In protected contact, which is already used by more than half of all accredited U.S. zoos, a safety barrier is kept between elephants and keepers at all times. The system also eliminates bullhooks—such as the one used by RedFox on Louie in the video footage—and beatings, which are used to subdue and dominate elephants.
"The Toledo Zoo has everything to gain and nothing to lose by following the lead of progressive zoos that have switched to protected contact," says PETA Director Debbie Leahy. "The elephants would no longer live in fear of bullhooks and the zoo keepers who use them, the keepers wouldn't have to fear life-threatening reprisals by frustrated elephants who are fed up with being mistreated, and PETA would help foot the bill."
PETA first approached Toledo Zoo officials last week about making the switch.
The video of the attack on a keeper at the Toledo Zoo demonstrates that the use of the old-style free-contact system to handle elephants at the zoo is downright dangerous. Dominating and punishing elephants by striking these animals with bullhooks--a device that resembles a fireplace poker--puts keepers at constant risk of injury or death and raises serious animal welfare concerns. PETA's extensive evidence as well as expert statements amply illustrate that the use of bullhooks causes fear and pain and that such suffering is likely to provoke anger and frustration that can lead to serious, even fatal, attacks.
More than half the accredited zoos in the country have eliminated the use of bullhooks and switched to protected contact for elephants. When keepers use protected contact, elephants are trained with rewards, and a safety barrier always separates the elephants from keepers. The Toledo Zoo is apparently already using positive-reinforcement training with its polar bears, great apes, big cats, and other species. It is time that elephants at the Toledo Zoo be afforded the same kindness.
