Mona's death creates elephant cruelty awareness

Animal rights campaigner, Victoria Nichols, has reported sad news in her efforts to release Alabama zoo captive elephant, Mona. She is positive however that Mona's death has created awareness of the cruelty experienced by captive elephants held in American zoos. She reports,

"The 'Retire Birmingham Zoo's Mona to a Sanctuary' Petition was an important tool in raising awareness of the cruelty experienced by captive elephants held in American zoos. Mona spent more than fifty years entertaining the Birmingham public. And, in the end, she was not allowed her well deserved retirement to a sanctuary. Our beloved Mona is gone, her life taken by the Birmingham zoo. She is, finally, at peace. No more pain from standing on concrete and hard-packed dirt, no more solitary confinement for this highly social creature, no more maddening boredom for her highly intelligent mind, no more processed food instead of live vegetation, and no more doing tricks for the public."

" But, she will NEVER be forgotten. She will forever serve as a reminder, that the Birmingham zoo does NOT have: the appropriate amount of space for even a single elephant, or an enclosure that can meet the physical needs of an elephant. Her sad captivity shows the zoo's failure to recognize the science that mandates the needs of captive elephants. Mr. Foster's refusal to accept The Elephant Sanctuary's open invitation for Mona, reflects the zoo's lack of compassion, putting their gate receipts before the wellfare of captive animals."

" Alabama Wildlife Advocates' efforts will certainly not end here. In honor of Mona, we will continue our efforts to improve the lives of captive wildlife in Alabama. Our heartfelt 'thank you' to each person that signed this petition, and shared the link with others. There is much work for animals still to be done. And, we will do it with Mona as our guardian angel."

Source: Victoria Nichols, Founding Director Alabama Wildlife Advocates