Philadelphia Zoo Petal's Last Day - June 8, 2008

[animalsdeserveaplace]

May Petal rest in peace.

[animalsdeserveaplace]

R.I.P. Petal.

[animalsdeserveaplace]

R.I.P. Petal. We will all miss you. 

[animalsrule1231]

Poor Petal. She will warmly be missed by the Zoo keepers and all who knew her.

[rowanmorrison]

@animalsrule1231 The keepers and zoo officials who prevented Petal and/or didn't speak out to help her move to the PAWS sanctuary, which offered her, Kallie and Bette a lifetime home at no charge in 2006, should never foget the part they played in Petal's unnecessary death- dying after collapsing in the cement barn, so riddled with arthritis that she couldn't get up.

[animalsrule1231]

@rowanmorrison I think she had a good home at the Zoo, and she was rather old for an elephant. She was the oldest African elephant in a North American Zoo.

[rowanmorrison]

@animalsrule1231 She was the oldest African elephant because zoos cause elephants to die prematurely, not because the Philly Zoo did anything special. She could have lived out many more years at the PAWS sanctuary if the Philly Zoo would have just let her go, instead of keeping her confined in the cement barn where she died on the cement floor, unable to rise because of crippling arthritis.

[animalsrule1231]

@rowanmorrison I do believe that her keepers loved her.

[rowanmorrison]

@animalsrule1231 If they did, they had a funny way of showing it. They always used bullhooks - rods with steel pointed ends - to control and dominate her, forcing her each day to line up outside of the barn before being allowed inside where dinner was waiting. If she didn't move quickly enough, or lift her leg high enough, she was jabbed with the punishing end of the bullhook.

[365367368]

Although I do think the elephants at the Zoo were bored and were living in horrible conditions, I think that both the zoogoers and animal rights activists dramatized the situation and either didn't provide enough information or gave out false information.

[rowanmorrison]

@365367368 Please explain one example of where you think the animal rights activists gave out false information. Thank you.

[365367368]

@rowanmorrison The Philadelphia Zoo's elephants did live in inadequate, small, barren facilities with little to do, but they were not abused by the keepers. Whenever the keepers came to exercise the elephants, give them food, or bring them inside, they always responded. They came up to the keepers, eager for attention (partly because there was little else to do unless the keepers were there). They did like the keepers' attention, despite living in such a horrible place.

[rowanmorrison]

@365367368 The conditions themselves were abusive, and the method of management - bullhooks - was abusive. I visited the elephants over 100 times from 2005 to 2009 and never once saw the elephants come up willingingly to the keepers. I am not saying it didn't happen - clearly, you may have seen it - but I never saw it. To the contrary, I saw the keepers use bullhooks on the elephants to make them lift their legs higher or move faster. That is abusive. That is not false in any way.

[365367368]

@rowanmorrison Did the keepers use a lot of pressure or force when using the bullhook, enough to hurt the elephants?

[rowanmorrison]

@365367368 Please go to the eleangels website and the "about bullhooks" page to learn why the use alone is abusive. Only backwards zoos and circuses still use them. In fact, bullhooks aren't being used on Kallie, Bette and Jackson at the ICC - the one good thing that happened to them since they moved in. If there is any justice in this world, they will never be forced to obey at the end of a bullhook again.

[365367368]

@rowanmorrison Thank you. But on all my observations, the elephants never feared the keepers.

[rowanmorrison]

@365367368 Did you read the "About Bullhooks" page? The use of bullhooks is unnecessary and wrong, and in itself is abusive when there is a way that doesn't involve fear and domination. Kallie and Bette are elephants who were used in the circus for over 20 years and reportedly were abused there. I once asked a zoo employee why the zoo continued to use bullhooks on Kallie and Bette, knowing their background, and she told me it was "easier."

[365367368]

@rowanmorrison Easier to manage them? I do think that it isn't needed. The Sanctuary in Tennessee doesn't use it, and the elephants are even more cooperative there than the elephants were at the Zoo.

[rowanmorrison]

@365367368 yes - ease for the keepers, not beneficial for the elephants. Knowing that the elephants suffered at the end of the bullhook with prior handlers and continuing to use that same weapon to dominate them was abusive, unnecessary, and wrong for the keepers to do. You may disagree with that statement, but it doesn't make it a false. I politely ask that you stop accusing activists of making false statements - which just isn't true.

[365367368]

@rowanmorrison (continued, please read the other one first) The Friends of the Philly Zoo Elephants Group, which I do support, has said the elephants were abused, which is untrue according to my observations.

The group has their hearts in the right place. They just need to observe the keeper-elephant interactions first before making such statements.

[rowanmorrison]

@365367368 See my above note. The elephants were visited by over a dozen members of the group (myself included) hundreds of times and each visit was documented. Not once - not even once - did anyone see the elephants come willingly to the keepers. There are photos and video of the keepers using bullhooks on the elephants. You should not assume that other people are making untrue statements simply because their experience is different from yours.

