Campaigns - Dallas Zoo News

STATEMENT OF BARBARA ANDERSON, FORMER ELEPHANT KEEPER IN ZOOS
AND AT THE ELEPHANT SANCTUARY

I represent almost 20 years of professional elephant management as a keeper in Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)-accredited institutions and as a primary caregiver for The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. I am deeply concerned about the Dallas Zoo’s intention to send their African elephant Jenny to Africam Safari Park in Puebla, Mexico.

Jenny has a history of very aggressive and violent behavior, including self- mutilation. Her medical records show that she has even been sedated for weeks and even years at a time in order to keep her behaviors under control. In my professional opinion, Jenny’s behavior reflects the damage that the “free-contact ”style of elephant management has done to her and many other captive elephants just like her.

The concept of “free-contact” is to break and dominate the psychological and emotional spirit of the elephant so that the animal can be “safely managed.” This method of training does not exclude extreme physical abuse, which has proven to be emotionally and psychologically damaging over a very long-term period.

I commend the Dallas Zoo for moving to the “protected contact” method of elephant management with regards to Jenny, however it’s obvious that the long term damage has already occurred and is manifested in her behavior.

Jenny’s psychological and emotional health has been greatly compromised, and her case is an extremely fragile one. The effects of the horrific events of Jenny’s past remain with her. Elephants who resort to displaced aggression and choose to harm others or themselves are not psychologically sound and need to be in a very specialized program in order to begin the healing process. I believe that Jenny’s life is truly in the balance.

The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee currently houses three African elephants on 300 of their 2700 total acres of property and is in a position to accept Jenny. Their highly specialized staff has no less than 80 years of collective experience to meet the specific needs of each and every one of their charges on an individual basis.

The Sanctuary’s caregivers are well-trained specialists in the day-to-day psychological and emotional rehabilitation of elephants just like Jenny. I have personally been involved with The Sanctuary as a primary caregiver and I am a witness to the healing process that occurs in the elephants that have arrived there to live out the rest of their lives in peace and dignity. These changes are nothing less than phenomenal to see and yet The Sanctuary’s concept is so very simple – allow elephants to roam at will through a vast space, with abundant, suitable, LIVE vegetation along with other members of their established herds, and, understand that trust and respect is EARNED between keeper and elephant. Through respect and patience, keeper and elephant develop a relationship based upon trust and mutual respect.

I encourage you to allow The Elephant Sanctuary to give Jenny the opportunity not only to express her true nature, but also to help her develop the knowledge and skills to evolve into a viable member of the African herd that is waiting for her.

Dallas is a very proud city, and it is, with good reason, equally proud of its zoo and all of its past accomplishments and future visions.

The City of Dallas and the Dallas Zoo administration, the zoological society, zoo keepers and the citizens who love Jenny are accountable for her future. I ask all of you, as citizens yourselves, to love Jenny enough to allow her to find out what it means to be released from her physical and emotional confinement and begin to actually understand the true meaning of acceptance, trust, respect and love – all the gifts that elephants naturally share in the wild.

Contact:
931-796-4051
931-306-9622 (cell)
Email: bkanderson@hifo.net