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STATEMENT OF LES SCHOBERT, FORMER ZOO CURATOR

I have spent almost all of my adult life in and around zoos – most of that time around elephants. I was the general curator at the Los Angeles Zoo and the North Carolina Zoo. I was a professional and active member of the AZA and served on many important committees.

As a keeper/trainer of elephants I was taught that the only way to insure that they could be safely kept in captivity was to become the dominant member of their society. During my tenure of working with elephants I did almost everything you could do to them: I fed them, watered them, rode them, trimmed their nails, trained them, preformed elephant shows with them, transported them, imported them, beat them, and necropsied them after they died.

As we learn more about these wonderful creatures we also begin to have more insight into their intelligence and psychological needs. There is no doubt in my mind that the trauma that occurs to these elephants and the horrific things that they witness does not go away. As with people this trauma manifests itself in different ways with different individuals. It is obvious to me through Jenny’s zoo records and discussing her situation with other elephant experts that Jenny is extremely sensitive to change in her life. Jenny’s life is one filled with a tragic story of a severely traumatized elephant in captivity.

The Dallas Zoo is about to make another change with Jenny – a huge change that will effect her in every way – to move her to another captive situation with new caregivers, new surroundings, new foods, new smells, new sounds and certainly new companions. It is imperative that she be given the utmost care during this transition. I firmly believe that The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee has the experience necessary to ease Jenny into her new life.

The Elephant Sanctuary has the most experience with traumatized elephants of any facility. If there is any such thing as an opportunity for Jenny to heal it would be there.

The Elephant Sanctuary is the right place for Jenny, and if there is compassion for those who have served over 20 years in service to their community she deserves to go there.

Telephone: 760-564-6410
Email: lqcasak9@dc.rr.com