[animalsrule1231]

@365367368 I think that what's important is that they had their hearts in the right place. It's just that we shouldn't condemn everyone in a certain field or subject simply because of the mistakes of others.

[rowanmorrison]

@animalsrule1231 If the keepers had their "hearts in the right place" they would have lobbied zoo officials to allow Petal to live out her life in a warm climate with other African elephants, free to roam, relax, swim, and play, instead of dying collapsed on the cement floor of a cement barn.

[animalsdeserveaplace]

@rowanmorrison I am not an animal rights activist or a zoo extremist, but I certainly agree with you on this one.



[365367368]

Poor Petal.

[proboscidea123]

We will miss you, Petal.

[proboscidea123]

She should have been sent to a sanctuary.

I am sure Kallie, Bette, Dulary, and her keepers will miss her.

[ThePowerofElephants]

Petal was an unassuming, humble, loving elephant. I will always remember her.

[awesomeH2O]

Petal and Dulary inspired me to speak out about the sadness of elephants' lives in zoos. Whenever I doubt anyone will care about what I talk about, I remember Dulary's life now and Petal's sad life, and I feel compelled and strong enough to stand firm in my beliefs.

I regret Petal did not get to live a good life in captivity. She had been robbed of everything she had: she lost her family, dignity, freedom, and the right to just be an elephant.

[awesomeH2O]

I had an encounter with Dulary at the Zoo. I went to wish her good luck on a happier life, and I saw her and the other animals. I began to feel so sorry for them that I teared up...and then Dulary (thin and depressed, hanging in the back of the yard) came right over to the spot in the yard closest to where I was standing. She didn't seem to know I felt sorry for her. She reached out towards me with her trunk. Did she think I had food for her? She inspired me to speak out against zoos.

[awesomeH2O]

I believe that the Philadelphia Zoo elephants (and elephants in zoos around the country) have suffered. I still wish that Petal, Kallie, and Bette could have lived a better life than experiencing a barren, small, 1/4 acre yard, with nothing to do, and trainers who used fear and bullhooks to handle them.

[rowanmorrison]

The difference is that the Philly Zoo wasn't monitoring Petal and didn't know she had collapsed for THREE HOURS. Petal struggled to get up but could not because of her arthritis. Zoos and sanctuaries both should have hoists to help elephants - particularly aging elephants like Petal- get up when they fall. Merry, please get your facts straight. Just once. Just one time. Okay?

[awesomeH2O]

@rowanmorrison i agree with you.

[EarthlingErisda]

Thank you so much for sharing Petals last day with us. What's good for humans is good for the rest of Gods creatures.... Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

[CLinnaeus]

It is possible for African elephants to live up to 70 years old (much as it is possible for a human to live up to 110 years old). However few reach this age. Elephants have 6 sets of molars each last approx. 10 yrs, after the 6th set falls out the animal would starve to death. As for a ref. to Elephant age I refer you to Fig. 18.1 on page 172 of "Studying Elephants" by K Kangwana in which you can see a clear decrease in age groups older then 42. Philly zoo loved and gave great care to Petal.

[BirdParadiseNJ]

CLinn - it's not true that elephants maximum age is 70. And no one has claimed or even suggested that every wild elephant in the world would live to 70 or older if she or he wasn't poached, so your citation is totally irrelevant (typical zoo smokescreen tactics). The FACT is zoo elephants die MUCH younger than their wild counterparts are dying when their wild counterparts are protected from poaching & other environmental hazards, and dying of foot/joint related problems NEVER found in the wild.

[BirdParadiseNJ]

If that's how someone shows their love- keeping a beautiful, sensitive, intelligent creature in a cement barn for 75% of her life when she could have moved to a wonderful new sanctuary home in California years ago, then that's what the saying "you only hurt the ones you love" must mean. The Philly Zoo failed Petal terribly and is directly responsible for her untimely and premature death.

[awesomeH2O]

@BirdParadiseNJ I agree.

[Othersidesgrass]

Great hard facts. There's no evidence that Petals was poorly treated. The evidence that people who oppose zoos have is speculations based on anthropomorphism. Zoo workers place their lives into caring for the animals, for little pay. They could make millions at doing anything else but choose to care for animals. Provened by numerous broken records for longevity and births, and founded new behavior research. Thanks again.

[rowanmorrison]

"Provened"? Good thing grade school let out for the year and you have some time to post in defense of zoos. Petal suffered and died to the zoo's negligence. Sad life, horrible death.

[Othersidesgrass]

Why do you pick on people? For a group that wants people to understand your point of view, you really know how to drive people off. Your other videos say you're a lawyer; however, you make judgement before all the facts are in about a case. How about being kind, positive and constructive of other people's posts and not degrade them?

I was wondering where you got your facts on her death. I thought the results of her sudden death were still unknown.

