Zoo director: New calf not leaving, zoo working to take ownership
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PORTLAND, Ore. - Kim Smith, Director of the Oregon Zoo, said the new elephant calf born just last week is going to spend her life at the zoo despite an uproar over an ownership contract with a company that uses the animals for business and entertainment purposes.
After the content of the contract was publicized by The Seattle Times on Monday, there was an immediate wave of concern over the new arrival's future at the Oregon Zoo.
At a news conference Tuesday morning, Smith reiterated time and again that Have Trunk Will Travel, the company holding the pending ownership contract for the as-yet unnamed female calf, "supports our vision" of breeding elephant herds and keeping the newborn with it's mother at the zoo.
"This is not uncommon for an entity like Have Trunk Will Travel to have an animal at the Oregon Zoo and to have breeding loans and have a calf born and not get anything for it," Smith said.
Before the news conference, the zoo posted messages on their Facebook page saying the calf was going to stay at the zoo.
According to the contract, ownership of the calf reverts to Have Trunk Will Travel once the calf reaches 30 days old. It's not clear yet exactly what Have Trunk Will Travel plans to do once they take ownership of the calf.
KATU has reached out to the owner of Have Trunk Will Travel by phone and email but has yet to hear back.
Smith said representatives for Have Trunk Will Travel, headquartered southeast of Los Angeles, are planning to visit the zoo soon to see the new calf, and not to take it away. "'Ownership doesn't really mean anything," Smith said during the press event.
She also said that the owners of Have Trunk Will Travel have been "'honest all along" about their intentions.
"A breeding loan agreement doesn’t say where that animal lives, it just says who owns her," Smith said. "But the fact that she’s on this property and she’s living with her mother - that’s where she lives."
But Smith stopped short of saying the calf's tenure at the zoo was guaranteed and said the zoo, which is a non-profit organization, is in negotiations with the company to own the baby elephant.
Smith said the contract only designated ownership of the animal, and did not control where it would live. In response to reporters' questions, she said repeatedly that Have Trunk Will Travel was committed to keeping the new calf at the zoo.
"This calf will stay here with her family and grow up with her family and be one of the founders as we continue our matriarchal herd," Smith said Tuesday morning.
Smith also noted that a contract related to outside ownership of an animal that is on display at the zoo was common and that many of the zoo's animals live at the complex while under such contracts, including the new calf's father, Tusko.
She said the Oregon Zoo's relationship with Have Trunk Will Travel is centered on Tusko and that the zoo has a good relationship with the company.
Bob Lee, the elephant curator at the zoo, said in decades past, personnel tried to wean elephant calves away from their parents so they could be sent elsewhere but that practice is now in the past due to greater understanding of elephant herds and breeding.
He said female elephants, such as Rose-Tu and her new female calf, typically spend their entire lives together. Lee also said the zoo plans to continue breeding Rose-Tu and future births are part of the plan.
Elephants can live for many decades.
Watch the Oregon Zoo press conference (24 minutes):
If what I saw of the agreement is correct then the calf does belong to have trunk & the zoo needs to follow the document that they signed. This is yet another example of government making an agreement then later they decide that it no longer applies so they will disregard it as they see fit. More proof that government can not nor will not keep their promises.
I can not believe this zoo actually thought this deal would be okay with the taxpayers who are supporting this zoo..
How arrogant of the director to not address that.. Guess what Kim Smith, if the zoo ever has anything on the ballot I will vote NO !
"'Ownership doesn't really mean anything,"Â Smith said during the press event. Â
Oh really? I think any court in the land might disagree with that statement. Ownership ALWAYS means something.  How much does Smith get paid in her job to make stupid statements like that?  I can think of any number of other more qualified people looking for work who could take her job and do it better than *that*....and probably for less money, happily, too.  If the legal owners want the calf to stay at the Oregon Zoo then they need  legally, formally to turn over ownership with papers to prove it. It's that simple. I say to the Zoo and to Have Trunks Will Travel: PROVE IT> Prove you will leave the calf in Portland by signing her over to the Zoo. ( Have Trunks Will Travel  is an awful name meaning  constantly moving, chaining, beating and shocking elephants  to move them around  in cramped hot/cold smelly quaters with no freedom to move by train/truck  for "entertainment" which is bad for the elephants on so many levels. Elephants are wild animals in slavery this way.)
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In the wild, elephants range widely over a variety of different terrain types and typically travel long distances. African elephants are estimated to walk 30 â 60 km (19 â 37 miles) per day, while Asian elephants are estimated to move 10 â 20 km (7 â 13 miles) per day.
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Elephants can be active for up to 20 hours each day walking, foraging (browsing and grazing), dusting, mud wallowing, swimming and socializing. They require enough space to choose their own social partners, allow free association with others when they choose to be together and allow a safe haven when they want to get away. In short, they need to be able to engage in a broad range of species-typical movements and behaviours.Â
And this traveling zoo show wants to keep them chained!!!!!
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http://www.elephantsincanada.com/frequently-asked-questions
KOIN just reported (1820 Hrs.) and read a statement from Have Trunks will travel wherein they confirm that they have no intentions of taking Rose tu's calf from the Zoo and that she can stay here as long as the Zoo wants her.........
1. Zoos should own the rights for the stewardship for all animals in their care. (You cannot own a wild animal, you just have it captive.)Â
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2. Never, ever trust anyone who says anything like, "Rest assured that we will continue to provide all of the (name of animal here) with the love and excellent care they deserve.â
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3. Never, ever, ever trust PETA with an animal.
In the press conference Kim Smith sounded like a broken record. She kept repeating the same phrases and responses. She also kept talking about being transparent, but then went on to mention the public might be surprised to learn, etc. Why would we be surprised to learn when she says the zoo has been transparent?
