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Bronx Zoo Weighs Transfer of 57-Year-Old Elephant to Tennessee Sanctuary
The Bronx Zoo is evaluating whether to move its remaining Asian elephant to a Tennessee facility. The decision follows the death of the zoo's other elephant earlier this year.
Jul 7, 1:38 AM·1m read1 source
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The Bronx Zoo is considering transferring its last Asian elephant to a sanctuary in Tennessee. Officials with the Wildlife Conservation Society, which operates the zoo, visited the 3,000-acre Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald to review its facilities and meet staff. The sanctuary currently houses 12 elephants.
Background on the Elephants The 57-year-old elephant, named Patty, remains at the Bronx Zoo months after the death of the facility's other elephant. That animal, a 55-year-old named Happy, was euthanized in May following a rapid decline in kidney and liver function.
Happy had been the subject of a 2018 lawsuit by the Nonhuman Rights Project seeking to have the elephant declared a legal person. New York's highest court rejected the case.
A zoo director stated that staff want to determine whether the move would be appropriate and whether potential benefits would exceed risks. Transporting the elephant across state lines and introducing her to new animals present concerns under review.
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums generally requires facilities to maintain at least three female elephants, though zoos with fewer may request a variance. Several other zoos have closed their elephant exhibits in recent years. The Nonhuman Rights Project has called for the transfer.
Zoo officials said they are not considering external opinions in their assessment.
