Bob Barker Demands Sanctuary for Elderly Zoo Elephant
The News
Price is Right host and animal rights activist Bob Barker sent a high profile letter to the Oregon Zoo demanding that they send Packy to a sanctuary. Packy is an elderly elephant with tuberculosis who has spent his entire life at the zoo. “After 52 years of service, Packy deserves to be sent to a place where he can enjoy his final years in peace and serenity,” said Bob Barker. During Packy’s recent birthday “celebration,” the animal rights group Free Oregon Zoo Elephants, which campaigned to get Packy elected to the City Council via write-in ballots, staged a protest in front of the zoo.
Elephants want freedom, not cake. Photo: Michael Durham
News & Opinion
If social media is any indication, the world is waking up to the plight of captive elephants — intelligent and socially sophisticated animals who are deprived of virtually everything that comes naturally to them in zoos and in circuses, where they are also beaten into submission with bull hooks, confined for up to 100 hours at a time in box cars and forced to perform tricks in exchange for nourishment. Please support Free Oregon Zoo Elephants in their effort to send Packy to a sanctuary.
Dear Ms. Smith:
In 2008, your predecessor, Tony Vecchio, along with Oregon Zoo spokespeople and Metro officials, campaigned for the $125 million Oregon Zoo Bond Measure. When voters learned the measure contained money for an off-site elephant “reserve”, “pre- serve”“sanctuary”, where Oregon Zoo elephants would freely roam, almost 60% voted in favor .
The original intention of the 2008 measure was to provide more humane conditions for the eight Oregon Zoo elephants. However, your “Master Plan”, violates both the spirit and intent of the measure by:
Promoting the new “Elephant Lands” exhibit as adequate to restore the health and well- being of the eight Oregon Zoo elephants thereby excusing the zoo from honoring its promises for an off-site reserve.
Calling for the establishment of an aggressive breeding program with the goal of bringing scores of baby elephants into lifetimes of captivity.
Changing what was promoted as an elephant “reserve” into a “Remote Elephant Center” to support the misguided elephant breeding program.
Refusing to allow the elderly, ailing Packy to spend his dwindling years in peace and freedom at P.A.W.S. Ark 2000 elephant sanctuary.
I am writing to request the Oregon Zoo to immediately begin work on the off-site elephant reserve, abandon plans for an elephant breeding program and transfer Packy to the comfort and safety of P.A.W.S Ark 2000.
Thank you. Sincerely,
FREE PACKY HE MADE ENOUGH MONEY FOR YOU! THE WORLD IS WATCHING! SHAME ON ALL OF YOU!