International Day of Action for Elephants in Zoos

June 19 - IDAEZ

Honorable Ladies and Gentlemen,

June 19 marks the second annual International Day of Action for Elephants in Zoos (IDAEZ). Compassionate individuals worldwide will participate in a variety of activities designed to raise awareness of the plight of these magnificent creatures.

With this letter, I cordially invite you to join us by using the authority of your office to introduce legislation banning the breeding and further import of elephants in zoos. Elephants are highly intelligent, complex and self-aware individuals who have evolved for long-distance living. In the wild they range tens of miles a day, live in large, tight-knit family groups, and communicate with one another at great distances. Yet zoos confine elephants in tiny exhibits of a few acres or less, where lack of movement and standing on hard surfaces cause painful foot infections and arthritis, the leading causes of euthanasia in captive-held elephants. The stress and boredom of intensive captivity results in abnormal behaviors such as repetitive swaying and head-bobbing. In addition, many zoos continue to employ a cruel, circus-style management method based on negative reinforcement and the use of bullhooks (a steel-tipped device similar to a fireplace poker) to poke, prod, stab, and beat elephants into submission.

You are in a unique position to aid these innocent prisoners. Will you please commit to ending elephant captivity in zoos?

Thank you for your time and consideration - I anticipate your response.

Sincerely,

[Your name]