Free Lucky - the Asian elephant in San Antonio Zoo

They call her "Lucky."
Wild- captured at age 4 - imprisoned in this enclosure since 1962... lucky?

(Lucky has been in this small, barren enclosure for 45 years, and alone since November 2007!)

On November 2, 2007, an African elephant named Alport died of undetermined causes at the San Antonio Zoo, leaving Lucky, an Asian elephant, all alone. Lucky was captured in the wilds of Thailand as a baby (she was only 4!!) and transferred to the San Antonio Zoo in the spring of 1962. She has endured decades of captivity in a cramped, barren zoo enclosure for the entertainment of zoo visitors and now deserves a dignified retirement in an environment that more closely resembles life in the wild.

Elephants are highly social animals who live in matriarchal herds, protect one another, forage for fresh vegetation, play, bathe in rivers, and share mothering responsibilities for the herds' babies. Their ability to feel pain—as well as sorrow, joy, and happiness—rivals our own. In the wild, elephants walk many miles and are active for 18 hours each day. Because of space limitations, zoos—no matter how well intentioned they may be—simply cannot provide for elephants' physical and social needs. Zoos' lack of space creates health problems in elephants, such as arthritis, foot and joint diseases, and psychological distress (as is evidenced by repetitive swaying, head-bobbing, and pacing).

In contrast, The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee can offer Lucky hundreds of acres of natural habitat to roam, ponds to bathe in, fresh vegetation and foraging opportunities, and the company of many other elephants. Not only would Lucky's social needs be addressed, the sanctuary environment has also proved to be therapeutic to ailing elephants.

(source http://savewildelephants.com/san_antonio_zoo.asp)

(The reported cause of death for Alport was an orthopedic tear. Now, Lucky is having foot problems as well.)


WHAT CAN YOU DO

Send a polite message requesting that Lucky be retired!

Ask the zoo director to give Lucky a truly lucky break and make the compassionate decision to immediately transfer her to The Elephant Sanctuary and permanently close San Antonio's elephant exhibit:

Steve McCusker, Director
San Antonio Zoo
3903 N. St. Mary's St.
San Antonio, TX 78212

210-734-7184
210-734-7291 (fax)

mccusker@sazoo-aq.org


Please also contact the mayor of San Antonio and ask him to encourage the zoo to transfer Lucky to The Elephant Sanctuary immediately and permanently close San Antonio's elephant exhibit:

The Honorable Phil Hardberger
Mayor of San Antonio
P.O. Box 839966
San Antonio, TX 78283

210-207-7060
210-207-7107
210-207-4168 (fax)

phardberger@sanantonio.gov



PETITIONS:


- Free Lucky!

- A Dream of Freedom for Lucky


MORE INFO:


- Voice For Animals "Free Lucky"

- The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee (...waiting for Lucky!!!)

- Save Wild Elephants

- ASPCA Groups " A Dream of Freedom for Lucky"

- IDA "10 Worst Zoos for Elephants in 2007"

- Free Lucky @ MySpace


This is where Lucky should go as soon as possible - in the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee!!
You can see from the pictures that this would mean a totally different life for her - don't let her die in a concrete prison like poor Alport did...
Please help Lucky to spend the rest of her life in the Sanctuary!