PERFORMING ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY

Rescue. Advocacy. Sanctuary. For Life.

Since 1984

July 2019 | Newsletter

One of the elephants’ favorite activities, especially in the summer, is mudding themselves. Click on the video above to watch African elephant Toka take a mud bath.

How the Animals at PAWS

Beat the Summertime Heat

The summer months are upon us, and, like everyone else, the animals at PAWS are keen to keep cool when the thermometer rises. Fortunately, a natural habitat environment filled with trees and foliage provides cool places to wait out the hottest hours of the day. In addition, our caregivers are there to provide some extra help in beating the heat.

 

Monkeys Zeppo and Chico, at our Galt sanctuary, love to play in water, especially when it’s hot. You can sometimes find the monkeys playing in shallow tubs filled with water, just like excited kids in a bathtub. At other times their caregivers will set up a “shower” consisting of a log with holes cut into it so the water runs out in small streams that the monkeys can play in. The emus – the second-largest living birds by height, after the ostrich – are well-adapted to hot, dry climates. When they prefer some shade, there is a grove of willow trees to rest under at the Amanda Blake Memorial Wildlife Refuge. A large water trough that continually fills with cold, fresh water to drink is always available. 

 

The bears tend to dig shallow depressions in the cool soil beneath the shady trees in their habitats. They can often be found napping there or in their comfortable den boxes. Each bear enclosure contains a pool. Ben is known to be a daily swimmer, while Boo Boo, Winston and Sampson prefer a quick dip in the pool or to refresh themselves under sprinklers that emit a fine mist from above. Mack (below), of course, is known for his love of a hearty splash! Caregivers may also provide icy treats such as small pieces of fruit frozen into ice cubes.

All of the big cats at ARK 2000 have pools available – either in-ground or large tubs. The tigers, in particular, love water. They immerse themselves in their pools or enjoy cool baths provided by a caregiver with a hose. Similar to the bears, all the big cat habitats have overhead sprinklers. Most of the cats find somewhere shady by the time the temperatures start to rise in the mid-morning – except for Rosemary and Morris. The hot weather doesn’t seem to faze these young, playful tigers! Drinking water is replenished throughout the day.

 

Similar to elephants in the wild, who alter their behavior in hot weather, the elephants at PAWS will seek shade, change the intensity of their activity, and mud themselves or immerse in cool water. They flap their ears to lower their body temperature, and the bristles of hair on their skin help dissipate heat. African elephants Mara, Thika, Lulu, Toka, and Maggie tend to be less active on hot afternoons and may spend time under a shady canopy. Mara and Thika are typically quite active and can be found close to one another foraging under shady oak trees. Asian elephant Prince is known for the love of his two pools, and Nicholas has a lake to cool off in. Caregivers will also give the elephants a quick bath with a hose, and there are overhead misters available to them.

 

By far, one of the elephants’ favorite activities, especially in the summer, is mudding themselves. These gigantic animals will splash, sit, flop, roll and thoroughly enjoy a good mud bath. On a recent summer day, Gypsy appeared to relish an invigorating bath under a hose. Immediately afterwards she lay down and threw mud all over herself (mud protects elephants’ skin from the sun and insects), got up and had a good body rub up against a tree, and then headed off to the pond to munch on juicy vegetation, dusting herself along the way.

 

The welfare of the rescued or retired wild animals at PAWS always comes first, and we are thankful to have a team that is committed to their care, 7 days a week and 24 hours a day. No matter the temperature or weather conditions, these dedicated caregivers are there to ensure the animals’ comfort and well-being. And, like the animals, we all look forward to the cooler days ahead!

Tigers love water. Click on the video above to watch Bigelow playing in his pool as it's being filled with water. The pool was a gift from Paula and Kim Eggleston and was donated in memory of their beloved dog Mason.

