News and Alerts » May 2010

Liberating Queenie From
The Clutches Of A Dinosaur

Steve McCusker, the Director of San Antonio Zoo, may be the rarest animal at the zoo, a dinosaur relic of the past, clinging to the old beliefs that animals are ambassadors for their species deserving little more than minimal space, veterinary care and good nutrition. His archaic views are supported by the American Zoo Association which is now consulting on placement of circus animals by the US Department of Agriculture.

McCusker stated in a recent interview "Sanctuaries aren't all green and glorious." To prove him wrong once again, we have dedicated a video (see below) of Wanda, our Asian elephant who came from Detroit Zoo (with the loyal support and love of the zoo director and his staff),  to McCusker who tried every unethical tactic to prevent her transfer to ARK 2000 five years ago.

Video: Wanda and Gypsy climb the "green
and glorious" hills of ARK 2000. Click here.

We hope all of Queenie's loyal supporters will keep writing, calling, faxing and sending emails on her behalf to send her to this sanctuary which feels very "green and glorious" to Wanda and the rest of her elephant companions at ARK 2000.

Please send polite requests to Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture and to the chairs of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry: Senator Blanche L. Lincoln and Senator Saxby Chambliss, asking them to reverse the decision that sentenced Queenie to San Antonio (See contact information below.).

Also request a review of USDA's decisions and policies regarding placement of elephants from owners who have reached consent decisions to surrender their animals. Criteria must be developed to protect elephants like Queenie. Remind them that they are enforcing the Animal Welfare Act, not the circus and zoo entertainment industry trade association standards.

McCusker has stated that he has no plan to enlarge San Antonio Zoo's pitiful Asian elephant yard (see video below), adding that he has housed up to five elephants there in the past. His disingenuous statements reflect no concern for the welfare of the animals in his care, and AZA supports the outdated philosophy of this zoo director. Drastic changes should be made to AZA's inadequate standards as well.

Video: San Antonio Zoo, Asian elephant yard. Click here.

AZA's glowing praise of San Antonio Zoo and McCusker, which can be reviewed on the zoo's Web page, contains some of the most illogical and unscientific prattle about Species Survival Plans and the "advancement of the health, welfare and conservation of elephants."

Scientists who have researched the behavior and social structure of wild elephants generally agree that captive breeding is not conservation, and the ghoulish promotion of artificial insemination of elephants to "save the species" is antithetical to both health and welfare.

Videos: According to the AZA, the elephants you'll see in these two videos are living in facilities they claim provide the highest standards in elephant care. Click here and click here.

Mail your correspondence to:

U.S. Senate Committee On Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry
Attn: Chairman Blanche Lincoln
328A Senate Russell Office Bldg.
Washington, D. C. 20510

We urge Queenie's loyal fans and supporters to write or call Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack.