Monday, March 27, 2006
Our Opinion: No Shaba baby
Tucson Citizen
The pachyderm pregnancy proposed at Reid Park Zoo won't happen, since studies of first-time elephant mothers ended plans to breed Tucson's 26-year-old Asian elephant, Shaba.
The domino effect of this decision could be elephantine, as the zoo had sought an $8.4 million elephant enclosure expansion to breed Shaba for Tucsonans - especially children's - viewing pleasure.
The proposal has been controversial, as some activists called for the elephants instead to be sent to a sanctuary and others criticized the high cost of an expansion.
Shaba and African elephant Connie now live in a half-acre enclosure, and activists have said even the expansion to eight acres would be insufficient.
City officials, including City Council members, would do well to hasten study of the matter, do so publicly and proffer some solutions.
Whether the duo will be kept in their small quarters has yet to be determined.
