DEMAND PAIGNTON ZOO PERMANENTLY CLOSE IT's ELEPHANT EXHIBIT

We ask the Zoo administration and Mr. Simon Tonge to make a public announcement stating Paignton Zoo is closing their elephant exhibit for good and they will not aquire any more elephants in the future. 

15th Jul 2019 - "The matriarch of Paignton Zoo has died. Female African elephant Duchess collapsed in her house early on Sunday morning. Simon Tonge, Executive Director of Paignton Zoo, was present throughout: "Duchess was found collapsed in her house at 8.00 in the morning. She was lying on her left side – with her good eye to the floor - and unable to stand. With assistance from members of the Facilities team, keepers turned her over onto her right side in the hope that it might help if she could see better. Unfortunately, upon revival it was clear that the treatment and repositioning had made no difference. At 12.15, with the agreement of vets and keepers, Mr. Tonge made the decision to euthanize her."

The matriarch of Paignton Zoo was ONLY 49 years old. She was born in 1970 and came to Paignton Zoo in 1977. For many years she lived with female Asian elephant Gay. 

Senior Head Keeper of Mammals Rob Rouse said: "When we found her, we put the heating on to make her more comfortable. Off duty keepers arrived to help and Jim Dicks, long-time elephant keeper who was very close to Duchess, was called in.

Zoo Claims: "Duchess had showed no signs of illness prior to her collapse, and behaved normally when keepers left the night before." 

Yet in 2017 a petition to the current Zoo directory was circulated asking the Paignton Zoo to retire Duchess to sanctuary, because of her deteriorating health. http://bit.ly/32vOpOy

The Zoos Response: Zoo spokesman Phil Knowling said: "Duchess is in the best place she could be right now. She is in familiar territory – she knows her way around despite her poor eye-sight. She has the attention of experienced keepers. She has things to occupy her. Researchers and vets are on hand to make sure she continues to be, as far as experts can tell, content and not under stress. We have been in discussions with other collections but at this stage we feel there is nowhere better for her. Moving her would mean a stressful journey to a strange new place; other elephants might take advantage of her because of her eyesight. Some people believe Duchess is neglected because of her appearance – this could not be further from the truth. Her skin is dusty mainly because she really doesn't like water that much and will not take a shower!" http://bit.ly/2Z0iK5O

A new petition was started just recently. Once again asking the Zoo to release Duchess to sanctuary.  Our pleas went unanswered.

The Zoo has stated:  "This in all likelihood marks the end of an era for Paignton Zoo. It's very unlikely that elephants will ever be seen in Devon again." 

❗❗ By signing this petition, you are joining us in asking that the era of captive elephants, in Devon, be permanently ended with the sad death of Duchess. We need to start a new era, where captive elephants are ONLY housed in true sanctuaries and the worlds wild elephants remain wild protected and free. 🐘🐘

Thank You

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Original Petion:

 We need to start a new era, where captive elephants are ONLY housed in true sanctuaries and the worlds wild elephants remain wild protected and free. 🐘🐘🐘

Thank You

________________________________________________

Original Petion:

RE:  Duchess - solitary female, African Bush elephant - Paignton Zoo - Age 49 – Born 1970 Africa – sent to Longleat Safari Park as a baby - Transferred to Paignton Zoo in 1977.

1.) The Zoo claims Duchess is considered "a senior citizen by human standards".

• Shirley was born in 1948 – Current age 71 - At age five, captured from the wilds of Asia, purchased for the circus - Survived captivity of Castro's forces in Cuba; a cargo ship fire to Nova Scotia, sustaining severe burns to back, legs & large section of her right ear; a right hind leg break during an altercation with another elephant; & 22 years as a solitary zoo elephant - 1999 (51 years of age) retired to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee – Thriving.  
• https://www.elephants.com/elephants/shirley
• https://youtu.be/J0Z_vRYQ_Sg

2.) The zoo staff claim that Duchess "doesn't like water – keepers used to hose her down, but in spite of it being warm water she still hated it. This means her skin looks dry and wrinkly – it's unsightly but it's not unhealthy. Some people believe Duchess is neglected because of her appearance – this could not be further from the truth. Her skin is dusty mainly because she really doesn't like water and will not take a shower!"

