Philadelphia Zoo - Petal Tribute

Unfortunately, I don't have any videos of Petal, who died June 9, 2008. So I have created two slideshows from still digital photos I took of her June 8, 2008.

This is one of them.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Philadelphia
• Zoo
• zoos
• elephant
• elephants
• wildlife
• animal
• animals
• mammals
• Petal
• tribute
• memories
• of

[awesomeH2O]

I am an elephant lover, and I had seen Petal before when I was a child (before I became a bit opposed of the Zoo keeping its elephants). I know that she died two years ago, but I still watch this video over and over. I was sad that such a magnificent and grand animal died, and that she was not able to live to be a leader for her companions.

[ZooVisitorMM]

@awesomeH2O Thank you for sharing your thoughts here. I still feel the loss of Petal, and wish I had started recording videos sooner so I would also have videos of her to keep as wonderful memories.

I am sorry you have become a bit opposed to keeping elephants in zoos. I believe Petal had a wonderful, long life at the Zoo, and I was and still am very much opposed to the Zoo's closing of the elephant exhibit.

[awesomeH2O]

@ZooVisitorMM I, too, am still sad that Petal is dead. I think the move of Kallie and Bette would have been easier for them to handle if an older, experienced elephant was there to guide them. You are entitled to your beliefs, which I am sure have good reasons.

[ZooVisitorMM]

@awesomeH2O What you are saying about making the move easier for Kallie and Bette is no doubt true. But Kallie and Bette had only been with Petal and Dulary for a few years, so I am not sure how strong their bond truly was or could have been.

I think the bond between Dulary and Petal, which had been established over a more than forty year period was much stronger.

[awesomeH2O]

@ZooVisitorMM I agree. Dulary did have a much stronger bond with Petal. Kallie and Bette spent only a few years (2004-2008) compared to the bond that lasted between Dulary and Petal (1964-2005). Wonderful, they were. Simply splendid gals. Wished they could have been together before Dulary left for the Elephant Sanctuary.

[ZooVisitorMM]

@awesomeH2O Actually, since the Zoo was concerned that it did not have enough resources to expand the elephant exhibit, I think the best thing to have done would have been to send Bette and Kallie to another zoo, and to keep Dulary and Petal together at the Philadelphia Zoo.

[ZooVisitorMM]

@awesomeH2O (This is continued from my previous reply)

The Zoo's elephant exhibit did meet AZA requirements.  But if the Zoo felt it did not have sufficient space or resources to keep four elephants, the Zoo still could have simply relocated Bette and Kallie, re-established the strong connection between Dulary and Petal, and slowly expanded and improved the elephant exhibit.

[godblesselephants]

RIP, Petal.

[ThePowerofElephants]

Goodbye, Petal... we will miss you and remember. After over 52 years in a zoo, you deserve rest and peace.

[awesomeH2O]

@ZooVisitorMM Send two off, keep two...interesting way of solving the problem. Maybe they didn't want to separate Petal from Kallie and Bette.

[awesomeH2O]

@ZooVisitorMM I think it was sad that the connection between Petal and Dulary was broken, even though they were different species.

[awesomeH2O]

@ZooVisitorMM Very true. Dulary and Petal were the closest of buds...at least, I think. I always thought that Petal was like the older sister.