Saturday 13 June

International Day of Action for Elephants in Zoos (IDAEZ)
First Ever! Hosted by IDA and Animal Connection of Texas
Host: Animal Connection of Texas
Date: Saturday, June 20, 2009
Time: 10:30am - 12:00pm
Location: Dallas Zoo
City/Town: Dallas, TX
Email: animalconnectiontx at yahoo


FIRST-EVER!
International Day of Action for Elephants in Zoos (IDAEZ)

And you're invited to be a part of it! Join us at the Dallas Zoo Saturday, June 20, 2009 from 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. by the giraffe statue.

In Defense of Animals and Animal Connection of TX invite you to take action for elephants by attending our local rally as part of this global event.

THE OBJECTIVE is to bring mammoth attention to the plight of elephants in zoos and their suffering in small insufficient exhibits.

This is why elephants do not belong in zoos:

* African elephants live 3 times longer in the wild than in zoos, per the journal Science VOL 322 DEC 12, 2008
* Elephants are suffering and dying prematurely in zoos and it must stop
* Elephants, the largest land mammal, need to walk miles each day. A less than ¾ acre or even 3-acre exhibit does not allow elephants the room to roam, forage and socialize in order to maintain good health
* Elephants in the wild are active 20 out of 24 hours a day and standing on hard-packed earth causes arthritis, painful and debilitating foot and joint diseases, obesity & heart disease
* Living in a pen the size of a 3-car garage causes boredom and stress. When you see Jenny swaying, she’s bored and stressed
* Elephants are self-aware, intelligent, have feelings & like to make their own decisions. In zoos even the smallest decision is made for an elephant, like who they live with and when and where they eat
* It costs $100,000 a year to maintain one elephant in a zoo

The Zoo has plans to bring in 3 more female elephants and one bull elephant. Dallas has approximately a $100 Million budget deficit and continues to build an exhibit that will not add one day to Jenny’s and Gypsy’s lives, while city services are cut and city workers are losing their jobs. The zoo is facing a $1.5 Million budget cut for 2010.

16 zoos have closed their elephant exhibits or decided to phase them out.

Bring a friend to the rally to show Jenny and Gypsy we support their transfer to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. Help us make this a reality.

IDA (helpelephants.com) and ACT (animalconnectiontx.org) will provide signs and handouts and you are welcome to bring your own. For further information, call Dorothy or Michael at 972-931-9423.