Sign in to wowOwow

Enter the email address that you used when registering at wowOwow.
The password field is case sensitive. Click here if you have forgotten your password.

Please register for wowOwow

Newsletter subscriptions
Sign up to receive wowOwow's weekly newsletter and get our best picks delivered right to your inbox. Our newsletter content is hand-picked by the wowOwow editorial team and provides the top features, news, and commentary from our site. Subscribing to our newsletter is free and safe. We will never share your email or other information with a third-party without your direct consent.
By registering, you indicate that you have read and agree
with our privacy policy and terms of service.
Home › Relationships

Relationships | 05/14/2009 1:00 pm

Depressed Elephant Finds Friend in Spanish Queen

Spain’s Queen Sofia has rallied around Barcelona’s lone elephant, Susi.
By The Staff at wowOwow.com

Susi the Elephant is the only one of her kind at Barcelona’s zoo and, to make matters worse, she just lost her best friend and has been forced to live in a small pen.

As a result, say officials, Susi has become quite depressed. But she’s not suffering alone, for Spanish Queen Sofia has started a campaign to move Susi to a larger space.

"The queen is very sympathetic to animals," said Carla Cornella, president of The Foundation for the Adoption, Sponsorship and Defense of Animals, which approached the royal family for help. "She wants to know what is the best situation for Susi." Despite Sofia’s involvement, Barcelona’s city council has yet to act on the matter, which becomes more disturbing as the days go on. If Susi’s mood can’t be elevated in the near future, she may die.

Even Elephants get the blues, it would seem.

Read more about: Animals, News, Queen Sofia, Spain, Susi the Elephant

14 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

f p
Geez at first glance I thought it was another post about the repubs.
By f p on 05/14/2009 1:08 pm
Maggie W
 fp…..LOL!!!  Thanks for the laugh!  That was great!
By Maggie W on 05/14/2009 2:07 pm
DeBúrca obj
Great observation f p… they ARE very depressed these days and sort of trapped in a small space too!
By DeBúrca obj on 05/14/2009 8:07 pm
Mel Berg
yes elephants get the blues as do many other animals. I hope that they not only get her a larger space but also a new friend. Why some do people have such disregard for God’s creatures??
By Mel Berg on 05/14/2009 1:08 pm
f p
Beats me Mel—ask Palin mosse and wolves—and never forget: when one does battle with the forces of humorless darkness a little levity goes a long way ;-) 
By f p on 05/14/2009 1:13 pm
f p
er typo moose?  I don’t think so—moose instead lol
By f p on 05/14/2009 1:13 pm
f p
er mosse lololol  
By f p on 05/14/2009 1:14 pm
Mel Berg
f p moose LOL
By Mel Berg on 05/14/2009 1:28 pm
Kelly In Texas

Why keep this Elephant in a small enclosure? It this zoo can not provide adequate room and appropriate invironment for this large animal, they should send her else where.

How selfish to keep her confined. But nnoooooooooo we can worry over murderous terrorists that kill thousands of Americans while confining a beautiful, innocent creature is allowed. Most Zoos are torture.

Hypocrites.

By Kelly In Texas on 05/14/2009 1:44 pm
Deena B.
If they cannot - or will not - do the right thing for Susi they should find a new home for her.
By Deena B. on 05/14/2009 2:04 pm
Maggie W

60 Minutes recently did a terrific piece about the elephant orphanage in Kenya.  It was so moving.  Now that the ban on ivory has been lifted, these babies’ moms are being killed regularly.  Each orphan has its own handler/ playmate.  That handler even sleeps with the baby at night.  In the day they play ball and have other exercises.  They get snacks. The handler teaches them what the mother would, like how to take mud baths.

In the never ending sea of dreary news, this was really sweet.

By Maggie W on 05/14/2009 2:15 pm
Nancy Cleveland
I saw that 60 Minutes piece a couple of times, Maggie…never ceases to move me, particularly how there really are those out there who take the role of stewards of the earth to heart.  Elephants are the most amazing creatures (but…which animal isn’t?  :)  ).  Hoping Queen Sofia pulls enough weight to save Susi. 
By Nancy Cleveland on 05/14/2009 2:45 pm
Andrea Brandon
 “If man is not to stifle his human feelings, he must practice kindness towards animals, for he who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with men. We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.” -       Immanuel Kant
By Andrea Brandon on 05/14/2009 9:19 pm
Kris Merrill
I saw a wonderful segment on "Oprah" about a "retirement farm" for female elephants. They each choose a best friend for the rest of their life, usually another female elephant, but one chose a dog. It seems that these animals have a great capacity and need for this connection. What wonderful animals! 
By Kris Merrill on 05/18/2009 8:01 am