Woodland Park Zoo Abused Dead Baby Elephant Hansa

Ask yourself one simple question next time someone suggests visiting Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo: “Do I want to give my money to people who would beat a baby elephant with a metal hook (known as an ankus) like the ones pictured here?”

The zoo has spent time and money on a public relations campaign lamenting the death of this poor baby, calling her “beloved” and “little princess.” But according to former zoo director David Hancocks the baby was treated more like a slave.

Woodland Park Zoo has been in trouble for abusing their elephants in the past. When Hansa’s mother, Chai, was sent to Sprinfield, MO’s Dickerson Park zoo to mate, she received, “a beating with ax handles allegedly lasting for an hour, and so severe that the USDA declared it abusive and fined the zoo for it.”

Elephants in the wild are never disciplined by their families. But in zoos, they are often beaten with ankuses, chained for hours on end, and constrained significantly in the name of “discipline.” In addition, birthing mothers are typically chained with their legs apart and separated from their companions, who in the wild would provide support and encouragement during labor.

Zoos usually breed baby elephants because they draw huge crowds. Woodland Park plans to immediately breed a replacement for Hansa in the name of “conservation,” even though baby elephants seldom survive in zoos.

I will never, ever visit the Woodland Park Zoo again and I would encourage all my readers to boycott them as well. We must never reward animal abuse with our hard-earned money.