Brookfield Zoo has been named one of the 2009 “Ten Worst Zoos for Elephants” by In Defense of Animals, a California-based animal rights group.
Brookfield Zoo placed 10th on the list, and 2009 was the first year the zoo made the list. This is the sixth year the IDA has released a list.
This year’s list was released Tuesday, Jan. 12. Catherine Doyle, a captive elephant specialist and campaign director for the IDA, said Brookfield Zoo was on the list due to their “replacement elephant” policies, after the death of Affie in May and recently, Christy in December.
“Moves are not dictated by the elephants’ complex physical, psychological and social needs but by a zoo’s need to fill an open slot or add to its “collection,” Doyle said in a press release.
“After the death of two elephants last year, the Brookfield Zoo is again searching for a replacement elephant. Affie, who died just as she turned 40, was quickly replaced with Joyce as a cage-mate for the lone Christy. Then Christy died, leaving Joyce alone. The zoo intends to acquire yet another elephant, but is that really what’s best for Joyce?” Doyle said.
The Brookfield Zoo responded to the IDA’s list in a written statement released Jan. 12.
“We are not surprised that Brookfield Zoo, managed by Chicago Zoological Society, is included in IDA’s annual publicity stunt attacking zoos with elephants,” the statement read. “This extremist group seizes every opportunity, in our case the sad deaths of our beloved Affie and Christy elephants, to use distorted information in an attempt to blame zoos that have suffered the loss of an elephant.”
The statement went on to say that “Brookfield Zoo — with overwhelming support from the public community and our 2.2 million visitors — is deeply committed to providing the highest quality of animal care and to educating the public about the critical conservation status of elephants and other wildlife. In doing so, we are making a positive difference for the future of animals both here and in the wild.”