Update on California's

Circus Cruelty Prevention Act

PAWS continues to actively advocate for SB 313, the Circus Cruelty Prevention Act sponsored by Senator Ben Hueso, to end the use of wild or exotic animals in circuses in California. The bill has passed the California Senate. It is now in the Assembly, where it passed the Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife and the Judiciary Committee. (Thank you to everyone who contacted their Assembly members!) Once the legislature is back from summer recess on August 12, the bill will move to the Appropriations Committee. If all goes well, the next step is a vote in the full Assembly.

 

In circuses, wild animals are forced to perform under threat of painful punishment, confined in cramped cages and crates as they are transported from show to show, and generally deprived of all that is natural to them. It’s time for California to end this abuse!

 

Be sure to subscribe to the PAWS mailing list to receive special alerts with actions you can take to ensure this important bill passes. We will need all Californians to contact their Assembly members when the bill comes up for a vote. So stay tuned!

PAWS' 35 Years of

Rescue, Sanctuary and Advocacy

In recognition of PAWS’ anniversary, throughout the year we have been sharing some of the highlights, accomplishments, and memorable moments from the last 35 years. The number of achievements from 2016-2018 is quite remarkable and indicative of the great advances we are seeing for captive wild animals. While there is still much work to be done, more than ever PAWS looks to a better future for captive wildlife.

PAWS Highlights and Memorable Moments: 2016-2018

2016: The ARK 2000 sanctuary flipped the switch on a solar system that supplies clean, renewable energy for its offices, elephant barns and other buildings, helping conserve our planet and its wildlife.

2016: PAWS co-sponsored the successful ban on elephant bullhooks in California and teamed up to prohibit bullhooks in the state of Rhode Island.

 

2017: The “Colorado Eight” tigers arrived at ARK 2000, rescued after the closure of a roadside zoo that constantly bred big cats so it could charge the public to handle cubs and take photos with them.

2017: The Pat Derby Animal Wellness Center opened at ARK 2000, allowing on-site diagnosis and treatment of the sanctuary’s animals in a state-of-the-art veterinary facility.

 

2017: The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus shut down forever, citing changing public opinion and the absence of elephant acts – as a result, in part, of PAWS’ legislative efforts.

 

2017-18: PAWS contributed its expertise in support of groundbreaking laws: Illinois and New York State bans on the use of elephants in traveling shows; New York City ban on wild animals in circuses; and prohibitions in New Jersey and Hawaii on wild animal acts in circuses.

 

2017-18: PAWS provided expert affidavits for groundbreaking legal cases by the Nonhuman Rights Project that aim for recognition of legal personhood for captive elephants.

New York Times Magazine Article Exposes U.S. Zoos Plan to Import Wild Elephants from Zimbabwe

For years, PAWS has actively fought the import of wild-caught elephants from African countries to zoos, teaming up with conservationists, scientists and animal welfare professionals around the world. The last import of 17 elephants from Swaziland in 2016 to three U.S. zoos is the subject of a revelatory article by Charles Siebert, “ Zoos Called It a ‘Rescue’ But Are the Elephants Really Better Off? ”, that recently ran in the New York Times Magazine .

 

In the article, Siebert digs deep to expose the zoos’ fabrications and the “rescue” spin they put on their actions. In truth, the young elephants – now separated from their mothers and families forever – could have been relocated elsewhere in Africa where they would best serve the conservation of their species. Instead, one elephant is already dead (not including one calf who died while in captivity in Swaziland) and the others will spend their lives in unnatural zoo exhibits and be bred to produce calves who, as one former zoo director said, are “going to skyrocket the attendance like nothing ever has here before.”

 

Most disturbing in the article is that Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) CEO and President Dan Ashe told Siebert that plans are underway to import elephants from Zimbabwe. Despite a lack of accurate information on the number of elephants in that country, Zimbabwe claims to have too many elephants. So it is selling distressed, wild caught elephant calves to “anyone who wants our wildlife.” In other words, to anyone willing to pay .

