Philadelphia Zoo - One Year Later, I Still Miss the Elephants

[pugglefeet]

Aww. Nice to see Bette and Kallie again. r.i.p. Pedal. I believe they are in an elephant sanctuary near Pittsburgh.

[ZooVisitorMM]

@pugglefeet The Pittsburgh Zoo's International Conservation Center is not a sanctuary. It is a breeding center that is not open to the public. Bette is still there, but Kallie was relocated again last November, this time to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

[ZooVisitorMM]

@ReadSingCare The kind of zoo that does that is a zoo that is slowly transforming into something other than a zoo - into a combination amusement park/entertainment center/education center/environmental center. Anyone who doesn't like that needs to protest. I know I don't like it. That's why I have been protesting! I want the Philadelphia Zoo to be a ZOO. Not Disney World. Not Sesame Place. Not a wildlife conservation society. Not an extension of local colleges. Just a zoo.

[musicalsteve82]

What happened to this place? First they get rid of the chimps, then replace the sea lions with ducks, then they replace the elephants with donkeys?! This zoo needs an expansion. It isn't a zoo without the elephants.

[ZooVisitorMM]

@musicalsteve82 The entire Pachyderm House is being converted into a Children's Zoo/Education Center, in spite of the objections of many people like me who think giving children the opportunity to see elephants and other wild creatures is far more educational and appropriate in a zoo than giving them the opportunity to see ducks, geese, chickens, goats and donkeys.

[musicalsteve82]

@ZooVisitorMM So I heard. Hopefully, they'll get the common sense to build an elephant exhibit where the old children's zoo was.

[ZooVisitorMM]

@musicalsteve82 Common sense does not seem to be prevailing in the Philadelphia Zoo at this time.

[carlnix30]

It's a shame what they have done with the Philadelphia zoo!! Combining exhibits missing or sick animals! Dirty or stinking exhibits! It seems like only the sponsored exhibits are maintained. I went yesterday with my family and even the duck exhibit was dry with some of the ducks combined with the penguins! Who has their hands in the cookie jar of the limited funding?

[ZooVisitorMM]

@carlnix30 I haven't noticed any dirty or stinking exhibits. I think you probably saw some of the exhibits before the keepers had a chance to clean them for the day. (Some animals are very messy.) My problem is not with any of the animal care. I think the keepers and vets do a wonderful job of caring for the animals. But I do agree that the limited funding should be put to better use. I especially don't like seeing ANY money being spent on attractions like LEGOs or Jim Henson puppets.

[canucksgo]

They did the right thing

[goldeneyesofafrica]

I am sorry :(

[ZooVisitorMM]

@goldeneyesofafrica Thanks. It's nice when people understand.

[IrishMusicIsAwesome]

It can be hard to say goodbye. I know how much the elephants were loved by the city. It must be extremely difficult for the keepers to be without them. I think the elephants were doing better here than at their new facility.

[ZooVisitorMM]

@IrishMusicIsAwesome I think you are right.

[SnappyPenguin566]

I Feel Ut Pain

[ZooVisitorMM]

@SnappyPenguin566 Thanks. I appreciate your saying that.

[TrunkTalk]

Two organizations offered to install webcams so people could observe Bette and Kallie, however, they turned down their offer.

[ZooVisitorMM]

@TrunkTalk Those two organizations were both anti-zoo organizations that are opposed to having elephants in zoos. The zoos should not have to accept offers from them for any reason.

Surely they can find other funding sources for a webcam, or simply post videos to YouTube regularly.

Better yet, bring the elephants back to the Zoo.

[worldofcanon]

Wait, they don't have elephants there anymore? How come?

[SnappyPenguin566]

I Heared That Thery're Traying 2 Get The Elephants Back, Is That Really true? Please Answer/Respond!

[ZooVisitorMM]

@SnappyPenguin566 I don't know the answer. I'm not sure if the Zoo knows the answer at this time. I think it will depend on a lot of factors.

But if you want the elephants to be brought back to the Zoo, please contact the Zoo and let them know that. The more people who let the Zoo know how much they miss the elephants, the better - because that is definitely one of the important factors.

[callofduty14]

Elephants need alot of space, plus they sleep in very small space at night, i think it was the right choice to send them away

[ZooVisitorMM]

@callofduty14 The most recent studies regarding elephants in zoos indicate that space is not the most significant factor. It is what zoos provide in that space, and other elements of elephant care that matter most.

[callofduty14]

@ZooVisitorMM Also Elephants die faster in captivity regarding to their Health and Space.

[TrunkTalk]

The zoo did the correct thing. Elephants do not make a zoo. And with web cams one can see elephants up close all over the world. Bette and Kallie are doing great in their new home.

[ZooVisitorMM]

@TrunkTalk I have no doubt that Bette and Kallie are doing well in their new home. But I do wish either the Philadelphia Zoo or the Pittsburgh Zoo would install a webcam or upload videos so the whole world can know that for sure.

Regarding elephants in zoos, I believe all large city zoos should exhibit a wide variety of species representing the animal kingdom from the largest to the smallest. It is expected that large city zoos will find a way to exhibit elephants, and they should.

[awesomeH2O]

Lego penguins?! What is this? Wow...the Zoo has changed a bit...

[ZooVisitorMM]

@awesomeH2O  Yes, and I have been protesting!

[awesomeH2O]

@ZooVisitorMM If the Zoo is to continue, shouldn't the Zoo at least exhibit some real animals, not LEGO animals?

[piedude556]

thats pretty damn depressing to watch, the zoo will never be the same with the elephants :(

[ZooVisitorMM]

@piedude556 (I assume you meant to say without the elephants) And what you said is true. The Zoo will never be the same if it doesn't bring back the elephants.

Every time I visit (at least once a week), I hear other visitors say that.