Last Elephant Leaves SF Zoo

Friday, March 11, 2005


The San Francisco Zoo's last elephant is gone.

On Thursday afternoon, a 38-year-old African pachyderm named Lulu arrived at her new home, a sanctuary in the Sierra foothills that is a zillion times bigger than her concrete abode at the zoo.

For the first time in 80 years -- since Virginia, Marjory and Babe were relocated from a zoo in Golden Gate Park in 1925 -- San Francisco will be an elephant-free zone.

"It's bittersweet," said Bob Jenkins, director of animal care and conservation at the zoo.

It's the end of an era, for sure -- but a highly troubled one.

A year ago this week, the death of an Asian elephant named Calle created a maelstrom that eventually involved sanctuaries, politicians, animal rights activists and zoo accreditators.

Calle's demise last March was followed by the unexpected death of Maybelle, an African elephant, in April. In June, pressured by the city and animal rights activists, zoo director Manuel Mollinedo decided to send the two remaining elephants to a sanctuary in Calaveras County -- where they'd have more space, pachyderm pals and better surfaces for their feet.

The decision quieted local critics but prompted threats from the American Zoo and Aquarium Association to remove the zoo's accreditation for snubbing places the AZA had recommended for elephant relocation.

Asian elephant Tinkerbelle departed for the sanctuary in late November, followed by Lulu on Thursday.

It seems likely that they'll be the last of their species to call San Francisco home.



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