Challenge The National Elephant Center to break the cycle of abuse
October 13th, 2011 by admin
Imagine that you’ve rescued a dog whose previous owner used a stick to punish the poor animal when he did not obey a command. You would shower the dog with affection and do everything you could to make your home a place where the dog felt safe. One thing you would not do is keep a stick in the house “just in case.” But that’s what some in the zoo community say is necessary when working with abused elephants.
In an article posted today on TCPalm.com, the Executive Director of the Brevard Zoo, Keith Winsten, explains that workers at The National Elephant Center will not use bullhooks… unless they have to. “There are times we may get an elephant, say from a private owner, and that’s all he knows,” Winsten said. “We’ll have to use something until he can be converted over to positive reinforcement.”
It is a horrible thought that an elephant could arrive at The National Elephant Center in Florida after years of abuse in a circus, only to continue to be hit, prodded and intimidated into obedience by a worker wielding a bullhook!
Thankfully, the article also quoted representatives from the Performing Animal Welfare Society and The Elephant Sanctuary, two sanctuaries that have accepted retired circus elephants, and never used bullhooks. Pat Derby, the president of PAWS, called Winsten’s comments “hogwash” and added, “We’ve had elephants for 25 years and we’ve never used a bullhook on any one of them.”
The Brevard Zoo is the only facility in Florida to be represented on The National Elephant Center’s Board of Directors. Please contact Mr. Winsten and ask him to press The National Elephant Center to make a commitment to use only safe and humane elephant handling methods that rely on positive reinforcement. Bullhooks should not be allowed at The National Elephant Center. Contact:
Keith Winsten, Executive Director
Brevard Zoo
8225 North Wickham Road
Melbourne, FL 32940
Phone: (321) 254-9453
Fax: (3210 259-5966
E-mail: admin@brevardzoo.org
Click here for more information about The National Elephant Center.