Posted: Monday, 09 November 2009 5:42AM
San Antonio Zoo Seeks Elephant
An animal rights organization has complained to the U.S. Department of Agriculture about the San Antonio Zoo -- and an elephant.
The matter concerns the zoo's treatment of its only elephant, named ``Lucky.''
Catherine Doyle with the group In Defense of Animals says the zoo should send Lucky to a sanctuary.
Critics says Lucky is suffering from a lack of companionship, her enclosure is too small and its surface is too flat and hard, resulting in arthritis in her feet and legs.
The 49-year-old Asian elephant has lived at the zoo for 47 years. Her previous companion, a female African elephant named Alport, died two years ago.
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums has renewed a variance that grants the zoo until March to find Lucky a companion.
Zoo executive director Steve McCusker says they're very close to getting that accomplished.
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Information from San Antonio Express-News: www.mysa.com
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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