 

Zimbabwe has already sent calves to live in horrific conditions in Chinese zoos, some of which use the elephants in circus-like shows. The country claims to have sold 97 elephants to China and Dubai over a six-year period, earning $2.7 million. The suffering began even before the calves – who were still reliant on their mothers – were exported. News photos show one calf in the back of a truck being kicked in the head by her captor.

 

It is inconceivable that any U.S. zoo would engage with Zimbabwe, given its appalling record of selling elephant babies to foreign countries. To do so is to perpetuate the cruel trade in live elephants and encourage other zoos to do the same because ‘U.S. zoos are doing it.’ Zoos should be better than that. By importing more elephants, they undermine their own claims to care about animal welfare or the conservation of African elephants. They also abuse the trust of American zoo-goers, who believe that zoos no longer take animals from the wild.

 

Zoos have failed to establish self-sustaining populations of African and Asian elephants, necessitating the import of wild caught elephants – a practice that will never end because elephants simply do not thrive in captivity. Clearly, elephants must be protected and their habitats conserved if these remarkable animals are to survive.

 

Should U.S. zoos import elephants from Zimbabwe – with its wretched record of selling distraught calves to other countries – they reveal who they really are: institutions that cannot be trusted to do what is right for elephants, either in captivity or the wild.

 

Stay tuned for more information.

Elephant Bar Restaurant Partners

with PAWS for World Elephant Day

In honor of World Elephant Day, the Elephant Bar restaurant chain is once again partnering with PAWS to raise money for the care of the eight rescued or retired elephants living at ARK 2000. Held each year on August 12, World Elephant Day raises awareness about the need to conserve elephants in the wild and protect those in the captivity, including providing them with natural sanctuaries.

 

During the week of August 6-12, Elephant Bar will match all online donations to PAWS (up to $100) in restaurant Rewards Dollars. Participating locations include Albuquerque, New Mexico; Henderson, Nevada; and California locations in Burlingame, Hayward, Sacramento and Torrance. Sign up for the Elephant Bar's rewards program here , or visit http://www.elephantbar.com  for more information.

To receive Elephant Bar Restaurant Rewards Dollars simply make an online donation to PAWS any time between August 6-12 . Bring a copy of your receipt and your Elephant Bar Restaurant Rewards number to the restaurant location nearest you to claim your Rewards Dollars. *

*In order to qualify, guests must present proof of the online donation and their Elephant Bar Restaurant Rewards number in person at any of the open locations between the designated dates. The offer is good for one customer, and Rewards Dollars will be credited to their accounts on August 15. Guests can use the earned points between August 16 and September 16. 

PAWS Says Goodbye to Two Special Tigers

Malabar came to PAWS in 2004, one of 39 tigers (video below) rescued from a situation of severe abuse and neglect at a roadside zoo in Colton, California. At the time, it was the largest tiger rescue the U.S. had ever seen. Malabar lived with three other big male tigers in Colton, and they stayed together in their new home at ARK 2000 where they had access to a large, grassy habitat with rolling hills, oak trees, and a pool. This group of rough and tumble boys was very active, and Malabar was like the mischievous little brother of the group. One of his favorite things to do was to hide behind things and jump out to surprise Boebie, Pat Jr. and Jay Logan, only to quickly run away to invite a playful chase. Malabar had a very curious demeanor and always wanted to know what was going on when caregivers were working on nearby projects. In later years, after the other three tigers had passed away, Malabar was friendly and welcoming to new tigers who were housed next to him, greeting them with much chuffing and rubbing on their shared fence.

Click on the arrow above to watch the video

" 39 Tigers: The story of the largest tiger rescue in US history."

