PETA Wants Federal Investigation of Local Elephant ‘Sanctuary’ Following Whistleblower Accounts of Beatings, Abuse

For Immediate Release:
August 5, 2004

Contact:
Nicole Meyer 757-622-7382

Norfolk, Va.- This morning, PETA sent an urgent letter to Chester Gipson, deputy administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, urging him to launch an investigation into Riddle’s Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary in Greenbrier. PETA’s request is based on allegations of Riddle’s employees’ widespread abuse and neglect of elephants reported to PETA by a person who recently completed an internship at the facility.

According to the intern, Scott Riddle beat a baby elephant about the head with a steel-tipped bullhook and placed two adult bulls in the same small pen, resulting in the severe goring of one elephant’s earflap. Other alleged abuses include chaining elephants for up to 15 hours a day, denying them sufficient access to water in stifling heat, and allowing them to suffer from untreated and potentially deadly foot and jaw abscesses. The intern also reported seeing a cabinet full of electric prods, which Riddle’s staff termed "necessary" to use on elephants.

PETA points out that no legitimate elephant sanctuary would employ circus-style training devices like bullhooks and electric prods or encourage breeding—which Riddle’s also does—at a time when so many captive elephants are already living in atrocious conditions in circuses and zoos. Riddle’s also endangers both the elephants and the public by charging money for close encounters with the dangerous animals.

"Bullhooks, shackles, and electric prods are tools of torture and are strictly prohibited at legitimate elephant sanctuaries," says PETA Director Debbie Leahy. "Riddle’s has created a living hell for these elephants, and the USDA needs to fully investigate Riddle’s to ensure that these elephants receive the minimal protections afforded by federal law."

For more information about the controversy swirling around keeping elephants in captivity, please visit PETA’s Web site SaveWildElephants.com. The intern who blew the whistle on Riddle’s is available for interviews.

PETA’s letter to USDA Deputy Administrator Chester Gipson follows.

August 5, 2004

Chester Gipson, Deputy Administrator
U.S. Department of Agriculture
4700 River Rd., Unit 84
Riverdale, MD 20737-1232

1 page via fax: 301-734-4978

Dear Mr. Gipson:

We have received disturbing information from an individual who recently participated in an internship at Riddle’s Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary (license #71-C-0050) in Greenbrier, Ark., from July 1 through July 21, 2004. Please consider this a formal request for the USDA to investigate this facility for elephant abuse and neglect.

The individual alleged that she observed the following:

* Scott Riddle beat a 2-year-old elephant around her head with a bullhook, and the elephant exhibited signs of illness and severe stress.

* Scott Riddle placed two bull elephants—one with tusks, one without tusks—in a small pen. The elephant without tusks was gored in his right earflap, which will likely lead to partial loss of the injured earflap.

* Several of the elephants may not be receiving adequate veterinary care and treatment for foot abscesses and, in one case, a jaw abscess.

* Elephants did not appear to have sufficient access to drinking water in the 99°F weather and exhibited signs of thirst.

* Elephants are chained for 15 hours overnight, a practice that contributes to life-threatening foot and joint problems.

* The staff was not sufficiently knowledgeable and experienced to care for the elephants.

* The facility possessed hot shots, which were described as "necessary" to punish and control elephants.

* Elephants were fed a bland diet of primarily hay and bread rather than a more nutritious diet of fresh browse and vegetables.

Based on these troubling observations, PETA requests that the USDA immediately launch an investigation into possible violations of the Animal Welfare Act at Riddle’s Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary. Please let me know of the USDA’s actions in this matter. You may reach me at 757-622-7382.

Sincerely,

Nicole Meyer, Elephant Specialist
Captive Animals & Entertainment Issues Department