June 18, 2010– The International Day of Action for Elephants in Zoos (IDAEZ) takes place this Saturday (June 19, 2010), with more than 30 events in five countries. You can help the elephants, even if you don’t live near a zoo, in two ways:

1. Send a message to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that they must put animal welfare over zoos’ interests. Sign the letter here.
2. Participate in the Virtual Demonstrations on Facebook and Twitter. Details here.

As I wrote last week, the plight of elephants in zoos around the world is tied to the plight of elephants in the wild in two ways. First, if wild elephants are threatened by poachers, environmental devastation, and human encroachment, then many zoos feel that the only hope for conservation is to remove elephants from their natural habitat and imprison them in small enclosures.

Secondly, elephants in zoos die (sometimes decades) earlier than if left in the wild. Part of this is due to infections and diseases they contract in their small enclosures; the other reason is elephants are too intelligent and emotional to be caged or fenced for life, which can lead to depression or violent behavior. Nevertheless, to keep the zoo populations high for “conservation” and “education” reasons, they need to have a steady supply of elephants from the wild, thus fueling the poachers or governments to capture the endangered wild elephants they are trying to conserve.

It’s a depressing cycle, but we can make a difference by:

• Educating our friends and families not to attend zoos or circuses that involve elephants
• Demanding that our local zoos ban importing any wild elephants to their zoos
• Demanding that elephants in zoos and circuses be allowed to “retire” to sanctuaries, like The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee or PAWS, the Performing Animal Welfare Society, in California, instead of being passed around and mistreated.

In Defense of Animals (IDA) needs our help to make this year’s Day of Action an even greater success. For more information please visit their web site.

The Facebook event can be found at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=102256893153605&ref=mf

We’ll see you (virtually) tomorrow!

-Windy Borman

Director/Producer, “The Eyes of Thailand“

The International Day of Action for Elephants in Zoos (IDAEZ) on June 19, 2010 is a global event aimed at bringing attention to the plight of elephants in zoos and ending their suffering. Last year, committed activists in 33 cities in 7 countries held outreach events and demonstrations, drawing media attention and educating the public about the tragic effects of keeping elephants in small, unnatural zoo pens where they are suffering and dying prematurely.

The plight of elephants in zoos around the world are tied to the plight of elephants in the wild in two ways. First, if wild elephants are threatened by poachers, environmental devastation, and human encroachment, then many zoos feel that the only hope for conservation is to remove elephants from their natural habitat and imprison them in small enclosures.

Secondly, elephants in zoos die (sometimes decades) earlier than if left in the wild. Part of this is due to infections and diseases they contract in their small enclosures; the other reason is elephants are too intelligent and emotional to be caged or fenced for their life, which can lead to depression or violent behavior. Nevertheless, to keep the zoo populations high for “conservation” and “education” reasons, they need to have a steady supply of elephants from the wild, thus fueling the poachers or governments to capture the endangered wild elephants they are trying to conserve.

It’s a depressing cycle, but we can make a difference by:

1. Educating our friends and families not to attend zoos or circuses that involve elephants
2. Demanding that our local zoos ban importing any wild elephants to their zoos
3. Demanding that elephants in zoos and circuses be allowed to “retire” to sanctuaries, like The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee or PAWS, the Performing Animal Welfare Society, in California, instead of being passed around and mistreated.

The U.S. and Canada are not alone. Currently, two wild caught eighteen-month-old baby elephants are scheduled to be sent from Zimbabwe to North Korea, as part of a sale that includes a variety of wildlife, including pairs of giraffe, zebra, antelope, hyenas, monkeys and birds. News sources are also reporting that as many as five other countries, including Japan and Mozambique, are requesting similar purchases of wild animals from Zimbabwe.

In Defense of Animals (IDA) needs our help to make this year’s Day of Action an even greater success. For more information please see: //www.helpelephants.com/idaez.html.

The Facebook event can be found at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=102256893153605&ref=mf

-Windy Borman

Director/Producer, “The Eyes of Thailand“

On March 27, 2010, I attended the Performing Animals Welfare Society (PAWS) Summit for Elephants. It was wonderful to be in a room full of elephant advocates and brainstorm about how to protect Asian and African elephants in captivity and the wild.  Those in attendance included:

• Sharon Niel, Conservationist and Author
• Don Tayloe, Director of The Last Elephants in Thailand documentary
• Patricia McEachern, Ph.D., Director of Drury University Forum on Animal Rights
• Julie Woodyer, Director of Zoocheck Canada
• Tim Phillips and Jan Creamer, Animal Defenders International
• Chris Draper, Born Free
• Catherine Doyle, Director of In Defense of Animals (IDA) Elephant Campaign
• and, of course, Pat Derby and Ed Stewart, PAWS founders.

