In The News

Alaska Zoo

Background

Maggie is the only elephant in Alaska, living a solitary existence at the Alaska Zoo where, for the cold half of the year, she lives a sedentary life in a 1600-square-foot pen, standing on concrete flooring that can irreparably damage her feet and joints.

For years, international conservationists, elephant experts, and concerned citizens have urged Maggie’s transfer to facility with a more space, a suitable climate, and where Maggie could live with other elephants. It was feared that if she remained at Alaska Zoo, she would succumb to captivity-related health problems similar to those that killed her companion, Annabelle, in 1997 (see sidebar). But Alaska Zoo selfishly dismissed the experts, and now Maggie is paying the price.

On Sunday, May 13th, Maggie was found prone and unable to lift herself back up. It was at least 12 hours before the fire department, using straps and a winch, got Maggie back onto her feet. Maggie was discovered down a second time the following Wednesday and again required assistance to rise. This time, the Zoo suspended Maggie in a sling.

When an elephant lies down or collapses and cannot right herself, the situation is extremely dangerous because the weight of the elephant’s body can interrupt blood flow to the extremities, impair breathing, and damage internal organs. Last year, two elephants were found down and unable to lift themselves back up, Gita at Los Angeles Zoo and Lucy at Milwaukee Zoo. Both died.

Alaska Zoo has as much as admitted that it cannot properly care for Maggie. A 2004 Zoo committee report states: “Our management system is limited to our resources and training. We are currently unable to do basic health management procedures.” The report also indicates that some Zoo committee members anticipated health issues related to Maggie’s captivity. Former zoo director Tex stated, “Maggie is healthy now, but if she develops a medical condition that would be alleviated by a different climate or other winter housing she should be moved as soon as possible.”(click here for IDA's letter to the USDA)

So far, the Alaska Zoo has ignored science and compassion in deciding to keep Maggie at the Zoo, despite the fact that elephants are genetically designed to move almost constantly, and can travel ten or more miles each day. They are also intensely social animals, living in large, tight-knit family groups, though social relationships can extend to hundreds of elephants.

For good reason, the Alaska Zoo has long dominated the number one spot on IDA’s list of the ten worst zoos for elephants. It’s time for the Zoo to vacate that spot by sending Maggie to a sanctuary as soon as possible.

Update

Maggie arrives at her new home.

After 25 years, Maggie has finally made the move from a tiny enclosure at the Alaska Zoo to her new home at the Performing Animal Welfare Society elephant sanctuary in Northern California. We offer our sincerest thanks and congratulations to everyone who helped make this victory possible.

This historic trip included a five-hour flight in a temperature-controlled crate aboard a United States Air Force C-17 cargo plane from Alaska to Travis Air Force Base, followed by an 85-mile drive in a flatbed truck to PAWS. Maggie arrived safely on schedule at the sanctuary at 6:30 a.m. on November 2, 2007.

"Maggie's journey is a hopeful symbol of the journey all captive elephants should be on from inadequate zoo conditions to sanctuary-like facilities with the space and conditions they need to thrive," said Elliot M. Katz, DVM, president of IDA. "We are so happy that the Alaska Zoo finally agreed to do what is best for Maggie."

Bio

When Maggie was just one year old, poachers tracked and killed her family in Africa. She was purchased by Alaska Zoo in 1983 as a companion for Annabelle, who was the only elephant at the Zoo at that time. They lived together until 1997, when Annabelle died prematurely from a captivity-related bacterial foot infection that spread into her bones and bloodstream. She was just 32 years old, and lived less than half of an elephants' natural lifespan. Since Annabelle's death, Maggie has lived alone at Alaska Zoo. She is only 27 years old, and could live for decades, or, like her sole companion, die of a captivity-related disease well before her time.

Visit Anchorage Activists' Campaign Page: www.friendsofmaggie.net.