Mar13
RIP, Delhi the Elephant
Posted at 12:22 PM | Permalink
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Comments (16)
I just got this email from Debbie Leahy, the director of PETA’s Captive Exotic Animals Department:
Sad news. A dear friend, Delhi, passed away on Tuesday, March 11. Delhi was the first elephant confiscation in U.S. history. After an extensive campaign by PETA, the USDA seized Delhi from Hawthorn Corporation and transferred her to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee after determining that she was in imminent danger from lack of veterinary care. Delhi had been suffering from abscesses, lesions, osteomyelitis, and severe chemical burns to her feet. She was originally captured in India and acquired by Hawthorn in 1974. At the sanctuary since November 2003, Delhi enjoyed leisurely grazing in the sun, playing with toys, and napping on a shady hillside with the companionship of many other elephants. She was lucky to have kind, nurturing care in her final years.
Sad news indeed. But it’s comforting to reflect that she escaped the horrible fate of most elephants held in captivity for her last years.
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Comments
The story of Delhi's passing brought tears to my eyes. I am so happy, though, that in her final years she lived at a wonderful sanctuary with other elephants, doing what these beautiful animals are meant to do...enjoy each other.
Posted by: Pamela Oates | March 13, 2008 01:15 PM
rest in peace delhi thank you to the people who helped give her the best years of her life
this is such a sad loss but hopefully her death dosnt go in vein and more elephants have the opertunity to live a loved lifed just like delhi.
Posted by: jessica | March 13, 2008 01:59 PM
rest in peace delhi thank you to the people who helped give her the best years of her life
this is such a sad loss but hopefully her death dosnt go in vein and more elephants have the opertunity to live a loved lifed just like delhi.
Posted by: jessica | March 13, 2008 01:59 PM
What a heartwarming and uplifting story. Here's to--
many, many, more animals living out there lives in the
comfort and protection of a
sanctuary.
Posted by: Pamela L. | March 13, 2008 03:16 PM
Aw, she's so sweet. Poor girl.
Why the f*** can money-grubbing zoos keep breeding wildlife when so many already need to be rescued from roadside zoos?
On top of that, natural habitat has to be destroyed to make room for zoo's enclosures to house their captive bred wild animals.
If zoos could clean up their act and only take rescues, and not breed in captivity or buy from auctions or poachers, we could have ethical zoos for once.
So many rehabbers have nonreleaseable wildlife and confiscated wild pets could really use the space.
Posted by: Maya, CVT | March 13, 2008 04:19 PM
Rest In Peace, beautiful girl!!
Posted by: Ana | March 13, 2008 04:33 PM
I love ALL animals but elephants are my favorite. I am very sad to hear of Delhi's passing but the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee and PAWS in California are two wonderful sanctuaries for elephants. They don't breed and they just let elephants be elephants enjoying the company of other elephants. They form close bonds and never forget the wonderful caring people who take care of them. I watched a documentary on Animal Planet where they were introducing orphaned elephants into the wild and as time went by, the people would visit them and even though they now live in the wild, they would go up to the truck and greet these people who took care of them. It was very heartwarming.
Posted by: Rex's Mom | March 13, 2008 05:02 PM
Rest in peace, Dear Dehli!!!
I'm so glad you spent your last years with your brothers and sisters and were cared for by loving, compassionate human beings.
We as humans simply must find ways to preserve elephants habitat in Asia and Africa. To wrench these magnificent beings from their homeland and make them foreign prisons and force them to live miserable lives as performers either in circuses or zoos is a sin.
I hope everyone who exploits and abuses animals goes directly to HELL!
Posted by: Susan T | March 13, 2008 06:19 PM
This is so sad, God I love the elephants.
Thank goodness she spent the last 5 years with people that cared for her, and I pray for those that will never know human kindness like Delhi did.
Thank You Debbie for letting us know.
Rest in peace sweet girl.
Posted by: Judith, Freedom Fighter for Animals | March 13, 2008 06:23 PM
I am glad that she enjoyed the last of her years with other elephants and good care. Resta in Peace, beautiful elephant
Posted by: liliana | March 13, 2008 07:19 PM
Ahh! Sweet,sweet Delhi. We will miss your compassionate heart and your "Granny Dash." 62 years is a long time to survive abuse, but thanks to all who worked very hard for your release, your last four years were spent in elephant bliss with love from Carol, Scott, and the best caregivers ever. You were also blessed to be with your best friends Misty and Tarra and new friend Dulary. Rest in peace, Sweet Delhi, your life's struggles were not in vain, for you raised the awareness of many about the abusive treatment of elephants and with our continued work, perhaps all elephants will one day be free to just be elephants and spared from the cruelty and greed of man. Namaste.
Posted by: Sherry | March 14, 2008 08:36 AM
Sherry said it all. I can recognize a fellow fan of The Elephant Sanctuary! It is truly an amazing place with very dedicated and compassionate people who care selflessly for the elephants in their care. Delhi truly did have the best life a captive elephant can have and I am glad there are places like The Elephant Sanctuary, but we must keep fighting for all those elephants and other captive wild animals who have no voice of their own against the cruelty, greed and selfishness of man.
Posted by: Gracie | March 15, 2008 12:12 PM
THERE IS A SIMPLE AND IMMEDIATE SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM.
NEVER EVER EVER VISIT A ZOO.
NO PATRONS, NO INCOME, NO ZOO.
END OF STORY.
There are videos and picture books to see animals. Seeing them up close is not seeing them in real surroundings and not seeing them acting as they would in the wild. So, DON'T DO IT!!
Posted by: karen saucedo | March 15, 2008 07:11 PM
Poor Baby!! Makes me so sad to hear of what her and many other elephants endure in captivity. They are so beautiful!! I know they have great memories and remember things for a long time, I only hope that the tragic life was forgotten as she passed and I know she is in a great place with all her other elephant friends. RIP loved one
Posted by: Kris Shulfer | March 16, 2008 01:25 PM
Rest in peace, beautiful Delhi.
Posted by: apasolini | March 17, 2008 09:49 AM
Omg =( That's so sad!!
RIP Delphie, we'll miss you!!!
Posted by: Josefine | March 29, 2008 06:43 AM