I drove from San Francisco to PAWS in San Andreas particularly to hear Don Tayloe speak about Thai Elephants, the subject of The Eyes of Thailand documentary.  Mr. Tayloe attempted to summarize the problems facing Thailand’s Elephants–a huge, complex issue–in an hour-long presentation and he managed to cover a lot of ground.  First, he spoke out against “elephant painting“, which caused a bit of a ruckus among some zoo representatives who allow their elephants to paint abstractly but claim they have not taught or trained them to create the paintings made popular by the internet. Next, he explained the loophole in Thailand’s Draft Animal Act of 1939 that classifies domesticated/captive Asian Elephants as “livestock” not “endangered species”, even if they were captured from the wild, so international rulings by CITES, et al do not apply to Thailand’s captive elephants.  Finally, he discussed the exportation of Thai elephants to zoos or other captive environments in China, Japan and Australia, which Soraida Salwala, founder of the Friends of the Asian Elephant (FAE) Elephant Hospital and featured in The Eyes of Thailand, protests.  While there is no proof that the U.S. has not imported any elephants from Thailand, Tayloe quoted a well-known belief among zoo directors that “If you want to increase your zoo attendance, get yourself a baby elephant”, a sad, but true fact for everyone at the Elephant Summit.

Don Tayloe with Motala (before she received her prosthesis) at FAE's Elephant Hospital

The afternoon wrapped with an open forum about how to move forward led by Patricia McEachern, Ph.D., Director of Drury University Forum on Animal Rights. This conversation was very exciting not only because Dr. McEachern is creating the country’s first Animal Rights minor at a U.S. University, but also because of her vision for redefining the language we use to discuss animals by incorporating experts in philosophy, criminology, psychology, biology, religion and literature in the first Animal Ethics class. What excited me the most about what Dr. McEachern is doing is that she’s educating the next generation of global citizens about issues that will only become more important as conflict for resources grows.  I also think video and social media need to be added to the mix, so I spoke with her after and suggested she add a survey of animals in film and/or an advocacy filmmaking class to her curriculum, so we’ll see what happens there…

My biggest take-away from the summit is that only by finding common ground and a common message will we as elephant advocates be able to make any headway.  If we continue the in-fighting about “good zoo” vs. “bad zoo”,  “conservation” vs. “captivity”, elephants in the U.S. vs. Africa vs. Asian, we’ll continue to be written off as “crazy animal rights people”.  Instead, if the message is “We all love elephants, but what is it that we think is important for their well being?” then we have a starting point for a conversation with people on the other side.

For more information about The Eyes of Thailand, please visit our web site and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

You can make a tax-deductible donation to The Eyes of Thailand to help us edit and distribute the film by clicking “Donate Now” on our web site.  It will take you to the secure online donation page for our fiscal sponsor, the San Francisco Film Society. Thank you for your support!

Sincerely,

Windy Borman

Director & Producer, The Eyes of Thailand

In Defense of Animals (IDA) announced that India has banned elephants from zoos and circuses, citing the abusive treatment and confinement:

San Rafael, Calif. (November 12, 2009)–In Defense of Animals (IDA) today hailed the recent ruling by India’s Central Zoo Authority (CZA) to completely ban the keeping of elephants in zoos, circuses and private collections throughout the country and ordering of the release of 140 such elephants, who will be “rehabilitated” to live in semi-free ranging conditions in forest camps and facilities near national parks, and other protected wildlife reserves.

IDA adds:

If a country such as India, which has thousands of years’ experience managing elephants in captivity, can make such a forward-thinking decision, then certainly the United States can take a stand against circuses that exploit elephants and sub-optimal zoo exhibits that cause elephants to suffer and die prematurely…

Please visit IDA’s Elephant Task Force webpage to read more.

Sincerely,

Windy Borman

Producer, Writer and Director, The Eyes of Thailand

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Below is the press release from Catherine Doyle, the elephant Campaign Director at In Defense of Animals:

Feds Slap Los Angeles Zoo with Fine in Death of Elephant
http://www.savezooelephants.com/news_releases_10.html

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 20, 2009

USDA cites failure to provide veterinary care

Los Angeles, Calif.–The U.S. Department of Agriculture has hit the Los Angeles Zoo with a stipulated penalty of $3,281 for failure to provide veterinary care in the 2006 death of the elephant Gita, according to information just provided to In Defense of Animals (IDA) by the USDA.

