SLIDESHOW: Elephants subject of weekend demonstrations

About 20 demonstrators gathered at the gates of Brookfield Zoo Saturday, June 20, to call for the closing of the elephant exhibit and the relocation of its only elephant to a zoo sanctuary.

Inside, another demonstration was taking place, with as many as 1,000 marching in a parade to express their love for the largest land animal on earth.

Zoo opponents were protesting on behalf of International Day of Action for Elephants, organized by In Defense of Animals, a California-based organization whose mission is to “end animal exploitation, cruelty, and abuse by protecting and advocating for the rights, welfare, and habitats of animals, as well as to raise their status beyond mere property, commodities, or things.” IDA immediately called for a federal investigation following the death of Affie, a 40-year-old female African Elephant who died in May.

Another 29-year-old female, Christy, is the only remaining elephant at the Brookfield Zoo. Officials are in the process of securing a companion for the lone elephant.

La Grange resident and demonstration organizer Chris Grushas said it was time for the zoo to let the elephants roam free.

“We feel that these urban environment, small enclosures are not suitable for the largest land mammals,” Grushas said. “ Right now this elephant that is in there is all by herself. Elephants are social animals. She’s suffering probably from physical foot problems and psychological problems. She has to be sent to a sanctuary.”

A different message was being conveyed inside the zoo. A host of animal keepers and zoo officials were explaining to a crowd that gathered at the elephant exhibit the typical routine an elephant goes through daily. It includes numerous walks inside the enclosure, relaxing baths in a mud wallow, half-hour long showers where the elephants are meticulously cleaned, and weekly pedicures where their massive toe nails are trimmed and the calloused pads beneath their feet are manicured.

Dr. Stuart Strahl, president of the Chicago Zoological Society, said elephants are controversial because they are such large animals, and the zoo must provide so many things for them.

“Unfortunately, in the wild, African elephant populations have declined more than 60 percent in the past couple of decades because of poaching and conflicts with people,” Strahl said. “Our goal here is to educate people about what the plight is for animals in the wild. Some people believe that you can do that on television and I don’t believe that.

“I’ve seen animals in the wild, I’ve seen animals on television, I’ve seen animals in the zoo and this is as close as you can come in an urbanized area in seeing wild animals up close and they have a much different impact on people.”

The benefit, Strahl said, is people tend to be more sympathetic to the plight of animals when they see then up close — and that makes them more conservation-minded.

“There are documented studies showing the effect of having live animals with people and their inclination to do conservation activities,” Strahl said. “The folks outside have a right to say what they want to say. But according to Harris polls across the country, they represent far less that 1 percent of Americans. As you can see, we have about 700 people here today and they’ve turned out because we are doing something special for elephants.

Elise Fox of Lisle and her parents came to the zoo especially to see Christy and was impressed with how she responded to commands through positive reinforcement.

“I would feel really bad if we could not see elephants,” Elise said. “We couldn’t see them unless we were in India and stuff.”