[rowanmorrison]

What facts are you questioning? The fact that she collapsed and was left alone for several hours, which is extremely dangerous for elephants and the zoo itself has publicly admitted this in the past? The fact that she lived in a cement barn for 75 percent of her life? The fact that the zoo had a chance to send her to a sanctuary almost two years ago but refused to do so, choosing instead to keep her in a place that they themselves admit is inadequate? THOSE FACTS???

[Dix994]

@Othersidesgrass what has anthropomorphism got to do with it? No animal deserves to be caged up. We don't know what animals are really thinking, but I can assure you that given a choice, they would prefer not to live out their lives confined.

[lilolme39]

RIP Petal. Too bad the zoo didn't let you go to the sanctuary last year because you were one of their money-makers. At least you're finally free of bullhooks, chains, pain, and misery. Sweet girl. You speak the sad truth, rowanmorrison.

[incheyworm223]

The zoo is non-profit.

[lilolme39]

Doesn't change the fact that elephants are the big money-makers for zoos, which is why they are so reluctant to give them to sanctuaries, which are far better for the elephants than any zoo is. Although a few heads of zoo have admitted no zoo is equipped to fulfill the needs of an elephant, the vast majority do not put the needs of the elephants first.

[PhillyCivilAffairs]

And the head of it makes $300,000.00, much much more than many for-profit businesses of similar size.

[animalsrule1231]

@lilolme39 I understand what you are saying. But I believe Petal had a good home at the Philadelphia Zoo.

[rowanmorrison]

@animalsrule1231 Petal was confined in a cement stall the size of six parking spaces, shared with three other elephants most of her life. Up until a few years ago, she was chained all night long. She lived a sad, deprived life, stolen from her family in the wild as a baby. The worst thing humans did to her was steal her from her family, the second worst thing was to deprive her of a chance to live her final years at warm sanctuary.

[tonymusa2]

incheyworm223, someone is filling your head with lies. You are so misinformed.

Poor Petal who had to live in such inadequate quarters for so many decades. No space. Just cement...and dominant zookeepers.

[incheyworm223]

The size of the keepers is nothing in comparison to an 8-9,000lbs elephant. They get multiple foot checks & a large amount of enrichment. I don't think I'm misinformed. I'm trying to get passionate animal lovers to cooperate with passionate animal lovers. To educate people about conservation needs in a nonconfrontational way, but a welcoming way. Where kids of all kind & walks of life can get that "whoa!" & "wow!" feeling & then go home/school & become environmental/ conservation motivators.

[rowanmorrison]

Sounds like someone has been drinking the Zoo kool-aid big time. Too bad the animals are the ones who are dying from it, not the people drinking the kool-aid.

[incheyworm223]

That statement doesn't make sense. Are you making insult to Philadelphia water? Or that people should be dying? And what people? Philadelphians? Passionate people? Or just me?

[rowanmorrison]

read up on Jim Jones.

[incheyworm223]

Thanks for deleting my message. Great censorship. You have no idea.

[rowanmorrison]

I know you're affiliated with the zoo - either as an intern or a docent or whatever - so of course you're going to defend their horrendous treatment of poor Petal. You have no idea how much you are hurting animals.

[incheyworm223]

I've been a member for the past 15 years, but have been going to the Philadelphia Zoo for about 25-30 years. Instead of nitpicking to twist a negative out of a positive, maybe unite with the zoo & protect wild elephants. I think 4000 elephants are poached each year, sometimes 250 in a given day. They said she was the oldest in the country so obviously she had a great life. Find a common ground, we all are environmentalists, preserving the answers to our questions.

[rowanmorrison]

She had a horrible life and died prematurely. If protected from poaching, wild elephants regularly live well into their 60's and 70's, and often give birth in their 50's. You're right about one thing, though- poaching still is a problem. Sadly, zoos are doing nothing about this and instead are spending MILLIONS and MILLIONS to keep a handful of elephants on display, when that money could save THOUSANDS of elephants in their native habitat.

[incheyworm223]

Zoos support many conservation projects, including like 80 just on elephants. You too should put your efforts in supporting them, not degrading a place that cares just as much. And 52 y/o is not premature many wild elephants die naturally in their 30's & 40's. Nonetheless why not redirect you efforts to helping those in the wild. Let children get that up close encounter with animals in zoos so they too will carry on the torch of conservation. I know your heart is true but its in the wrong place.

[rowanmorrison]

Please cite a source for your factual statement that "many wild elephants die naturally in their 30's and 40's." I would suggest you stop judging my efforts and redirect your energy to helping wild elephants (which I do help as well, including traveling overseas on a volunteer project).

[rowanmorrison]

And there is not a shred of evidence that seeing an elephant standing around in an artificial cellblock inspires children to "carry on the torch of conservation."

[SandiJeanne81]

Why was it horrendous and poor?

[rowanmorrison]

Horrible exhibit, horrible sad life. And what a horrible way to die - collapsed in the sweltering heat of the cement barn, for hours and hours, chained to the wall.

[ViolinCyndee]

So sad.. :( I hope she is ok..