Celebrities call to free Rhanee, the Asian elephant

Celebrities call for the freeing of Rhanee, the elephant, from the Valwo Zoo in Spain. Rhanee is alone again in her small enclosure, after the death of her companion Costa.

Rhanee caught the public attention after she was shown on video being beaten at Mary Chipperfield Promotions. Her keeper was jailed for cruelty, and two directors of Mary Chipperfield Promotions, Mary Chipperfield Cawley and Roger Cawley, were convicted and fined for cruelty to other animals. The charges were brought by ADI after we collected devastating video evidence during an undercover investigation. However it seemed that there was to be no justice for Rhanee ­ when MCP closed down, she disappeared without trace.

Having scoured Europe, ADI discovered Rhanee over a year later, alone, in a small barren enclosure at Valwo Zoo in north central Spain. An international campaign was launched to appeal for Rhanee to be retired to a sanctuary which specialises in the care of abused elephants; the campaign was backed by Sir Paul McCartney, Brian Blessed, Jay Kay of Jamiroqui and many more. However, the zoo's owner, the huge entertainment group Parques Reunidos, refused all approaches, but as the media pressure mounted, a series of improvements were made to Rhanee's enclosure: a small shelter was added, a small pool dug and filled with water, a companion was introduced, a female elephant called Costa.

ADI believe that the addition of Costa was the biggest single improvement to the quality of Rhanee's life. The pair appeared to get on well, they would move around together, and touch each other frequently. We noted a reduction in Rhanee's stereotypic behaviours.

Tragically, however, a check-up visit in April this year brought very disturbing news ­ Costa was extremely sick. She was skin and bone, her legs were constantly buckled, so that her rump was almost touching the ground; she had a problem with her trunk, and was unable to drink properly; she had extreme difficulty walking.

ADI immediately contacted Parques Reunidos asking what action they were taking to help Costa. We offered any assistance to help alleviate her suffering. We received no reply. Costa died in May.

In July, a further visit to Valwo Zoo confirmed that Rhanee was once again alone. It seems that Rhanee, more than ever, symbolises the misery heaped upon captive elephants. Will she ever get any justice? ADI have again written to Parques Reunidos, offering to relocate Rhanee to a specialist sanctuary. Let's hope they have finally given up on any hope of breeding from this sad, lonely, damaged elephant.

Write to: Consejo de Administracion de Parques Reunidos, Parques Zoologica,
Oficinas Centrales, Casa de Campo S/N
28011 MADRID, Spain.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Valwo
• Spain
• rhanee
• elephant
• asian
• animal
• defenders
• international
• zoo
• entertainment
• circus

[kulangotses]

ANIMALS SHOULDNT BE IN CAGES!!!! they deserve better life not treatment!!!

enough human treatment for them.. they can live by themselves... Im not saying stop helping them but if we continue to take care of them its the same thing as they are in captivation.. they need to live in wild they need to be free..

[merrywriter1]

If an animal has sacrificed decades of life to entertainment, the least it deserves is to be retired to a sanctuary for its remaining few years.

[dbn300100]

@gill1942 so so sad

my dad worked with him!!!

he's super sad

[carbonarapadrino]

the spanish cannot empathise with animals,what with the inquisition,the catholic church,franco,cocaine,prostitu­tion,street robbery,etc.

theirs is a country deeply at odds with the idea of a modern,western social democracy.

these deep conflicts produce a mindset which revels in the cruel subjugation of animals.

[angeles37]

I hope she is doing well and better life full of care and love today!

[pennymusicMAma]

Please Protest the Abuse of All Animals & those who suffer in circuses & certain zoos!!

The world is so cruel to animals. Their wisdom

and lessons, meant as a gift to man, has been

turned into Travesties against these innocents. The more I get to know Man, the more I find myself loving dogs...(& All Animals!-p).-quote Charles de Gaulle.