourth year in a row, the number one spot was taken by Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, Calif., where seven elephants live in the shadow of a rollercoaster amidst noisy, rowdy crowds. Nine elephants have died at the amusement park since 1995, including five who were euthanized as a direct result of the same foot and joint disorders that currently afflict at least two elephants. Despite these painful ailments caused by the elephants' cramped and barren exhibit, they are still forced to stack 600-pound logs and give rides to the public, and are controlled through the infliction of pain and violence.

Elephant Graveyards

Of seven elephants who died at Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)-accredited zoos last year, at least four suffered from arthritis and chronic foot disorders, caused by lack of space and inadequate, unnatural zoo exhibits. Among the worst cases were:

- Clara at the St. Louis Zoo and Carol at the San Diego Wild Animal Park: Both elephants were euthanized after becoming crippled and debilitated by excruciating foot and joint disease.

- The deaths of Hansa (age 6) at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle and Nisha (age 16 months) at the Dickerson Park Zoo in Missouri: A deadly infectious disease is spreading through the elephant population in U.S. zoos, prompting IDA to demand that zoos stop breeding Asian elephants and adopt strict limits on transfers between zoos.

See which other zoos made IDA's Ten Worst Zoos for Elephants in 2007 list and why ( http://www.idausa.org/news/currentnews/nr_080109.html )

2007 Victories for Elephants

The good news is that 2007 also saw the transfer of three elephants from archaic and inadequate zoo exhibits to natural habitat sanctuaries: Ruby from the Los Angeles Zoo, Dulary from the Philadelphia Zoo, and Maggie from the Alaska Zoo. The latter two zoos are shuttering their elephant displays, bringing the number of zoos that have closed or plan to close their elephant exhibits to a total of 17 nationwide.

Your Vote Counts!

2007 was the first year that IDA compiled our Ten Worst Zoos for Elephants list with public input through Internet voting. Thank you to everyone who cast their ballot for the zoo they thought most deserving of this distinguished dishonor. Your participation helps IDA draw attention to the fact that elephants are needlessly suffering and dying prematurely from inadequate and inhumane zoo conditions, and that mammoth changes are needed to improve the lives of elephants in zoos.

To learn more about how elephants suffer in zoos, visit http://www.helpelephants.com .


A Round of Victories for Animals
Plus a chance to Take Action ( %takeaction-sdfgres% ) against foie gras

IDA's eNews and Action Alerts give people the opportunity to speak out for animals who need protection from those who would otherwise exploit them -- and together, we are making a difference! Here are some recent victories for animals that IDA and our members helped achieve:

San Diego City Council supports foie gras ban

IDA has long been working closely with our partner the Animal Protection and Rescue League (APRL) ( http://www.aprl.org/ ) on a foie gras ban ( http://www.banfoiegras.org ) in San Diego, Calif. Recently, the San Diego City Council unanimously passed a resolution calling for a boycott of this so-called "luxury" item that is produced by force-feeding ducks until their livers become enlarged and diseased. This action supports our joint effort to convince the San Diego City Council to pass our proposed ordinance to officially ban the sale of foie gras in San Diego without waiting until 2012 when the California-wide ban goes into effect. Please Take Action to urge the Mayor to sign the resolution ( %takeaction-sdfgres% ).

California protects whales from deadly sonar tests

IDA sent out several alerts in our eNews last year warning that planned Navy sonar tests off the U.S. West Coast seriously endanger the welfare and lives of whales and other marine mammals. Whales exposed to sonar have been found bleeding from the eyes and ears, with lesions in their organ tissue, and marine biologists worry that whales discovered dying on beaches are only the tip of an iceberg, and that many more are dying at sea unbeknownst to scientists. As a result of the ongoing efforts of animal advocates and environmentalists, a federal court in California recently imposed restrictions on the Navy tests that will offer protection for whales.

Denny's Ends Sponsorship of Ringling Bros. Circus

In July, we reported in our eNews that Denny's, the largest chain of family-style restaurants in the U.S., had formed a marketing partnership with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, one of the entertainment industry's most notorious animal abusers. Denny's commenced to promote Ringling at its restaurants in each of the towns where the circus performed, encouraging their customers to attend a show that is inherently cruel to animals. Less than six months later, Denny's prematurely terminated the deal under pressure from animal advocates, and Ringling lost its only national sponsor.

As you can see, together we are making a big difference for animals! Thanks for supporting IDA and participating in our Action Alerts. We'll be giving you many more convenient opportunities to help animals right from your computer in 2008, so keep up the good work!


Congratulations, Vegan Pledge Winner!

IDA is thrilled to announce that hundreds of people from around the world took our Vegan Pledge as their New Year's resolutions, and many more recommended the Pledge to their friends and family! Of course, going vegan is a win-win decision for people, the animals, and the planet, but this year, one lucky person who took IDA's Vegan Pledge also takes home a special prize.

Congratulations to Vicki Medlyn of Texas, the cattle capital of the U.S. but also home to a growing number of vegans. Vicki has won copies of One-Dish Vegetarian Meals ( http://www.robinrobertson.com/One_Dish_Meals.htm ) and The Vegetarian Meat & Potatoes Cookbook ( http://www.robinrobertson.com/Meat_and_Potatoes.htm ) by Robin Robertson to add to her kitchen bookshelf! With more than 400 recipes for vegan burgers, steaks, stews, pasta, and other hearty favorites, Vicki will be able to start the year right with plenty of healthy and delicious food!


Volunteer to Help Animals on MLK Day, Jan. 21st
Join millions of others in making this holiday "A day ON, not a day OFF"
http://ga0.org/indefenseofanimals/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=12600978


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