Despite History of Attacks While Allowing 'Free Contact,' Zoo Refused to Implement Safer System Used by Most U.S. Facilities
For Immediate Release:
March 14, 2011
Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382
Knoxville, Tenn. — In the wake of the January 14 death of Knoxville Zoo elephant handler Stephanie James, who was attacked by an elephant named Edie, PETA has sent a letter to John Winkler, administrator of the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development's Division of Occupational Safety and Health (TOSHA), urging him to penalize the zoo for its role in James' death. PETA is asking TOSHA to cite the zoo for repeatedly allowing James and others to come into direct contact with elephants despite the known dangers of such "free contact." At least two other handlers at the Knoxville Zoo were injured in a previous elephant attack.
Last year, an elephant handler at the Toledo Zoo—which is also among the minority of U.S. zoos that refuse to use the safer and more humane elephant-management technique known as "protected contact"—was hospitalized with critical injuries following an elephant attack. The TOSHA Act requires that "[e]ach employer shall furnish to each of its employees conditions of employment and a place of employment free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious injury or harm to its employees."
"Employers must not be allowed to flaunt the law to the point that employees die as a result," says PETA Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Delcianna Winders. "Elephants who are deprived of everything that's natural and important to them and who are constantly dominated and disciplined under free contact become ticking time bombs."
PETA is asking TOSHA to order the zoo to permanently switch to protected contact, a system in which physical barriers always separate elephants and handlers. Protected contact co-creator Gail Laule explains, "Protected contact has two equally important fundamental objectives—keeper safety and animal welfare. … Physical punishment is prohibited."
For more information, please visit PETA.org.