IN DEFENSE OF ANIMALS CALLS FOR FEDERAL INVESTIGATION OF PHILADELPHIA ZOO ELEPHANT DEATH

San Rafael, Calif.—International animal protection organization In Defense of Animals (IDA) filed a complaint today with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, calling for an investigation into the death of Petal, a 52-year-old elephant who died at the Philadelphia Zoo last week. IDA is asking the USDA, which enforces the federal Animal Welfare Act, to review the in-stall video surveillance footage of Petal to determine if inadequate monitoring and failure to provide prompt veterinary intervention may have been factors in her death.

"We find it very disturbing that even with a video monitor in the elephant barn, no zoo personnel apparently were aware that Petal was in dire need of veterinary care," wrote IDA president and veterinarian Elliot M. Katz in a letter to the USDA. "It is critical to determine what role this failure may have played in Petal's death."

For a large animal like an elephant, lying in a "down" position, unable to rise, is extremely dangerous. The situation requires swift intervention if the elephant is to survive. The massive weight of the animal can obstruct circulation, cause tissue death and damage internal organs.

In his letter, Katz also asked the USDA to investigate:

  • Whether Petal had any underlying health problems that would have predisposed her to collapse and served as a warning that careful, round-the-clock monitoring of the elephant was required. IDA asked the USDA to scrutinize veterinary records to determine whether Petal suffered from the type of arthritis and foot disease that commonly afflict elephants in zoos.

  • Why Petal “typically slept standing up,” according to the zoo. Elephants normally lie down to sleep for four to five hours each night and may even lie down to nap during the day. The fact that Petal apparently stopped lying town to sleep could have been indicative of underlying health problems like arthritis and/or foot disease.

  • Whether Petal's leg chains may have contributed to her death by preventing her from righting herself once she went down. The Philadelphia Zoo reportedly chains its elephants overnight, a practice that is physically and psychologically detrimental to elephants' well-being.

Petal is the fourth elephant to die in an Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited facility this year.

IDA's letter to the USDA is available upon request. Please visit www.helpelephants.com for more information on elephants in zoos.