Reid Park Zoo elephants / Mark Evans

About six months ago, the Tucson public was in an uproar at the Reid Park Zoo for shipping Connie off to the San Diego Zoo. Zoo management said she would thrive there.

Now Connie is dead.

According to the Arizona Daily Star:

Zoo officials in San Diego had worked with Connie, who was about 45 years old, to manage health concerns related to urinary and reproductive tract infections, officials said. Over the last couple of weeks, her condition continued to deteriorate.

“The difficult decision to euthanize Connie was made this morning after extensive discussion among the San Diego veterinarians and animal care staff once it became evident that her quality of life had significantly diminished and she would no longer be able to sustain herself,” said Reid Park Zoo administrator Susan Basford in a news release.

Here’s a list of the 10 worst zoos for elephants.

Google images/Globalanimal.org

You can make up your own mind as to whether or not working animals in a circus is considered animal cruelty.

According to this website Ringling Beats Animals, a video shows elephants being hit in the face, poked, prodded, and jabbed with sharp hooks, sometimes until bloody. Tigers are viciously struck with sticks until they perform difficult and confusing tricks.

Update: Here’s another video showing how baby elephants are broken or trained.

Circus animals spend most of their lives in confinement traveling from city to city often in extreme temperatures. Ringling Bros. will be in Phoenix and Tucson during late June and early July respectively.

Update: There’s a rally against Ringling Bros. cruelty on Thursday June 30 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Tucson Convention Center. To participate just show up or view this Facebook page.

According to the website, constant travel means that animals are confined to boxcars, trailers, or trucks for days at a time in extremely hot and cold weather, often without access to basic necessities such as food, water, and veterinary care. Elephants, big cats, bears, and primates are confined to cramped and filthy cages in which they eat, drink, sleep, defecate, and urinate—all in the same place.

Watching the videos is heartbreaking…for me. You may have a greater tolerance for animal cruelty.

Animal abuse will never be the greatest show on earth.

Update: There will be a peaceful protest in Phoenix. Check out this Facebook page for more info.

Speaking of elephants, there has been controversy as to whether or not Tai the elephant used in the film, Like Water for Elephants with Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson, was subjected to animal cruelty. The motion picture association says absolutely not but this video questions the issue.

Update: Here’s a beautiful video showing two elephants reunited after 20 years. Elephants never forget.

(Photo is courtesy Google image/global animal site which offers alternatives to animal friendly venues instead of circuses.)