Trade rules may deny Lowry zoo 4 elephants

A deal arranged by Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo to buy the creatures, which are now in Africa, may be in jeopardy.

By DONG-PHUONG NGUYEN, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published September 27, 2002

TAMPA -- Will four African elephants scheduled for a cross-Atlantic journey to the Lowry Park Zoo make the move after all?

The Times of Swaziland reported Thursday that Cabinet officials there have learned that selling the elephants would be against the International Trade on Endangered Species Convention, which prohibits the sale of "elephants or other endangered species, be it fauna or flora."

The paper reported that Swaziland does not have any regulatory structures in place and that how the agreement was reached between zoo officials in both countries will be reviewed.

Eleven elephants were slated for the San Diego and Lowry Park zoos. Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo was hoping to house four elephants in a 2.5-acre elephant exhibit as part of its $24-million expansion. The exhibit is scheduled to open in 2004.

Lowry Park Zoo spokeswoman Heather Sitton said Thursday that the zoo had not been notified of any change in the agreement regarding the elephants.

"We've heard nothing," she said. "As far as we know, it's still a go."

Sitton said that the deal does not violate the International Trade on Endangered Species Convention agreement and that the zoo has already been issued an import permit.

Lex Salisbury, Lowry Park Zoo's president and chief executive, had traveled to Africa to see the elephants, which live in a fenced preserve protected from poachers and predators. Salisbury previously said that when the number of elephants in the preserve gets too large, wildlife managers must either kill or relocate them.

"As far as we know, both (countries) are making plans to prevent them from being killed," Sitton said.

Swaziland's tourism, communication and environment minister told the Times of Swaziland that she received letters from organizations from around the world objecting to the sale of the elephants.

Among the biggest critics of the agreement was People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals, an animal rights organization.

"This is a huge victory for the elephants, who can now continue to roam the lush savannah with their families," said PETA spokeswoman Jane Garrison. "We now hope that the San Diego and Lowry Park zoos will rescue some of the elephants being kept in horrific conditions at circuses and roadside zoos right here in the U.S."

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