Elephants may roam 350-acre St. Lucie facility by end of 2009Chimpanzees and tigers are among the exotic animals that have called St. Lucie County (Florida) home over the years. Now the elephants are coming. The county is set to become home to the National Elephant Center, an organization formed by zoos around the country to offer assistance to one another in the areas of elephant breeding, research, training and conservation. Officials with the Houston Zoo and Waste Management, which owns the land the center will be on near the Okeechobee County landfill, will announce details about the center during a news conference in Houston today.The center, which would be in western St. Lucie County near the Okeechobee County line, would be a major international facility in the field of elephant research, drawing trainers from around the country who would study there and learn from its staff. The center was proposed last year for Arkansas, but negotiations ultimately fell apart, according to news reports. Shanti, a female Asian elephant at the Houston Zoo, will dip its trunk into ink to "sign" the agreement for the center, according to a press release. A Web site for the project — www.thenationalelephantcenter.org — will go online today. A spokeswoman for Waste Management declined to discuss further details about the center. Russell Rowland, Okeechobee Solid Waste Director, said Okeechobee County isn't putting any money or public land toward the project. County officials were notified about the plans and thought it sounded worthwhile, he said. Waste Management and zoo officials discussed the research center Tuesday with property owners neighboring the 350-acre site, said Port St. Lucie Councilman Christopher Cooper, who attended the meeting. Officials assured property owners the African and Asian elephants would be secure within the site and would not disturb the human residents in the area. Officials said the terrain is similar to what African elephants see in their native habitat. The site already has come under fire from the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida, which issued a press release Wednesday denouncing the center as a breeding facility rather than a sanctuary. "Florida would be a great place for America's aging zoo elephants to retire, but encouraging breeding is irresponsible," Nick Atwood, campaign coordinator for the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida, said in a statement. "Zoos breed elephants for one reason: to boost attendance. True conservation of elephants must take place in their native lands." The center should open by the end of 2009. The county is already home to Save the Chimps, an organization which rescues chimpanzees that were used for research purposes, and formerly was home to Tigers for Tomorrow, a sanctuary for big cats and other wild animals that left the state in 2005 for Alabama. Although it will operate outside the city limits, the research center should help attract people to Port St. Lucie, which should benefit local businesses, Cooper said. It will be closed to the general public, but it could provide educational opportunities for St. Lucie County students. The councilman also said he expects the center to compliment the budding biotech hub at the Florida Center for Innovation at Tradition. "It keeps spinning into more and more things, and other things will spin off from it," Cooper said. |
Friday, February 08, 2008
From John Goodall
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11 comments:
This center was originally slated for the Riddle's place or New Orleans. The Audubon Nature Institute, which runs the zoo, aquirium and 6 other "nature" parks bought 10,000 acres from the Coast Guard some years back for the Species Survival Center and the elephant farm was a 400 acre section of it. But in the end we couldn't compete with the Disney backing. Hope it works out. The close proximity to the Ringling farm should prove if the AZA is serious about saving a species and gotten off the no cooperation with circus high horse.
Florida was proposed as the site for exotic animal sanctuaries more than a century ago---by circus proprietors. Already then there was a concern over loss of native habitat [Africa, Asia, South America] and diminishment of species. There have been ostrich farms, gator attractions, gorilla places and more in Florida, a rich history to say the least, not to mention multiple circus menageries. There are already two elephant facilities operated within the state---by a circus proprietor--and a Disney operation. Too bad that zoos continue to be in denial regarding the animal knowledge available within the circus.
Interesting: The Director of the Houston Zoo is Rick Barongi, formerly with Disney's Animal Kingdom. Bruce Read was General Curator, or whatever they called the position, when Rick was at DAK. Didn't Houston get a bull on loan from Ringling a while back? Let's see what happens.
The FortWorth Zoo has a male named Casey my dad owned. That is now on loan from ringling. The only Breeding male at the Houston Zoo that I am aware of is Thai.
Jim,
Those are very interesting, valid point's you have raised. I had privately thought along the same line's. I caution you my friend, you now may have opened the door to accusation's ranging for jealousy to the ruin of reputations, not to mention "raining on everybody's parade." I salute your courage, especially in the mentioning of that hypocritical sorry excuse Bruce Read. I also salute our Blog Wizard for letting the fact's out there, so that informed mind's can be given, two sides in which to chose the most obvious.
Wade Burck
To Anonymous - too bad you don't identify yourself - how do we know your statement is correct -"Florida was proposed as the site for exotic animal sanctuaries more than a century ago---by circus proprietors. Already then there was a concern over loss of native habitat [Africa, Asia, South America] and diminishment of species". O, well another Anonymous. Sorry, Wade, we will never know who the scribe is.
I would probably say that the "model" for what can be done with a conservation center in FLA is White Oak. The first time I went visiting with a exotics vet friend from Gainesville I was blown away... and that was MANY years ago. I would take anything away from the programs at Font Royal or on St Catherine's Island -- but there's so much you can do in that those FLA micro-climates.
J goodall,
Although barely tolerable, I am begining to see a need for an anonymous, if they have something useful to say, which contibutes to a discussion or a valid point/counter point in said discussion. It's the one's that hide behind it, to name call or cast aspersion's that are condemdable.
Wade Burck
I hope that the MC segment is soon buried deep in the archives of this blog, never to be commented on again. [I guess until next year]. I can hardly wait. So for the first time I offer my two cents worth of opinion, to be;
It is obvious that the Prince Rainer was infatuated by animals during his life. He had his own zoo ande also those that chose to work with and handle them along with being somewhat of a "circus fan" and why not because some of the greatest European form of entertainment have been their great circuses respected on a high plain along with Opera, Ballet, etc.
Now the great Prince could not just jump in his car and drive off to visit some show because of security, his important daily functions as head of state and his overseeing the business aspects of his Principality. Also Monte Carlo has always sponsored various international events of Sports, Entertainment, etc. to draw tourists and gamblers. Over the years he had become a great fan of Frenchman Alfred Court in the neighboring country and it even more whet his appetite.
So why not bring the circus to the Prince, and of course it would have to be world top nacts. Nothying lesws for a Prince and smart heads figured a way to kill a few birds with one stonje.
A festival of the circus would be fitting and great acts invited, of course their expense to be paid and also medals for excellence could be awarded to also help to convince them to participate. A charge to the public for some four or five performances would pay the freight and again it would make Monte Carlo the centerpoint of another international gathering.
A jury or judges would be gathered along with the Prinjce to choose the best of all participants in various categories and it proved to be a highly successful annual event. Now it was the Prince's baby so naturally preference would be given for his personal choice of favorites in the judging. Now it dide not mean that those awarded would be claimed the best in the world, but only the best of those participating that nyear. I think that should be clear in regard to the uproar about it not being fair and certain people not being represented. It has never been intended for that purpose. Who won this nyear has no bearing on who won last year or other years as well.
From its success various other festivals have sprung up and of course judging of some sort, however I believe if you are a very good act you will find work whether you appear at one of these festivals or not. But it is kind of nice and classy and I know my wife thouroly enjoyed her visit there.
Col.
It is hard not to keep going back to the good old day's, but oft times it is reality. And yes, it used to be nice and classy, when the "Cary Grant's" of the world were associated with it. Much like the Ringling dates at Madison Square Garden, the Forum in LA, among others. You mention the Princes love of animals. Have you seen the Principality zoo? Not far removed from the castle menageries of old. Why the obvious disregard for cage acts, in modern memory.
Even Princess Steffie, who's "love" and "high regard" for the circus surpassing even her father's, has been "unseemly documented" in the press. It has become first and formost a tourist draw, like the street car races, and other venues. Nothing wrong with that at all, less controversial then "taxing the peasant's".
The statement "those awarded would not claim to be the best", is indeed wrong, my good Col. Claiming it outright, or giving the very, very, strong impression of the claim is how it is done, trust me. Every introduction goes thusly. "This is so and so, he/she won Gold/Silver at MC." And that tag is attaced to your name forever like a Phd. Yet, in a couple of hundred introductions, I have never heard "this is so and so, he/she won bronze at MC." Add a Gold or Silver to a long ago appearance with the GSOE, to be used in your introduction, and it is indeed a second coming. I know one act personally that got nothing against an other acts "silver" in an "awards festival" in another country. Yet went to MC, and with the proper "paper hung", got a "silver", and the other act received "bronze". I personally would not accept anything from an organization that would reward me higher then a Gert Semonit. And I would have more pride and dignity then to accept anything higher then would be awarded you Col. What started as a small "fix", has turned into an "anchor" which has drug MC down into a league with other non award festival. Possibly finer then some, but not as fine as others. We did not get lineups from Heilbronn, Stuttgart, or the multitude of other great "Festivals" in Europe that go on all winter. Just look at the argument's that have been offered on the subject. Having fun, and manipulating for personal gain are two very different actions.
Wade Burck
Col. Herriott,
For the record I think I agree with you. The issue, and concern's of validity, and "fixing" has been addressed admirably, from "around the globe."
Much more, and I can see it turning into a "pity party", with a reverse validity. I have seen that happen, often the past few years, quicker than you can take a breath. I just regret there were not more responses from the "participant's" other then we had fun. I don't think that was the issue originally raised with Mr. de Ritis's original posting on Jan.8th, 2008.
Wade Burck
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