Malabar remained healthy, strong, and vibrant for many years, outliving many who had been rescued alongside him. In his later years, he received supplements and medications to help with arthritis and to support his aging kidneys. Similar to smaller domestic cats, it is common for large cats to develop arthritis and kidney disease as they get older. In late June, he began to show signs of worsening kidney failure, and declining mobility. It became clear that Malabar was not improving, and he was having increasing trouble standing and walking, so the difficult but compassionate decision was made to euthanize him. Malabar passed from this life on July 5th, surrounded by many who loved him dearly. Tiger Supervisor Renae took care of Malabar for almost 12 years, and she will always remember Malabar and his three friends playfully running up and down the hills, crashing through the trees and brush, sounding like a herd of elephants as they ran. Malabar was estimated to be 21 years old at the time of his passing.

Marin arrived at our ARK 2000 sanctuary in February 2017, after a roadside zoo and cub-petting operation in Colorado closed. Marin had endured a lifetime of neglect, exploitation, and repeated breeding to produce cubs for public handling and photo opportunities. Over her lifetime she had given birth to numerous cubs, only to have them forcibly taken away from her shortly after birth. An 18-year-old tiger is considered elderly, but the facility was still breeding Marin at that age. Just months before coming to PAWS she gave birth to a dead cub. We can only imagine the stress, fear, confusion, and sense of loss that she felt for much of her life. 

 

Marin adjusted quickly to her new home, and enjoyed her very own habitat, with gentle terrain, lush grass, oak trees for shade, and a pool. This was probably the first time in her life that she was surrounded by the sights, smells, and sounds of nature, and was cared for with love and respect. Marin was an exceptionally beautiful tiger; her fur had a striking copper/rust coloring. Lean and strong, she simultaneously had the poise and dignity of a great wild tiger, balanced with an almost kitten-like energy. She was very playful and especially loved rolling and pouncing on her big red ball, as well as lying onto her back in the grass (below). Her neighbor was Malabar, and the two of them often slept back to back against their shared fence.

Marin was friendly with caregivers, and she would happily come to the fence to greet them with a "chuff" and would "talk" to us with her own unique voice. Tiger Supervisor Renae recalled, "Knowing that she went through so much, she was the brightest little star. She was a beautiful old girl with the soul of a kitten." Marin held a very special place in PAWS' veterinarian Dr. Gai's heart as well, as her courage, resilience, and joy for life were an inspiration, and her playful antics always made us smile.

 

Marin was diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic cancer, which came on very suddenly in mid-June. Her cancer was untreatable and aggressive, and when it became clear that she was feeling the effects of the disease, the decision was made to humanely euthanize her to prevent suffering. Marin passed from this life on June 19th at the estimated age of 20, surrounded by many who loved and cared dearly for her. We are heartbroken to lose her but honored to have been able to provide her a comfortable, nurturing home for the last two-and-a-half years of her life.

Thank You July

Amazon Wish List Donors!

