[Greens-Media] Peter Garrett should investigate breach of Taronga elephant import conditions

[Susie Gemmell]

Media Release 
14 February 2008
 
Peter Garrett should investigate breach of Taronga elephant import
conditions
 
Greens MP spokesperson Lee Rhiannon is calling on the Federal Minister
for Environment to commence investigations into whether Taronga Zoo has
breached conditions placed on its elephant import licence by the
Administrative Appeals Tribunal. The conditions require that the zoo
comply with guidelines for captive elephants that specify elephants
‘must be at least 9 years old (12 years is ideal)’.
 
“In 2006 the Commonwealth Administrative Appeals Tribunal made it a
condition of importing the Taronga elephants that the zoo comply at all
times with the Guidelines for Management of Elephants in Australasian
(ARAZPA) Zoos,” Ms Rhiannon said.
 
“A breach of the conditions may constitute a criminal offence, with
Taronga Zoo liable to a maximum penalty of $33,000.
 
“The Greens are calling on the Minister for the Environment Mr Peter
Garrett to immediately refer the matter to the Commonwealth DPP for
investigation, to make sure that in future the zoo follows world’s
best practice in captive breeding and abides by guidelines set down to
achieve this.
 
“While a pregnant elephant at Taronga Zoo is a good news story, the
Greens and animal welfare experts like the RSPCA are concerned for the
welfare of this small adolescent elephant whose pregnancy has just
begun.
 
“ARAZPA’s Captive Management Plan for Asian Elephants makes it
clear that zoos need to ensure that ‘female elephants involved in
breeding are sufficiently mature’. 
 
“Taronga Zoo’s own promotional book describes how in the wild an
adolescent elephant like Gung would have been separated from the
immature females by the older matriarchal leaders of the herd.
 
“At Taronga Zoo there is no elephant social support structure like
there is in the wild.  The zoo therefore carries the responsibility to
keep the young bull elephant away from immature females, but has failed
to do this.
 
“This pregnancy could put the young mother elephant at risk. Zoo CEO
Mr Guy Cooper himself warns that the pregnancy may not be successful. 
 
 “This potential breach of import conditions is one of a string of
problematic incidents at Taronga Zoo involving endangered animals, with
animal welfare appearing to run second to commercial interests. 
 
“In 2007 a pregnant rhino died at Taronga Zoo and a middle aged
elephant died at Western Plains Zoo,” Ms Rhiannon said.
 
For more information – Lee Rhiannon: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568
 

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Susie Gemmell
Adviser, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon (p/t Mon-Wed)
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Mobile: 0431 458 102
Email susie.gemmell at parliament.nsw.gov.au
Web www.leerhiannon.org.au