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Philadelphia Zoo Update


Letter to the Editor

Wednesday, July 22, 2009
It’s not often one receives letters written in purple crayon, carefully inscribed with the words: “good by elafents”. But as our two African elephants, Kallie and Bette, left the Philadelphia Zoo for their new home, I received and was touched by such heartfelt sentiments and thousands more.

In the days preceding their departure, nearly 35,000 friends and admirers of Kallie and Bette came to wish them well as they prepared for their journey to the new International Conservation Center. Thank you - your support demonstrated how that these two majestic animals made an everlasting impact on your lives.

Bette and Kallie, I am pleased to report, are doing great in their new home and are playing a vital role in helping promote the cause of elephants worldwide. Even though we do not have elephants at the Zoo any longer, we continue to be involved with elephant conservation as both Asian and African populations are in peril throughout the world. We’re currently providing support to the Bornean Elephant Conservation Unit in Sabah (Malaysian Borneo) which also benefits other wildlife in this region, including orangutans.

I hope you’ll join us as we continue to celebrate our 150th Anniversary throughout the year. With engaging programs and new and dynamic exhibits both now and on the horizon; our future has never looked more exciting. I’m certain that with your input and involvement, the next 150 years will be as momentous as the first. Together, we can build the strong and lasting connections that continue to make the Zoo a place of pride and a cornerstone of this great region.


Sincerely, Vikram Dewan

President & CEO, Philadelphia Zoo





 
 

Reader Comments

The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of thebulletin.us.

RowanM wrote on Jul 22, 2009 12:28 PM:

" Why does the Philly Zoo insist that breeding Kallie and Bette is still an option when at their age of 27, a first-time breeding is risky and life-threatening? Why have no photos or videos of Kallie and Bette at the breeding facility been posted? Why are so many of the exhibits at the Philly Zoo crumbling and outdated when you, Vik Dewan, make an annual salary of $320,708.00? Stop patting yourself on the back and do something to truly make the lives of the improverished animals held captive in your zoo - start with some shade for the poor Asian rhino. "

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