“It’s outrageous that the USDA took so long to come to this pathetic conclusion, especially when the L.A. Zoo’s negligence caused Gita to suffer a slow and agonizing death,” said Catherine Doyle, IDA campaign director. “The paltry fine is nothing more than a slap on the wrist for the L.A. Zoo. It’s a sad reflection on how little value is placed on the life of an endangered species like the Asian elephant.”

Gita’s death on June 10, 2006, made headlines after IDA exposed the zoo’s

photo from LA Unleashed

failure to provide veterinary care to her after she collapsed and was unable to rise. Despite being observed down on the ground overnight, zoo personnel took no action to help the elephant, who died soon after keepers discovered the ailing elephant in the morning. It was estimated that Gita lay suffering for as long as 17 hours.

For decades Gita suffered from painful chronic foot disease and arthritis caused by inadequate conditions for elephants at L.A. Zoo. Her necropsy report noted that her severe arthritis or an extremely infected abscess on her back (caused by Gita leaning against her pen to take pressure off her painful front feet and joints) may have triggered a blood clotting disorder that caused her collapse and subsequent heart failure.

Last month, celebrities and animal protection leaders blasted the USDA for its failure to effectively protect captive-held elephants. In separate letters, Bob Barker and Lilly Tomlin, joined by leading animal protection organizations, criticized the USDA’s lack of timely action on a number of egregious cases involving elephants in zoos and circuses, including Gita’s. Read the letter here

“There simply is no excuse for the USDA’s foot dragging, especially in cases like Gita’s, where the facts are undeniably clear,” said Doyle. “Elephants are suffering and dying prematurely in zoos and circuses. It’s time for the USDA to start seriously enforcing the law and protecting these elephants now, rather than waiting until it’s too late.”

Gita is the fourteenth elephant to die at the Los Angeles Zoo. The zoo currently holds one solitary elephant, Billy.

For more information, please visit www.HelpElephants.com

Please read the news articles by the Associated Press and LA Times based on the above press release.

The Animal Rights 2009 National Conference is in LA from July 16-20.  So far, I’ve met some amazing animal activists and supporters and am pleased with the content I’ve seen and heard about elephants.  Two of the projects I’d like to highlight are:

• War on Animals, a documentary by Courtney Scott and Beyond Pictures, which “provides an overview of animal rights throughout history and illustrates the many ways activists are working to alleviate the animals’ suffering, including the refuges and sanctuaries that offer a new lease on life to old or disabled farm, lab, zoo and circus animals.” http://www.beyond-productions.com/

Image from "War on Animals"

• Elephants on the Edge, a short documentary about the illegal elephant trade in Southeast Asian by Tim Gorski, Director and Producer for Rattle the Cage Productions http://www.animalconsultants.org/consultants/gorski_tim.htm

Producer & Director, "Elephants on the Edge"

Tomorrow, I’m looking forward to brunch at Real Food Daily and meeting with Catherine Doyle from In Defense of Animals about her work with elephants involved in Amusement Campaigns (i.e. zoos and circuses).  To learn more about IDA’s Help Elephants campaigns, click here.

Please stay tuned for more updates on the conference!

Best,

Windy Borman

Producer, Writer and Director, The Eyes of Thailand

P.S. If you’re looking for a conference in Asia, consider Asia for Animals Conference 2010 in Singapore.  Who knows, maybe The Eyes of Thailand will be there, too!

Three leading animal protection organizations – Born Free USA, People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PeTA) and In Defense of Animals (IDA) – are joining forces to oppose the pending move of two African elephants, Kallie and Bette, from the Philadelphia Zoo to the Pittsburgh Zoo’s animal holding and breeding facility in Somerset County Pennsylvania. The organizations point to four main animal welfare problems with the transfer:

• Cruel, circus-style elephant training using bullhooks
• Confinement to small pens with no free access to the property’s several hundred acres
• Grave health risks associated with breeding
• Denial of a permanent, stable and natural home

Please visit IDA’s Help Elephants Web site to learn more.

Please join Lily Tomlin and In Defense of Animals for the International Day of Action for Elephants in Zoos (IDAEZ).  This is a global event, with events scheduled in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, so please find one near you: http://www.helpelephants.com/idaez_find_an_event.html

Additionally, you can read a recent Associate Press article about elephants’ confinement at: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hF65mpAnNUvxYrKkfYW7CmROcmXwD98SVL281

Momentum for IDA’s Elephant Task Force and “The Eyes of Thailand” documentary is building.  Thank you for your continued support!

