The Bronx Zoo is considering relocating its last remaining elephant, a 57-year-old Asian elephant named Patty, to a wildlife sanctuary in Tennessee. This potential move comes several months after Happy, another Asian elephant at the zoo, was euthanized.
Officials from the Wildlife Conservation Society, which operates the Bronx Zoo, visited The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee, to assess its suitability for Patty. The sanctuary encompasses 3,000 acres and currently houses 12 elephants. Bronx Zoo Director Craig Piper stated that the zoo wants to ensure the move would be beneficial for Patty and that the potential gains would outweigh the risks.
Patty’s companion, Happy, a 55-year-old Asian elephant, died in May after a period of rapid health decline. Happy had been in hospice care at the zoo and was noted for declining kidney and liver function prior to her death. Happy was also the subject of a 2018 lawsuit by animal activists who sought to have her declared a legal person, arguing she was not receiving adequate care or space at the zoo. The lawsuit was ultimately dismissed by New York’s highest court.
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums generally requires a minimum of three female elephants for a zoo's exhibit, although variances can be granted for zoos with only one. Several zoos, including those in Los Angeles and Oakland, have recently closed their elephant exhibits.
The Nonhuman Rights Project, an animal advocacy group, has urged the Bronx Zoo to send Patty to the Tennessee sanctuary. However, zoo officials have indicated that they are making this decision independently.
Potential challenges for transporting Patty include the risks associated with moving her across state lines, separating her from her current care staff, and her potential to bond with new elephants. Piper indicated that any transfer would involve a lengthy and meticulously planned process.