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To all of our Members, Supporters and Zoo Visitors,
I’d like to invite you to join us at the Zoo this Sunday, September 23rd to celebrate Elephant Appreciation Day with people around the world! This is a special day, a day to remember we share our planet with many different creatures including elephants, which, are perhaps the most magnificent of all. The number of elephants in the wild is declining due to poaching and habitat destruction. It is sad to think of a future without them. International Elephant Appreciation Day is a time to visit the Zoo and marvel at these wonderful creatures. It is also the perfect time to support elephant conservation. Zoo staff hopes you’ll join us on Sunday afternoon. Spend some time visiting with Emily, Ruth and their caretakers to learn more about them and the ways you can help elephants around the world.
Please be aware that there may be private parties located near the entrance of the Zoo providing visitors with information about the Elephant Sanctuary and asking people to sign a petition to send our elephants there. These individuals are not associated with, nor do they represent or speak for the Zoo or the City of New Bedford in any way. Individuals have a constitutional right to utilize parks to exercise their right of free speech and we respect those rights. You should be aware that the information they provide has not been reviewed by Zoo staff or the Administration for accuracy.
While I have the utmost respect for the Elephant Sanctuary and the work they are doing, I do not believe it is the best home for our elephants. It is not the size of one’s home that makes it a home, it is the family within. Emily and Ruth continue to thrive here, have strong emotional bonds with their caretakers and the Buttonwood Park Zoo is their sanctuary.
I look forward to seeing you all on Sunday!
Sincerely,
Shara Crook
Interim Zoo Director