Best,

Windy Borman

Producer, Writer and Director, “The Eyes of Thailand”

Thank you for your tax-deductible contributions!

http://eyesofthailand.com/support.html

Dear Friends,

In researching animal rights organizations for “The Eyes of Thailand”, In Defense of Animals suggested I join their mailing list for the Elephant Task Force.  This turned out to be a very serendipitous decision on many levels and in the short-term it allows me to share that on June 20, 2009 In Defense of Animals will host the International Day of Action for Elephants in Zoos (IDAEZ).  Demonstrations are currently scheduled for California, Oregon, Thailand, Spain, all over the globe!

Please check out the list of groups hosting demonstrations at: http://www.helpelephants.com/idaez_find_an_event.html.

Below is an email from Melissa Gonzalez, Elephant Task Force Coordinator for In Defense of Animals, explaining more details about the June 20th events.  Please read it, sign up or start an event, and spread the word.

Thank you!

-Windy Borman

Producer, Writer, and Director, “The Eyes of Thailand”

Dear Members of the Elephant Task Force:

Thank you so much for your dedication and determination to help elephants in zoos and circuses.  As most, if not all of you are aware, IDA has launched our first-ever International Day of Action for Elephants in Zoos (IDAEZ) and is set to occur on Saturday, June 20.  We are thrilled to have so many events confirmed throughout the US and others countries around the world, yet would like to have greater representation at other zoos where activists have not yet come forward to help.

In addition to requesting more events at zoos with elephants internationally, we are also asking activists located in the US and residing near the list of zoos below, to submit event forms asap.  If someone confirms an event at your local zoo before you do, I will let you know the details and/or perhaps you can work together in a joint effort.  I would be happy to put you in touch with activists in your area working towards our cause.

Houston Zoo
Dickerson Park Zoo
Buttonwood Zoo
Roger Williams Zoo
El Paso Zoo
Indianapolis  Zoo
Little Rock Zoo
Miami Zoo
Pittsburgh Zoo
Reid Park Zoo
Topeka Zoo
Buffalo Zoo
Seneca Park Zoo
Rosamond Gifford Zoo
Baltimore Zoo

If you live near the zoos above, or other zoos with elephants around the world, please help them by filling out and submitting our IDAEZ event registration form:
http://www.helpelephants.com/idaez_event_form.html

The following link contains all the events where we have confirmed events, http://www.helpelephants.com/idaez_find_an_event.html.

If your local zoo with elephants is not on the list, PLEASE, take action to help the elephants.
(Please note the Toronto Zoo in Canada is confirmed yet details are pending and due to be received soon.)

[Note: if you confirm an event on or before Monday, June 15, 2009, In Defense of Animals will be able to ship informational materials, pamphlets, etc.].  These materials will be posted on our IDAEZ homepage in next day or two: http://www.helpelephants.com/idaez.html

Please help make the International Day of Action for Elephants in Zoos an even greater success for elephants by submitting the form today.  We are accepting events up to and including June 19 yet prefer they come in asap.  The greater number of events and participants at zoos with elephants translates into a greater number of people wanting to help them.  Thank you for your time and consideration.  We appreciate all that you have done and continue to do to help the elephants suffering zoos.

If you are involved with Facebook, or are considering it, I would like to invite you to join our Facebook Group, In Defense of Elephants.

———————
Sincerely,

Melissa Gonzalez
Elephant Task Force Coordinator
In Defense of Animals, IDA
3010 Kerner Blvd
San Rafael, CA  94901
E:  Melissa@idausa.org
T:  707.981.7701
F:  707.981.7702
www.HelpElephants.com

According to the North County Times, before the San Diego Zoo used crates, cranes and trucks to move its Asian Elephants from the Wild Animal Park to the Zoo, Suzanne Roy, program manager for the international animal protection organization In Defense of Animals, said the move is another example of the zoo making animal welfare a low priority:

“This move is not about what is best for the elephants,” she said in an e-mail to the North County Times. “If it was, the zoo would give them dozens of acres of natural space at the Wild Animal Park. Instead, it’s about a new attraction to draw crowds to the San Diego Zoo.”

In Defense of Animals, a nonprofit organization based in San Rafael, CA, favors leaving wild elephants in their natural habitats and moving captive pachyderms to preserves large enough for them to roam extensively.

To read more about the article, please visit:

http://www.northcountytimes.com/articles/2009/04/24/news/inland/escondido/zf81ca4c194940849882575a2007da692.txt

Thank you,

Windy Borman

Producer, Writer and Director, “The Eyes of Thailand”