Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in South Carolina have announced their intention to shut down their elephant exhibit and send the two remaining elephants to a new facility.
In a Facebook post on June 19, the zoo stated that they were working with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to find a suitable placement in a new herd for 48-year-old Robin and 37-year-old Belle.
Between December 2016 and May 2017, two elephants died in the facility. 44-year-old Petunia collapsed in her exhibit due to severe arthritis and was euthanized. Later, 37-year-old Penny died of unknown causes.
The zoo acknowledged that the two elephants need more space and should be integrated into a larger social group — something that isn’t possible in the current facility.
“The decision to move Robin and Belle was not easy, but it is the right decision for the animals and Riverbanks,” said John Davis, Director of Animal Care and Welfare at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden.
The news has been warmly received by In Defense of Animals, who included Riverbanks Zoo in its 10 Worst Zoos for Elephants list in 2017.
“We are overjoyed that Riverbanks Zoo and Garden has finally acknowledged that its elephant exhibit isn’t suitable for remaining elephants Belle and Robin,” said Marilyn Kroplick, president of In Defense of Animals. “When two relatively young elephants die within six months of each other, there is clearly a problem. Riverbanks Zoo is making the right decision to close its elephant exhibit, and we urge the Zoo to send Belle and Robin to an accredited sanctuary where they can enjoy peace, privacy and a more natural environment than zoos can provide.”
While the zoo has yet to announce where Robin and Belle will be relocated to, we hope that they are retired to a suitable sanctuary, where they can live out the rest of their lives in peace, as they deserve.
What’s New…
YAY — SUCCESS — This is a NO-BRAINER — Wild Animals have taken miserable abuse long enough — Circus life is NOT for them — RETIRE Elephants from ALL cruel circuses to appropriate, reputable Elephant Sanctuaries IMMEDIATELY.
Hopefully they get sent to a sanctuary and live a happy life.
The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee is accredited by the AZA …. send them there.
Keep sanctuary open for animals in need. I am glad this zoo is closing it elephants’ exhibits forever !
Finally ! Keep these cruel zoos closed.
Ok
Such WONDERFUL news! I comment Riverbanks Zoo in South Carolina for making the right, the ONLY decision for the health and welfare of these elephants. There is a very nice Elephant Sanctuary just outside Nashville Tn. The elephants are not on display, even though the public would love to be able to see them in a much more natural habitat, enjoying peace, enjoying life, the sanctuary puts the welfare of the elephants first, as it should be. This may be an option if a sanctuary hasn’t already been found and it may be much easier on Robin & Belle to be moved from South Carolina to Tennessee unless one closer to South Carolina has been found for them. Robin & Belle will be so very much happier in a sanctuary & can most likely be integrated into a herd readily. Elephants are social animals, gentle giants who are almost always friendly to newcomers. At any rate I am so happy that Riverbanks made the right decision for Robin & Belle. Get them off that dreaded concrete, out of so much heat & out of the small compound they are in. Thank you for deciding to allow Robin & Belle as much freedom as possible, since they cannot be introduced back into the wild. Thank you Riverbanks for allowing them to be so much more comfortable, happier & to live out their days in peace & tranquility & to be joined with a herd, their way of life.
New facility? That sounds like the same thing in just another location. No to that!!!!!!!
These poor elephants should be going to a sanctuary, not another zoo (prison)
Hurrah!! This is the best news I’ve read today! Way to go S. Carolina now let’s hope others will follow suite.
Thanks for doing this.
This is wonderful. Now if only the cruel Bronx Zoo in Bronx, NY would free Happy the elephant to go to an elephant sanctuary. The zoo’s CEO stubbornly refuses, insisting on keeping Happy, who is in solitary confinement and is totally miserable, at the zoo as an attraction, then has the nerve to have a show, “The Zoo” on the Animal Planet network, to brag about their cruelty to this poor elephant.
I think “intention” is the word I would caution for. I will celebrate for the elephants when I know this prison has been closed.
This zoo isn’t cruel. The elephant exhibit is not updated and therefore they are choosing to move the elephants. They have some of the most caring staff and have been slowly updating exhibits to make them larger and more stimulating for the animals. Have you ever been there? Just saying…
Anytime a wild animal is extracted from his/her environment, it is CRUELTY. One doesn‘t have to visit this zoo to see that an animal of this size needs more room to move around than it is given.
VICTORY! — Keep tabs on this Zoo — ensure Robin and Belle land in a reputable Elephant Sanctuary — btw, Good job to all Rescuers who made this happen — thank you to Director John Davis for his wise, smart, compassionate decision to release these two magnificent animals.
Yay fantastic!!
Good. About time too.
Animals have feelings. We need to treat them with respect.
Go fuck yourself you uneducated cunt. Your opinion on animal welfare actually means less than the turd I just dropped you piece of shit. People like you are domestic terrorists that would rather see animals die than ever actually help them
IT IS ABOUT TIME, FOLKS!!!!
IT ONLY GOES TO SHOW ONE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOLKS, TO GET OUT THE WORD ON A CONSISTENT BASIS ABOUT THE CORRECT PATH TO TAKE TO HELP THE VOICELESS!!!!
YAY!!!!
FINALLY!!!! THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE FINAL STEP IN MAKING THE RUGHT DECISION. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. THESE AMAZING CREATIONS BY GOD CAN FINALLY LIVE OUT THEIR LIVES COMFORTABLY.
FINALLY after many souls have suffered
Let’s hope these elephants now live a long, healthy and happy life.
FINALLY UNFORTUNATELY MANY DOULS SUFFERED ON U.S.A. SOIL TILL THIS CLOSURE
One of the first places back before peanuts were found to harmful to elephants, the place where many came to love and admire them was at the zoos and/or a traveling circus that came to town. That is one of main forces behind the movements to help them around the world today. Hope the Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens can be enlarged and improved. Many spices would be gone if were not for zoos and other captive breeding programs.
I think they should allow the elephants to have a party for letting the elephants not show cruel elephant exhibits.
I’m so glad for these 2 elephants. HOPEFULLY they will send them to a SANCTUARY and not to another zoo!
At least Riverbanks Zoo acknowledged they had a problem. I hope they don’t send the two remaining elephants to another zoo, equally bad.