Groups to expose hidden cruelty behind elephant center proposed for St. Lucie County

MEDIA ADVISORY
Press Conference Monday

Ft. Pierce, Florida (January 25, 2010) – Representatives of national, state and local animal protection organizations will release information documenting serious concerns about the treatment of elephants at the proposed National Elephant Center (NEC) in St. Lucie County, including graphic photos and video that illustrate the circus-style elephant training and cruel devices that will be utilized at the facility.

When: Monday, January 25, 2010; 1 p.m.
Where: Havert L. Fenn Center (Room # 123), 2000 Virginia Ave., Ft. Pierce

” Reasonable questions have been raised about The National Elephant Center and the public deserves to have them answered,” said Susan Parry, a founder of United for Animals, a local animal advocacy organization. ” The zoo industry as a whole has a disturbing record when it comes to the treatment of elephants. St. Lucie County citizens and commissioners care deeply about the welfare of animals. If this facility is built here, strict oversight is necessary and inhumane practices must not be tolerated.”

PETA, In Defense of Animals (IDA), Animal Rights Foundation of Florida (ARFF) and United for Animals of St. Lucie are calling on Board of County Commissioner to reject a proposal by a handful of zoos working in collaboration with trash giant Waste Management to develop an elephant holding and breeding facility on undeveloped land at the western edge of the county.

The following are just some of the concerns the groups warn will be an issue at the NEC:

• Bullhooks, which resemble fireplace pokers, will be used on elephants
• NEC will be a breeding and holding facility that shuttles elephants in and out; such transfers are detrimental to elephants and may cause premature death
• Several of the zoos involved with the NEC have a close affiliation with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
• Ringling has announced an interest in sending elephants to NEC

The groups will release photos taken by a retired trainer at Ringling’s breeding center in Polk City that show baby elephants bound with ropes, gouged with bullhooks, and shocked with electric prods.
The NEC’s development plan comes before St. Lucie Commissioners on Tuesday.

Contacts:

Suzanne Roy (IDA) 919-796-9389
RaeLeann Smith (PETA) 757-943-7270
Nick Atwood (ARFF), 954-727-2733
Susan Parry (United for Animals), 772-979-4008