Since 2012, every single baby elephant born at ABQ BioPark has died tragically of endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV). Three of those that died were offspring of a beloved elephant Rozie, who will likely be forcibly impregnated again for the zoo's gain, even if the risk of death of her baby is still high. ABQ BioPark spent millions to upgrade the park, but guess where that money went? To visitor observation decks that improve the view of the elephants. The poor animals themselves will remain tragically enclosed in the same lifeless yard, completely and totally removed from their wild, natural habitat. And who knows how many more baby elephants will die to attract visitors with the pull of a new baby and prop up the profits of the zoo.
Sign now to demand that the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) revoke the license for ABQ BioPark and prevent more innocent elephants from dying!
In general, elephants do not do well in zoos, and research has repeatedly shown that the torture of being captive is horrible enough on the intelligent, social, far-ranging creatures. Enclosures can cause elephants to exhibit a variety of behaviors that indicate restlessness, depression, and poor physical and emotional health. But the Albuquerque-based park is uniquely nightmarish. In fact, ABQ BioPark recently won the title of second worst zoo in North America for elephants. And even though elephants keep dying, the zoo boasts that it is expanding its captive-bred elephant program.
Poor Rozie is a cornerstone of that breeding program. Her poor babies Thorn, Jazmine, and Daizy were all born into captivity with their mother – and they all died in captivity too, and all from the same illness. ABQ BioPark clearly knows that EEHV is a serious threat to new baby elephants born within its facility; the zoo's refusal to stop impregnating elephants for its own gain with no concern for the sick babies or their heartbroken mothers is deplorable.
We must push the USDA's APHIS to revoke this zoo's license. Despite the zoo's repeated claims that it knows what is best for elephants and is "at the forefront of elephant research and care," baby elephants keep dying, and the zoo isn't doing anything about it. The zoo clearly can't get this deadly disease under control, and they should not be licensed if they can't keep baby animals from repeatedly dying prematurely. Sign now to demand this zoo's license be revoked and all elephants, including sweet Rozie who has suffered so much loss, are sent to a sanctuary where they can live the free and joyous lives that they deserve.
