Free Bamboo

Woodland Park Zoo's largest fundraiser of the year takes place July 14, and the Northwest Animal Rights Network is holding a large rally from 4:30 to 6:30, telling the zoo and its donors that Bamboo, a 39-year-old asian elephant, should be sent to The Elephant Sanctuary (TES) in Tennessee.

Help us free Bamboo from the confines of the zoo system, where she has endured tiny yards, periods of abuse and all-night chaining, and a very stressful failed transfer to another inadequate zoo in Tacoma. TES has agreed to transport and care for her, at its own expense, for the remainder of Bamboo's life, while WPZ refuses to commit to her long-term care.

Enjoy a couple of hours with like-minded people and snack on Mighty-O doughnuts while joining the large-scale push to have Bamboo sent to wide open spaces in Tennessee! Several media outlets have expressed great interest in this momentous event, so we need all of you there!.

Please express your concerns about Bamboo to:

Deborah Jensen: deborah.jensen@zoo.org, (206)684-4880.

Mayor Greg Nichols: web comment form, (206)684-4000.

David Della: david.della@seattle.gov, (206)684-8806.

Bamboo's Story
Bamboo came to Seattle from Thailand as a frightened one-year-old baby Asian elephant in 1968. She grew into a gentle adult, docile enough to be walked on zoo grounds and touched by zoo visitors. In the late 80's, Bamboo became aggressive toward handlers, during a period of intense physical punishment and all-night chaining. After the birth of a baby elephant in 2001, Bamboo was put into indoor solitary confinement for weeks and began pacing in constant counter-clockwise circles and shaking her head neurotically. She was not trusted with the baby for the first few years after her birth.



Posted by: Kelly    Source