Re: babel-digest V10 #216

[MichelRB52]

CITY COUNCIL  CONSIDERS ELEPHANT-PROTECTION LAW
Ordinance Calls for  Acres of Space, Ban on Cruel Disciplinary Devices

Mayor  DOEs   Daley love animals
Chicago b Chicago  City Council Member Mary Ann Smith (Ward 48), chair of
the
City Council Parks  and Recreation Committee, has introduced an
elephant-protection ordinance that  would mandate that any elephant brought
into the city
have more suitable space,  humane living conditions, and safe handling.
Representatives from PETA, In  Defense of Animals (IDA), and Friends of Wankie
have
been working to promote the  ordinance, which was referred to the Parks and
Recreation Committee and will be  discussed at an upcoming hearing before
going
to a full City Council  vote.

Noting that regulatory agencies are not adequately addressing the  needs of
elephants in captivity, Alderman Smith also introduced two resolutions
calling
on the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) and the U.S.  Department
of Agriculture to strengthen their elephant-care standards.

At  least 39 elephants, excluding those 2 years old and younger, died between
 January 2000 and June 2005 at AZA-accredited facilities across the country,
including three elephants at Chicagobs Lincoln Park Zoo. More than half of
those  39 elephants never reached the age of 40, while a natural lifespan for
elephants  can be 70 years.

An elephantbs most basic need is room to walk about  freely, which is
critical for maintaining physical and emotional health. The  ordinance would
require
that each elephant be given at least 5 acres of outdoor  space and another 5
acres of climate-controlled indoor space. Traveling  exhibitors would be
required to comply with the AZAbs outdoor exhibit space  standards. It would
also
ban painful devices commonly used by circuses and some  zoos to discipline
elephants, including steel-tipped bullhooks and electric  prods.

bWe want to make sure that bthe city that worksb works for  elephants
too,b
says PETA Director Debbie Leahy. bThis ordinance would give  Chicago the
strongest elephant-protection law in the country.b

For more  information, please visit PETAbs Web site _SaveWildElephants.com_
(http://www.savewildelephants.com/)   and IDAbs Web site _HelpElephants.com_
(http://www.helpelephants.com/) .

memento vevere, memento  mori