George and Jennifer Craig: one bottle of Renal Essentials, 60#; one 8 oz. bottle of EicosaDerm; one 12.5 lb. bag of popcorn. Dr. Julia N. Allen DVM: Reference books for the Pat Derby Animal Wellness Center including, "Fowler's Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine", "Behaviour, Ecology & Conservation of the Asian Elephant"; "A Manual of the Diseases of the Elephant and of His Management and Uses"; "Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine 5th Edition" ; "Applied Veterinary Clinical Nutrition." Shannon Sherwood: one book for the Pat Derby Animal Wellness Center reference library, "Tourism and Animal Welfare"; one box of AA batteries, #24; one box of Denamarin, 30#. Diane Kent: one bottle of CosequinDS, 132#; one 32 oz. bottle of EicosaDerm; one 8 oz. bottle of EicosaDerm; one Probiocin. Michelle Rice: one 20 lb. tub of Psyllium. Dr. Karen Buchinger: one bottle of CosequinDS, 132#; six boxes of Denamarin, 30#; six bags of Pill Pockets, 60#. Dawn Garcia: one bag of Pill Pockets, 60#. Frank and Patricia Thornburgh: one 20 lb. tub of Psyllium. Amanda Barry: one 5 lb. tub of Psyllium. Lisa Sharp: one 24" Libman push broom. Traci Cappiello: three 8 oz. bottles of EicosaDerm; one qt. of Red Cell; four Probiocin. Darlene S. Murchison: three boxes of Denamarin, 30#. Cheri Joseph: one 12.5 lb. bag of popcorn. Valerie Marini: Presto PopLite Air Popper; one 12.5 lb. bag of popcorn; one 25 lb. bag of peanuts. Nancy Gordon: reference book for the Pat Derby Animal Wellness Center, "Pathology of Wildlife and Zoo Animals"; four cases of bleach. Carole Bognar: one bottle of Renal Essentials, 60#. Ellie Bryant: one 8 oz. bottle of EicosaDerm; one Probiocin. Keith A. Sintay: one bottle of Renal Essentials, 60#; one 5 lb. bag of Missing Link Skin and Coat; one 12.5 lb. bag of popcorn. Donna Ortyl: one gallon of Red Cell; one Probiocin. Debra McIntyre-Dodd: one 8 oz. bottle of EicosaDerm; one 2-pack of 4.25 oz. Laxatone. Cecelia Littlepage: one Probiocin; one 8 oz. bottle of EicosaDerm; two boxes of AA batteries, 24#. Julie Sklare: one gallon of Red Cell; one box of Denamarin, 30#. Patricia Krayeski: one 5 lb. bag of Missing Link Skin and Coat; one bottle of Renal Essentials, 60#. Michael Kleeman: one bag of Pill Pockets, 60#; one gallon of Red Cell; one 10 lb. tub of Psyllium. Carol Haft: one 8 oz. bottle of EicosaDerm; one bag of Pill Pockets, 60#; one 3-pack of bleach. Deb Kelly: one quart of Red Cell; one 5 lb. tub of Psyllium; one bag of Pill Pockets, 60#; one Probiocin. Melissa Hirsch: one bottle of Renal Essentials, 60#; one Probiocin; one bag of Pill Pockets, 60#; one bottle of CosequinDS, 132#; one 8 oz. bottle of EicosaDerm. Sara Murray: four boxes of Denamarin, 30#; three gallons of Red Cell; one 10x10 pop-up tent. P. Banchik-Rothchild: one bottle of Azodyl, 90#; one Probiocin. Richard and Ellen Bickelman: one quart of Red Cell; one 10 lb. bag of Missing Link Skin and Coat. Donna R. Fry: one box of Denamarin, 30#. Suzanne R. McAlister: three scoop shovels; two boxes of AA batteries, 24#; one gallon of Red Cell; one 8 oz. bottle of EicosaDerm. Carmen I. Crosby: one 5 lb. bag of Missing Link Skin and Coat. Chuck and Lisa Mills: one bag of Pill Pockets, 60#. Anonymous Donors: one reference book for the Pat Derby Animal Wellness Center, "Canine and Feline Gastroenterology"; five Rain Bird sprinkler heads; one package of AA batteries, 24#; one 5 lb. tub of Psyllium; one 3-pack of bleach; one Probiocin; two 12.5 lb. bags of popcorn; 10 bottles of Emcelle Tocopherol (Vitamin E); 9 qts. of Red Cell; two, 5 lb. bags of Missing Link Skin & Coat; six boxes of Denamarin, 30#; one 12.5 lb. bag of popcorn. 



Click on the Amazon Wish List link below to donate

specific items that are needed at our sanctuaries:

View "wish list" items that are needed,

but not listed on the Amazon list,  here .

There are many ways

you can help PAWS animals:

PAWS provides lifetime care to the big cats, bears, elephants, and other animals who call our sanctuaries home. Your kind support provides expert daily care, necessary veterinary treatments, and specialized nutritional support, all tailored to the individual needs of each animal.

Your generous donations make this excellent care possible.

Connect with us: