Relocate Aging Elephant to a Sanctuary

The Issue

The director of the San Antonio Zoo says its only elephant will not be relocated despite a recent protest.

Steve McCusker tells KENS-TV that the aging Asian elephant named Lucky will spend the rest of her life alone. He says moving the 54-year-old elephant might kill her and that she probably only has a few years of life left.

A new rule by a national zoo accreditation association said elephants can't live alone in captivity, but it granted the San Antonio zoo an exemption for Lucky.

Isabella Hinajosa, 15, last weekend spearheaded a protest near the zoo to relocate the elephant to a sanctuary.

She said Lucky looks depressed and shouldn't have to spend her remaining years alone.

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Teva MurrayPetition Starter
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This petition had 5,065 supporters

The Issue

The director of the San Antonio Zoo says its only elephant will not be relocated despite a recent protest.

Steve McCusker tells KENS-TV that the aging Asian elephant named Lucky will spend the rest of her life alone. He says moving the 54-year-old elephant might kill her and that she probably only has a few years of life left.

A new rule by a national zoo accreditation association said elephants can't live alone in captivity, but it granted the San Antonio zoo an exemption for Lucky.

Isabella Hinajosa, 15, last weekend spearheaded a protest near the zoo to relocate the elephant to a sanctuary.

She said Lucky looks depressed and shouldn't have to spend her remaining years alone.

avatar of the starter
Teva MurrayPetition Starter
Media inquiries

The Decision Makers

San Antonio Zoo
San Antonio Zoo
Marketing and Public Relations
Responded
“Lucky, the San Antonio Zoo’s Asian elephant, has generated an onslaught of inaccurate and misleading information. Because we passionately care for her, I’d like to take this opportunity to share the truth. Lucky receives her care from a professional staff with over 100 years of combined experience in biology, veterinary medicine, animal husbandry, and elephant management. Lucky receives optimum medical care, consistent one-on-one attention, and the best nutrition and enrichment available. Based on that, along with my personal experience with elephants and observation by myself and her caregivers, I am confident that Lucky is content, comfortable, and psychologically and physiologically healthy. The most asked question: Why can’t Lucky be moved to a sanctuary, where she would be able to move freely, bathe, swim, eat as she pleases, explore, and enjoy the companionship of other animals? It is not that simple. As zoologists and conservationists, we know that elephants are social animals, but Lucky is 54 and an atypical elephant who prefers the company of her caregivers over that of elephants. A long haul and a competitive environment would be putting her health and life at risk – a risk that we are not willing to take. Lucky is not a particularly social elephant, an observation based on firsthand experience. A move to an established herd would be very stressful. It would require her to enter a crate, be lifted by crane onto a truck, and transported hundreds of miles. At her age, with her less-than-social demeanor, and given the one-on-one attention she has received for the past 52 years, moving Lucky is not an option. The San Antonio Zoo is responsible for this magnificent animal, which means making the best decisions and providing Lucky with the best possible care. Relocating Lucky would not only place her in a very high stress situation, it would be irresponsible of the San Antonio Zoo. For the past 100 years, the collective efforts of dedicated individuals have helped the San Antonio Zoo become one of the best in the nation. Lucky is and always will be part of the San Antonio Zoo family, and we will do what is best for her. Your compassion for Lucky has been heard. Please channel that compassion by joining us in the fight to save African elephants. Did you know that due to the increasing demand for ivory, an average of 96 elephants are killed everyday in Africa? They are being driven to extinction. We encourage you to visit 96elephants.org to continue to be an advocate and a voice for elephants. Sincerely, J. Stephen McCusker Executive Director ”

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Petition created on September 24, 2014