August 6, 2006
Ron DeHaven, Administrator
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
4700 River Road
Riverdale, MD 20737
Re: Elephant "Clara" of the St. Louis Zoo
Dear Mr. DeHaven:
I'm writing to express my hope that your agency will investigate
the living conditions and health of the Asian Elephant
"Clara" currently on exhibit at the St. Louis Zoological Park.
Medical records indicate that Clara suffers from severe arthritis,
foot abscesses and foot erosions. Additionally, records show
that the anti-inflammatory drugs used to treat these problems have
caused Clara to show evidence of renal compromise, gastritis,
enteritis and bleeding ulcers.
Chronic foot and joint problems are endemic among captive elephants
who are given insufficient space to roam, and who are housed, when
not outdoors, in concrete-floored barns: such are the living
conditions of those elephants held by the St. Louis Zoo. These
conditions are, I believe, not only detrimental to the health of the
elephants, but contrary to the requirements mandated by the Animal
Welfare Act (AWA). The AWA regulations at 9 CFR, Chapter I.
Part 3, Sec. 3.128, under "Space Requirements" state:
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Enclosures shall be constructed and maintained so as to provide
sufficient space to allow each animal to make normal postural and social
adjustments with adequate freedom of movement. Inadequate space may be indicated
by evidence of malnutrition, poor condition, debility, stress, or abnormal
behavior patterns. |
Experts who have worked with and studied elephants agree that the
space requirements for this particular animal are much larger than
that which is provided by the St. Louis Zoo, whose outdoor yards are
a half-acre or less in size. Without the adequate space and
varied ground textures found in a more natural setting, chronic foot
and joint problems are an almost inevitable result. Clara is at
this point so debilitated that she is required to wear specially made
sandals, though whether these have been designed to facilitate
recovery from her physiological trauma or merely to hide that trauma
from public view is somewhat less clear.
Because of the suffering Clara now endures on a daily basis, and has
been enduring for many years, it is my hope that USDA will
undertake an investigation into her health status and into the living
conditions that she and other elephants are subject to at the St.
Louis Zoo. I would further ask that, if the results of that
investigation warrant, Clara be placed at an elephant sanctuary.
If her condition is such that she can no longer withstand the rigors
of transportation to a sanctuary, I would request that your agency
take appropriate action against the St. Louis Zoo for its apparent
violations of the Animal Welfare Act.
It is by now well known that elephants suffer psychological trauma as
the result of abusive treatment. An animal need not be beaten
or starved in order to be treated in an abusive manner. To
place an animal being exhibited for public edification and
entertainment in an environment which does not allow that animal to
maintain basic good health also constitutes a form of abuse.
Though I don't doubt that the St. Louis Zoo has had the best
intentions with regard to Clara, both in the housing arrangements and
medical treatment provided her, they have clearly failed her at a
fundamental level. It is both the legal right of USDA, and its
responsibility, to remedy this situation. I beg that you would
do so.
Yours sincerely & etc. . . .
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