Wild Adventures named on worst zoo list for elephants

VALDOSTA — Wild Adventures Theme Park is included in an animal advocacy group’s list of worst zoos for elephants.

But park officials said the elephant receives proper care.

The Valdosta theme park rated a “dishonorable mention” on In Defense of Animals’ list of 10 Worst Zoos for Elephants in North America of 2018.

The main reason for the animal protection agency putting Wild Adventures on the undesirable list is because the park’s Asian elephant, Shirley, 75, is alone.

Elephants are social animals, particularly with other elephants, said Laura Bridgeman, In Defense of Animals acting elephant campaign director.

“Oftentimes what puts a zoo on the list is when they keep elephants in solitary confinement,” Bridgeman said. “Shirley has been kept alone in an exhibit for some time now.”

Shirley has been with Wild Adventures since 1998 and is considered the oldest living elephant on record.

Adam Floyd, Wild Adventures public relations manager, said Shirley’s old age doesn’t just happen without being cared for properly.

“Wild Adventures is her home,” Floyd said. “The fact that she has been here for so long, and that she has thrived for the past 25 years and she is the oldest living Asian elephant on record, definitely speaks to the incredible quality of care that she receives here at Wild Adventures.”

Some of that care includes an innovative habitat that allows her to lay down or sleep without completely going to the ground, daily foot care and massages and all the biscuits she could want.

The issue of Shirley being alone has been brought to Wild Adventures’ attention before, Floyd said. However, Shirley did not move to Wild Adventures alone.

Since the 1940s when Shirley came to the United States, she was accompanied by two elephants who also came with her to live at the theme park in 1998.

Those elephants have since passed away, Floyd said. Because of Shirley’s age, he said the staff doesn’t think introducing her to a new elephant would be a good idea.

“When the other two elephants passed away from old age, we understood that introducing a new elephant to Shirley would cause an undue amount of stress for her and would not be in her best interest at her age,” Floyd said.

He said she gets plenty of social interaction from zookeepers, guests and animal neighbors.

However, Bridgeman said the right thing to do would be to let Shirley retire in an elephant sanctuary, such as the ones the animal organization has located in Africa, India and Mississippi.

“This is just so she can have an opportunity to live the rest of her life with companionship, and so she has a lot more space to roam,” Bridgeman said.

“It’s a better life for her than having her on display for people. In Defense of Animals hopes that Wild Adventures can do the right thing.”

The 10 Worst Zoos of 2018 included the Bronx Zoo in New York, Natural Bridge Zoo in Virginia, Dallas Zoo in Texas, Louisville Zoo in Kentucky, Roger Williams Park Zoo in Rhode Island, Birmingham Zoo in Alabama, Caldwell Foundation Zoo in Texas, Topeka Zoo in Kansas, Seneca Park Zoo in New York and Milwaukee County Zoo in Wisconsin.

The Oregon Zoo in Portland, Ore., was listed separately on the list as a “Hall of Shame” zoo.

Headquartered in California, In Defense of Animals has worked for 30 years to protect animals, people and the environment through a number of methods. This 15-year-old list is just one of the ways the organization has kept tabs on elephant treatment specifically.

Aside from Shirley, Wild Adventures has habitats for a number of animals from across the globe. Located at 3766 Old Clyattville Road, the theme park is closed to the public for the season until March 9.

Katelyn Umholtz is a reporter with the Valdosta Daily Times. She can be contacted at (229)244-3400 ext. 1256.

Please credit and share this article with others using this link:
https://www.valdostadailytimes.com/news/local_news/wild-adventures-named-on-worst-zoo-list-for-elephants/article_3e3f68e0-3c2d-5936-91ca-a935ef41e367.html