Mona: Difference between revisions

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Enrichment activities enjoyed by Mona included painting and playing music. Her normal routines were highlighted by special treats of marshmallow Peeps, Altoids and peanuts used as rewards in training. She was also given a large watermelon cake and several toys each year on [[July 7]], which was observed as her birthday and celebrated with a party for zoo visitors.
Enrichment activities enjoyed by Mona included painting and playing music. Her normal routines were highlighted by special treats of marshmallow Peeps, Altoids and peanuts used as rewards in training. She was also given a large watermelon cake and several toys each year on [[July 7]], which was observed as her birthday and celebrated with a party for zoo visitors.


On [[January 31]], [[2005]] Mona's companion of 48 years, [[Susie]], died at the zoo at age 55. Since then Mona was the zoo's sole elephant. "The Elephant Sanctuary" offered to relocate and house Mona at their 2,700-acre facility near Hohenwald, Tennessee without charge. [[Alabama Wildlife Advocates]] actively lobbied for this move, whichw as rejected by Zoo officials. The group created on online petition and demonstrated outside the zoo during her annual birthday celebration.
On [[January 31]], [[2005]] Mona's companion of 48 years, [[Susie]], died at the zoo at age 55. Since then Mona was the zoo's sole elephant. "The Elephant Sanctuary" offered to relocate and house Mona at their 2,700-acre facility near Hohenwald, Tennessee without charge. [[Alabama Wildlife Advocates]] actively lobbied for this move, which was rejected by Zoo officials. The group created on online petition and demonstrated outside the zoo during her annual birthday celebration.


Zoo director [[Bill Foster]] argued that the stress caused by travel and resettlement would not be healthy for Mona, and that she should not, at her age, have been subjected to the behavior and pecking order of an unfamiliar herd. He indicated that the zoo planned to improve her habitat and was considering adding a companion to her exhibit.
Zoo director [[Bill Foster]] argued that the stress caused by travel and resettlement would not be healthy for Mona, and that she should not, at her age, have been subjected to the behavior and pecking order of an unfamiliar herd. He indicated that the zoo planned to improve her habitat and was considering adding a companion to her exhibit.

Revision as of 15:42, 21 June 2007

Mona (born around 1947 - euthanized June 21, 2007) was a 7,800 pound Asian elephant on exhibit at the Birmingham Zoo. She was captured in the wild in 1951 and housed in Miami for about two years before debuting in Birmingham on July 4, 1955, the year the Zoo reopened at Lane Park. Reaching the age of 60, she was once the oldest Asian elephant in the United States. The average life span of female Asian elephants, both wild and in captivity, is about 45 years.

During her tenure at the zoo, Mona inhabited a 1,000-square-foot pen with access to two concrete-floored stalls in the zoo's pachyderm building. The effect of concrete floors on captive elephants has been shown to be detrimental, and Mona's feet were badly damaged by the so-called "Zoo-Genic Elephant Foot Disease". Her outdoor enclosure was dirt-floored, but the surface had been packed hard by her continual pacing.

Enrichment activities enjoyed by Mona included painting and playing music. Her normal routines were highlighted by special treats of marshmallow Peeps, Altoids and peanuts used as rewards in training. She was also given a large watermelon cake and several toys each year on July 7, which was observed as her birthday and celebrated with a party for zoo visitors.

On January 31, 2005 Mona's companion of 48 years, Susie, died at the zoo at age 55. Since then Mona was the zoo's sole elephant. "The Elephant Sanctuary" offered to relocate and house Mona at their 2,700-acre facility near Hohenwald, Tennessee without charge. Alabama Wildlife Advocates actively lobbied for this move, which was rejected by Zoo officials. The group created on online petition and demonstrated outside the zoo during her annual birthday celebration.

Zoo director Bill Foster argued that the stress caused by travel and resettlement would not be healthy for Mona, and that she should not, at her age, have been subjected to the behavior and pecking order of an unfamiliar herd. He indicated that the zoo planned to improve her habitat and was considering adding a companion to her exhibit.

On June 18, 2007 zoo staff found Mona unable to stand on her own and assisted her with slings. It was surmised that one of her legs had become numb from her lying on it. She appeared to be in good health and spirits in subsequent evaluations. Nevertheless, zoo veterinarians euthanized her on June 21, 2007.

References

  • Plott, Bill. (July 3, 2005). "Zoo's one elephant has party, protests". Birmingham News.
  • Olson, Laura (June 19, 2007) "Mona on mend: Zoo's oldest resident had trouble standing." Birmingham News.
  • Whitmire, Kyle (June 21, 2007) "RIP: Mona the Elephant" Birmingham Weekly.

External links

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