Montgomery, AL – The death of a 23-year-old African elephant and her 1-month-old calf at the Montgomery Zoo has prompted an animal protection group to renew its call for an end to elephant breeding in zoos.
But advocates of zoos in America contend there is no reliable evidence that elephants fare better in the wild, where their numbers are falling.
An official with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums says the Montgomery Zoo is accredited and the association has found no problem with its conditions and care of elephants.
Zoo officials said the African elephant, Mary, died on Aug. 12, just two days after giving birth. The calf, weighing 200-plus pounds, was bottle-fed and cared for by zoo staff, but it died about a month later, on Sept. 14.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)