• https://www.thebreeze.com/southdevon/news/local-news/paignton-zoo-responds-as-elephant-petition-grows/ 
•  http://clanimal.com/2014/06/03/why-do-elephants-love-water/

• According the the AZA & WZA standards: "...elephants must have regular access to water sources, such as a pools, waterfalls, misters/sprinklers, or wallows that provide enrichment and allow the elephants to cool and/or bathe themselves". http://bit.ly/2MuKkqc

• Signs of an unhealthy elephant - Dry skin, loss of elasticity, wounds. http://bit.ly/2IisNvU & http://bit.ly/2WpPc4k

3.) The Zoo claims, " wild elephants can also walk backwards when they want to" when asked why Duchess often walks backwards.

• Circus elephants are often trained, with bull-hooks and force, to walk backwards.

• Walking backwards can be a sign of stress (stereotypy) in an elephant.  https://en.upali.ch/stereotypic-behaviour/     

• Meehan et al research study http://bit.ly/2I0FzAt      

4.) The Zoo claims, "Bringing in other elephants is problematic - she would almost certainly be bullied by other adult females, even if they were available, as they would try to take advantage of her visual impairment".

• Ploy Thong (Approx. 30 years of age) - blind in both eyes - worked as a circus elephant – worked as a tourist trekking elephant - used only her trunk to sniff out her routes - 2018 rescued by Save Elephant Foundation, brought to Elephant Nature Park Sanctuary - immediately accepted into the herd - Thriving. https://youtu.be/vMAL68x2Eg0

• "When someone tells you that an elephant is antisocial or doesn't get along with other elephants and they are in a zoo or circus, always keep in mind they are a product of their environment. When given space, understanding and the ability and comfort to simply walk far away, they are able to rediscover what it means to be a herd member and how big of a part of being an elephant it truly is." - Global Sanctuary for Elephants, Brazil

• Elephants (despite disabilities or age) thrive, both physically and psychologically, in sanctuary environments and are able to build strong bonds with other 'strange' elephants. https://elephantconservation.org/iefImages/2015/06/CompleteHusbandryGuide1stEdition.pdf

5.) The Zoo claims "Duchess is very familiar with her home and her keepers - sending her to another zoo would also unsettle her. - a BIG concern for an old lady like Duchess is the stress of transportation. "

• Research on importance of companionship – more important than anything else. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130910205244.htm

• Dr. Michael Hutchins, former AZA Director/William Conway Chair of Conservation and Science: "...Do the animals need to be treated like pets and develop a "close" bond with specific keepers? No. This is more about the needs of some keepers, rather than those of the animals". http://bit.ly/2MwTXoh

• Rana, 50-64 years old - circus elephant for 40 years – lived at hotel zoo for 7 years – no companionship - fused left elbow from injury at the age of 5 - foot concerns and past indication of possible kidney compromise - transported 1675 miles, by Global Sanctuary for Elephants, without any problems - adopted into the herd as a fellow sister - Thriving. https://globalelephants.org/rana/

Several cases have been presented here that contraindicate the problems the zoo claims in regards to transporting Duchess to sanctuary. However we felt compelled to include this article by The Non-Human Rights Project, supporting Duchess's move to sanctuary.  https://www.nonhumanrights.org/blog/happy-sanctuary/

Surely, WWCT (owner of 3 registered education, scientific & conservation charities) and Paignton Zoo understand the importance and value of Duchess's psychological and physical health in order for her to thrive. After all she is an VULNERABLE African Bush elephant, whom is still very young. She should not have to live out the rest of her life without any companionship, stimulation, enrichment, or autonomy.

Thank you for your time and consideration