Elephant in Dallas Causes Concern

According to the New York Times, an aging elephant in Dallas has sparked concern with animal rights groups, elephant experts, and even local protesters.

The elephant in question is Jenny, who was reportedly taken in by the Dallas Zoo 22 years ago from a circus where she was forced to perform and beaten.

The effect of the abuse was enough to have the elephant suffer emotional distress that led her to cutting herself with her own tusks and slamming her head into walls. This led to medication having to be distributed to the animal for her protection.

Recently, the Zoo made plans to ship Jenny to the Africam Safari Park in Puebla, Mexico after the death of her companion elephant. The park would include five acres of land with another elephant.

Apparently, animal rights activists and world-renowned elephant experts would rather see the elephant go to a Tennessee sanctuary that has 2,700 acres and homes 17 other elephants that are under care for emotional distress.

That's where the conflict comes in. Margaret Morin, nurse and leader of Concerned Citizens for Jenny says, "Jenny is a special needs elephant. She's unique; she's afflicted with crippling depression. The elephant sanctuary is the right choice."

This is only one clashing point, it seems, in the battle between zoos, experts, and animal activists, in the search for the answer of the seemingly simple question of whether or not zoos can properly care for elephants in general, let alone when they are aging with difficulties.