Baby Elephant Sick, Likely Because of Zoo’s Desire to Exhibit a Crowd-Pleaser

For Immediate Release:
August 23, 2017

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Below, please find a statement from PETA Foundation Associate Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Rachel Mathews in response to news that the baby elephant at the Pittsburgh Zoo is in critical condition:

This elephant calf is sick and suffering, likely because human interests were allowed to trump those of the elephant and her mother. Breaking the bond between an elephant calf and the mother she depends on to nourish and nurture her can be life-threatening, but baby elephants boost zoos’ ticket sales, and sure enough, this baby was separated from her mother and put on display before the Pittsburgh Zoo even bothered to give her a name. As the zoo scrambles to save a baby who has lost 15 pounds since her birth, PETA is renewing its call for the facility to end its breeding program before more elephants face the fate of this nameless calf and her mother.

PETA’s motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment,” and more information about the Pittsburgh Zoo is available on PETA’s blog.