Friends, We just need one more signature to reach the critical milestone of 5000 supporters for this petition! Your support is needed now, more than ever, to help us bring about the much needed relief for the animals who continue to suffer at the Dehiwala Zoo. On September 25, the media reported that the Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife visited the Zoo amidst a public outcry (direct complaints, letters, rally, petitions and other efforts by organizations and individuals) and ordered some upgrades and halted certain activities intended to bring a degree of immediate relief of the Zoo's animals. However, we are sad to report that despite the initial flurry of support by the government, a month later - none of the proposed changes have been implemented. With regard to the elephants: ankuses are still in use, the elephants are in chains all the time (unless the are performing), the open elephant enclosure is not completed (all it requires is a gate to be installed) and most appallingly, the elephant circus is being continued. No visible improvements have been made to the conditions of the other animals either. We need your support now more than ever to bring this disgraceful state of affairs to the public's attention and expose the bureaucrats who think that paper policy without real action is sufficient. Please support this petition so that we can submit our proposal to the authorities backed by substantial public support. Thank you for your compassion!