St. Louis Zoo Accused of Violating Federal Law With Dangerous Elephant Breeding Practices

San Rafael, Calif. – In Defense of Animals (IDA) filed a complaint today with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), charging that the St. Louis Zoo’s elephant breeding practices violate the federal Animal Welfare Act by knowingly exposing offspring to an unacceptably high risk of infection with the often-fatal Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV). The zoo recently announced the pregnancy of a second elephant, Ellie. Her daughter, Rani, is also pregnant.

“It is grossly irresponsible for the St. Louis Zoo to continue breeding elephants, knowing that any infant born there faces a high risk of disease and death,” said Catherine Doyle, IDA campaign director. “IDA is calling on the USDA to stop the reckless breeding of elephants in herpes-affected zoos by adopting a policy that protects calves from unnecessary suffering and horrific deaths.”

Two calves at the St. Louis Zoo were stricken with the virus in 2009. Jade was treated and survived, and Maliha was asymptomatic but tested positive. In December Jade became the first EEHV survivor known to suffer a relapse. Since 1998, nine elephants born in Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited zoos have been stricken with EEHV, with Jade the only survivor.

Little is known about EEHV, though the overwhelming evidence indicates it primarily strikes young Asian elephants in captivity, usually causing death through massive internal hemorrhaging. Almost 40 percent of Asian elephants born in AZA-accredited zoos in the last 12 years have succumbed to the disease.

In addition to its complaint regarding the St. Louis Zoo, IDA filed complaints against three other herpes-affected zoos that are actively breeding elephants:

-  The Houston Zoo, long considered a “hot spot” for EEHV, has two pregnant elephants. Four of the zoo’s five elephants have tested positive for the virus, including the pregnant females. Six calves born at the zoo died from the virus.
-    The Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle lost a young elephant, Hansa, to the virus in 2007, and holds an African elephant who tested positive. Yet the zoo recently artificially inseminated Hansa’s mother, Chai.
-    The Oklahoma City Zoo, which sent two females to the Tulsa Zoo for breeding, is attempting to impregnate the elephant Chendra, an EEHV survivor. A second elephant, Asha, who was likely exposed to the virus, is already pregnant.

“Federal animal welfare law requires animal exhibitors to use appropriate methods to prevent and control disease. The only sure way to prevent new EEHV cases is to stop breeding elephants in herpes-affected zoos,” said Dr. Elliot Katz, IDA president and a veterinarian. “The USDA must move swiftly to insure that zoos do not expose more innocent calves to this devastating disease.”

To read IDA’s complaint against the St. Louis Zoo, please go to:  http://www.helpelephants.com/StLouisZoobreedingcomplaint.pdf

For more information, visit www.HelpElephants.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2010

Contact: Catherine Doyle, zoos@idausa.org, 323-301-5730