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Aug 13, 2008 4:30 pm US/Central
Mexican Activists Join In Dallas Elephant Debate
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
After the death of Keke the Elephant back in May, the Dallas Zoo has been the center of a controversy over its last surviving elephant.
The average life expectancy of elephants is 34. Jenny is 32 and since her companion died, Jenny needs company.
Officials had originally planned on sending Jenny the Elephant to the "Africam Safari Zoo" in Mexico. There she could have live out the rest of her days with more of her kind.
Last Wednesday, Dallas City Council members decided to adhere to the cries of local elephant activists and overturned the Dallas Zoo's decision. The council told zoo officials they would have to come up with a new plan for Jenny.
Now, two new parties have joined the debate over where to send Jenny. Both sides met before Dallas City Council members Wednesday at Dallas City Hall.
A Mexican animal rights group sent representatives to tell officials they should not send Jenny to Mexico. The group came armed with a YouTube video -- reportedly taken at the Mexican zoo – showing elephants swaying from side to side. Animal activists say that's a sign of anxiety or distress.
"The animal welfare standards in Mexico are 80 years behind," said Monica Pineda, Gente Por La Defensa Animale.
Click here to see the video, which was posted by YouTube member AngelaHuntDallas. Many people have already left their comments on the subject matter in the video.
The Africam Safari Zoo was accredited on its first application by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Officials there say the elephants in the video could have been excited and expecting food.
The AZA executive director flew in from Maryland to defend their accreditation and was also at Wednesday's council meeting.
"The accreditation standards are tough. They are comprehensive. They're actually tougher than the standards of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Animal Welfare Act Regulations," said AZA Executive Director Kris Vehrs. "They're meaningful in that we do deny accreditation."
The organization set aside accreditation for the Dallas Zoo in 2001 until they fixed some issues. A year later they were again an AZA accredited zoo.
YouTube video was also posted of the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee.
Click here to see the various videos.
Dallas City Council Member Angela Hunt has visited both zoos. She said she is skeptical of the AZA. "They do not approve of sending animals outside their trade association," she said. "They're a business group. They want to keep all the animals within their business group. We have to look out for what's best for Jenny."
The Dallas City Council ultimately has the final say on Jenny's future. Area activist have said they wanted Jenny to go to "The Elephant Sanctuary" instead.
Council members didn't give the zoo a time frame on when they should have a new plan in place.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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