Edith Ann

My Comments (254 so far…)

Life in the Little Lane: Edith Ann on Messes

Yes, Mugsy, I’m on top of it.Yes, everyday is messy with art stuff. Edith

Lily Tomlin to the Rescue of a Special-Needs Elephant

Dear Wow Women: I’m putting this reply near the top so that hopefully more people will see it. These stories covering Jenny are sometimes worded in ways that mislead. For instance, the CBS tv story says Jenny will be sharing 5 acres with another elephant. What I understand to be more exact is that the entire elephant exhibit is 4.9 acres and 3 Asian elephants live there now. Jenny is an African elephant and Africans do not get along with Asian elephants so, more accurately, Jenny would be sharing whatever is left of the space with what is reported to be a younger African that has not yet been acquired. Jenny does not get along well with younger elephants. She has it coming and going. Even more distressing is that the Africam Park is a drive through as I wrote at the outset with cars almost constant and Jenny is very fearful of motor vehicles. And even worse, there were two wonderful animal activists from Mexico testifying on this Wednesday past at the Dallas Council session and they pled with the Council not to send Jenny to Mexico because, according to their testimony, Mexico is 80 years behind the US in animal welfare laws. They told several horror stories about animals in Mexico. Not specifically of this facility, Africam, but of the general lack of laws to govern the care of these animals in their country. Even more pursuasive was the testimony the week before of several renowned elephant experts who wrote in a letter sent to Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert and the Dallas City Council: “It is troubling that Dallas Zoo would even consider sending this particular elephant to a drive-through attraction when The Elephant Santcuary, a facility recognized worldwide for its experience in the rehabilitation of troubled and ailing elephants, is willing to take Jenny. The Sanctuary has received elephants from many AZA-accredited zoos.” I purposely include this last part of the quote about ‘AZA-accredited zoos’, because one of the persistent arguments from the zoo is that The Sanctuary is not accredited. The AZA is a trade organization which fosters a closed syetem within which the zoo officials strive to keep the elephants under their control for exhibit and breeding. I repeat what I said in my initial post that zoos are not the proper place for elephants because they are simply too big and there is not land enough in these facilities. Everyone working for Jenny in Dallas continues to be committed and determined to see Jenny go to The Sanctuary. Time is absolutely running out and the next 2 weeks are critical, but the fight will not be abandoned. I don’t believe the zoo director, Gregg Hudson will make the humane choice because he seems committed to the policies of the AZA and to furthering his career. We must convince the Mayor,Tom Leppert and the City Council to intervene for the people of Dallas whom Jenny has served for 22 hard years and FOR JENNY.HERSELF! Maybe another day, I’ll post the entire letter from the Elephant Experts, including Joyce Poole who is considered by many to be the world’s foremost authority on elephants. One last bit of good news: The organization working for Jenny, ConcernedCitizensforJenny.com has the money from a committed donor to transport her to The Sanctuary. I’m wishing on Edith’s star. Lily