Free Mona To Elephant Sanctuary 

Posted 05/24/2006

Mona was born in the wild lands of Asia (approx. 1951).

She was captured, and brought to the Birmingham Zoo in 1955.

Susie, Mona’s companion for 48 years, was wild-born in India (approx. 1952).  She was captured and brought to the Birmingham Zoo in 1957.  Susie died in January 2005.  Mona has been alone ever since.

Mona’s enclosure at the Birmingham Zoo is small and barren.  She stands either on concrete or hard-packed dirt, in an area estimated to be less than ½ acre.  These unforgiving surfaces are causing the break-down of her feet and what appears to be arthritis in her right shoulder and right front leg.

She spends her days pacing in a monotonous circle inside her barn stall, or outside searching for something to engage her highly intelligent mind.

Mona has been in this enclosure since she was approx. four years old or about 51 years.

For over a year, The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee has offered a standing invitation to accept Mona in retirement.

Dr. Foster, CEO of Birmingham Zoo, Inc. continues to reject The Elephant Sanctuary’s offer.  His rejection denies Mona companionship with her species, denies Mona a natural habitat of more than 2,700 acres of forests and meadows, natural streams and mud-holes, and denies Mona the free-will to choose her elephant companions.

Birmingham Mayor, Bernard Kincaid, and the majority of the Birmingham City Council appear to prefer not getting involved.  The City of Birmingham owns the majority of the zoo’s land and ALL of the zoo’s animals.  The city of Birmingham continues to contribute $250,000 of taxpayers’ money to the zoo annually.

The time has come for Birmingham City Government to address their accountability in Mona’s suffering.

It is time for Birmingham City Government to enable Mona’s retirement to The Elephant Sanctuary.

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