eleblog

“Decades of educational entertainment end today as the animals prepare to move to a new exhibit at the San Diego Zoo.” - Los Angeles Times

“Jeffery Zuba, head veterinarian at the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park, believes there is a way for African animal parks to preserve the environment without resorting to killing members of their resident herds. Along with colleagues at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Colorado University, Zuba has proposed using laparoscopic surgery—a minimally invasive procedure utilizing fiberoptic instruments—to permanently sterilize free-ranging elephants. ” - Popular Mechanics

“Following last week’s death of a female infant elephant at the San Diego Wild Animal Park, the Save Wild Elephants Coalition (of which IDA is a member) renewed their call for an end to the captive breeding and capture of elephants from the wild for display in zoos. The young pachyderm who died was born to a female who was one of 11 elephants captured in 2003 from the African country of Swaziland, and was euthanized at the San Diego Zoo after becoming severely ill. The Coalition opposed the import of these elephants before they were taken from their homeland for display in the U.S., and charges that this tragic incident is just one more piece of evidence pointing to the failure of U.S. zoos’ elephant breeding and display programs.” - IDA eNews

“Officials say a baby elephant at San Diego’s Wild Animal Park recently diagnosed with an antibiotic-resistant staph infection was euthanized because of multiple health problems.” - San Jose Mercury News -

“A two-month-old elephant was euthanized at the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park Monday, after struggling since its birth Nov. 28. The calf had lesions with the same antibiotic-resistant staph infection reported in three park employees.” - SignOnSanDiego.com

“Born Nov. 28, the African elephant calf is not gaining weight as she should, said officials at the San Diego Zoo, which operates the park near Escondido” - SignOnSanDiego.com

“A Swazi female elephant calf born at the San Diego Zoo�s Wild Animal Park has been named �Phakamile�” - The Swazi Observer

“A female African elephant calf born at the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park late this summer has been named Phakamile, which means “noble” in the African language of siSwati, zoo officials announced Monday.” - KGTV San Diego

“In a year that has already seen the birth of two African elephants at the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park, the birth of one more of the threatened species is icing on the proverbial cake. And it is sweet, as Lungile (Loon-gee-lee), a 16-year-old elephant, gave birth November 29, to a female calf.” - Imperial Valley News

“The San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park hosted a special birthday celebration for an elephant that turned 1-year-old Tuesday.” - KNSD

“At least three animal rights groups will protest what they call abusive treatment of elephants by the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus Wednesday outside its opening night performance at the San Diego Sports Arena.” - KGTV San Diego

“But last week, at the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park, it wasn’t: One of the great creatures of Earth was put to death on the captive side of the fence” - North County Times

“A 39-year-old Asian elephant at the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park was euthanized Tuesday, after veterinarians determined that a degenerative joint disease had worsened.” - KGTV San Diego

“San Diego’s Wild Animal Park has a new elephant in its herd. A 17-year-old African elephant gave birth to a male calf Sunday.” - NBC San Diego

“A male African elephant born at the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park in Escondido is being monitored around the clock to ensure the first-time mother properly cares for her baby, it was announced Monday.” - 10 News

“A state Assemblyman who is crafting a bill that would dictate how much space is needed for elephant enclosures at zoos across California, says the Wild Animal Park is on the right track, but the San Diego Zoo isn�t. At least not at present.” - San Diego Business Journal Online

“Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, D-Van Nuys, will conduct a town hall meeting Wednesday at which he and animal activists will discuss their concerns about conditions in which elephants are held in captivity and the reintroduction of his Elephant Protection Act, which would have a major impact in San Diego.” - 10News.com

“Animal rights activists who oppose a plan to transfer an elephant from San Diego to Salt Lake rallied outside the San Diego Zoo Wednesday, 10News reported.” - 10News.com