Write a letter to the editor about what amusement park life is really like for animals

from IDA

On Monday, April 21 the San Jose Mercury News and the Vallejo Times Herald published an article about Six Flags Discovery Kingdom called "Senior moments: Three animals show good care leads to long life" which unquestioningly panders to the Vallejo, California amusement park's claims that the animals there are well treated. Yet in reality, nothing could be further from the truth.

The article mentions that IDA "has accused the park of mistreating its animals - elephants especially - and providing them with poor veterinary care," but then conveniently ignores our documentation of the poor state of their lives at Six Flags.

Citing medical records and eyewitness testimony, IDA has provided incontrovertible evidence that handlers subject elephants to abusive treatment with bullhooks, and that the pachyderms are ailing as a direct result of the inadequate, stressful and barren conditions at the park. In addition, dozens of animals have died -- including both of the park's orcas (killer whales), five elephants (plus two full-term calves), and several dolphins -- in the decade since Six Flags took over management (and complete ownership as of August 31, 2007) of the amusement park.

Yet the writer of this article mentions none of these important facts, choosing instead to paint a rosy but inaccurate picture of the life of captive animals at Six Flags. These glaring omissions make this story read more like an advertisement for the amusement park than a piece of credible journalism. If we are to improve the care of animals in captivity, we must demand that the media be held to higher standards of reporting.

What you can do:

Write a letter to the editor explaining that the example of three animals who have survived longer than average does not mean that the animals at Six Flags are well-cared for. Animals at this amusement park are still forced to perform, and live in cramped conditions that cause them immense suffering.

San Jose Mercury News
letters@mercurynews.com
125 words or less--Include name, address, daytime phone

Vallejo Times Herald
opinion@timesheraldonline.com
250 words or less--Include name, address, daytime phone

(Street addresses and phone numbers are not published.)

Learn more about conditions for animals at Six Flags.
http://helpelephants.com/six_flags.html