Save Asha, the Zoo Elephant!
- by: Lynn Hamilton
- recipient: United States Department of Agriculture
Asha, a thirty-year old elephant, is alone at the Natural Bridge Zoo in Virginia. Born to cross vast plains, she is confined to small quarters. Born to live in close intimacy with the other elephants of her herd, she is the only elephant at her zoo. Asha has been giving rides to hyper children in a small corralled area for years. She goes without water because zoo management think it would just be SO embarrassing if she peed in front of a family.
Asha has been through enough. She deserves to spend the rest of her life in a wildlife sanctuary where she could roam free and be with other elephants. But the Natural Bridge Zoo won't let her go. She is one of their stars. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals have repeatedly called the zoo out for animal rights violations. But their appeals seem to fall on deaf ears.
It's time for the United States Department of Agriculture to step in, impartially evaluate Asha's living conditions, and make recommendations for improvement. Please tell the USDA to conduct an assessment of Asha, the Natural Bridge elephant.
To the United States Department of Agriculture:
We the undersigned are dismayed at the living conditions of Asha, the lone elephant at the Natural Bridge Zoo in Virginia. She is confined to quarters that are far too small and deprived of any real exercise except for giving rides to children. She is forced to work in the heat without being given enough water to drink. It's fairly clear that the zoo's management is not going to voluntarily do anything to improve Asha's conditions. The appeals of animal rights activists, especially People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, have fallen on deaf ears. We believe that Asha should be removed from the zoo and placed in a wildlife sanctuary. So we appeal to you: Please visit the Natural Bridge Zoo and conduct an independent assessment of Asha's conditions. We thank you for your attention.