I must have missed something here.....Did not realise that the Zoo which is a taxpayer supported institution, acts as a breeding ground for private businesses, who then profit from them......There apparently needs to be significant public oversight of the Zoo and those that are employed by the taxpayers to care for those that live there.............Glad this story made it to the public domain, time to watch the Oregon Zoo and examine all contracts they enter into.....
http://www.change.org/petitions/oregon-zoo-stop-contract-between-oregon-zoo-and-have-trunks-will-travel#
Stop breeding Oregon Zoo! You are now the equivalent to puppy mills.Â
They can't take back the harm that they've already done. What kind of a zoo signs a contract like that? And, knowing fully well what the future would bring ..., they start a name contest. I've never been so disappointed in my life! This is equivalent to selling your soul to the devil.
 @R. Gess Smith I feel so betrayed. Grew up loving the Oregon Zoo and just two weeks ago was going on and on to my mother-in-law about how great our zoo was and how they protect their animals. I feel lied to and very sad for the animals.Â
One does not "work to take ownership" after a calf is born. Apparently, insemination is easy. Keeping these precious animals from exploitation and cruel circuses is above the zoo's expertise. If getting sperm through cruel circuses like HTWT is the only way to propagate elephants in zoos, then perhaps we should be re-thinking whether or not elephants should be displayed in zoos at all.Â
Owners of elephants such as Have Trunk, will Travel, often use the elephants until they reach breading age, and then will put them  in the breeding program.  Rescued animals  are used for giving rides, etc., until they reach that age which isn't til the get in their twenties and then are really about too big for the traveling entertainment business.
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This zoo should consider refunding taxpayer dollars, we did not vote for this... This is one bad non profit..
Gee K2,
Too bad you couldnt get this riled up over something important like BENGHAZI.
More proof that you are worthless to the people as a real news source.
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 @Jack_Bauer Okay, I agree with you in part. KATU just like the rest FAILED when it came to blowing the whistle on Benghazi but lets at least give them credit right now.Â
@Jack_Bauer....and yet you keep coming back?
Yea and this type of agreement worked well for the Seattle Sonics.....
"ownership doesn't mean anything"? This woman is dangerously underinformed in the area of the most basic aspects of law in our country. "Ownership" by contract means EVERYTHING especially when it is specified in written form, the exception to it appears to be verbal and the technical owners aren't answering your phone calls. She's got to be kidding.
Personally, I'm not a fan of keeping elephants in captivity. Additionally, I think we have enough elephants at the zoo (especially given the amount of space they have to dwell in). But I'd rather see him at the zoo with his mother than in a circus somewhere getting prodded with electric wands by carnies.
 @jasony That space will expand dramatically in the coming years. Not only are they expanding the area at the zoo, but they're supposed to be building a sanctuary where a number of the elephants would move to. Last I'd heard they were looking at the space that used to be Roslyn Lake.Â
So how much is this mess gonna cost the tax payers? Some more of that good governing by supposed "educated" people.. We need to have a "common sense" qualifier for elected office. All the education or good intent in the world don't make you smart.
 @wvboy From what I've heard, elected officials had nothing to do with this - it was employees at the zoo.
Yes, I would certainly like to know why the Oregon Zoo--which I had GREATLY respected until today--holds a contract with this kind of organization. There are other elephants at other zoos the OZ could have taken on breeding loan, rather than entering into a contract with an organization accused of using abusive methods to train their elephants. This is beyond ridiculous, and it casts a real pall over the happenings at the zoo we, the taxpayers funding it--obviously have no idea about.
 @MissLissaJ it has nothing to do with the oregon zoo choicing it is the AZA that said tusko need to go here and breed . take that up with themÂ
 @Brad Vincent Jr Again, why is the AZA recognizing this group, period?Â
 @MissLissaJ that i have no clueÂ
"Ownership doesn't really mean anything,"Â Smith said during the press event.
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Yeah, that makes perfect sense..............What kind of people are running this zoo?
KATU - here is an idea: camera crew, micro phone and reporter confront Kim as she leaves Zoo today. Simple question to ask "why do you have a contract with a company that has been accused of abuse towards elephants?"
 @Rae0224
Without this contract, Tusko wouldn't have even been at the zoo to sire calves - they never owned him in the first place, he is on loan specifically for their breeding program. As such, his owners usually retain some rights to his offspring in the loan contract.  It's not unusual at all, regardless of the frenzy being whipped up by the Seattle Times.Â
And the baby elephant's new name has been chosen. Â What's Tibetan for "Meal Ticket"?
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50wBdPhBQGo&feature=youtu.be
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SHAME ON THE ZOO!!! This HAVE TRUNK WILL TRAVEL - SHOULD BE SHUT DOWN!!!!!
 @ViviMax Disgusting. After watching that video, I would love to see those elephants stomp all over those people. More reason not to support zoos or circuses.
@leapfrogger @ViviMax And don't you sometimes wonder at what makes an elephant do exactly that? We hear about it on the news, and I can only gather that they were fed up with their treatment. Elephants are so incredibly intelligent. This is so sad.
ADDRESS the contract KIM! Why do you have a contract with such a disgusting company?
A video of how Have Trunk Will Travel treats their elephants...
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50wBdPhBQGo
 @kg Watching that video makes me angry.
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Someone below mentioned contacting your Metro official. Â Here's a link to the Metro's council of elected officials:
http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=28
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 TO ANYONE WHO SEE THIS VIEW DESECRATION IS ADVISED THIS VIDEO IS CRUELÂ
Bend over, taxpayers. This is going to cost millions.
Using words like "support our vision" and "In negotiation" doesn't exactly fill me with confidence
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No matter what happens, this was handled poorly. The zoo should have anticipated this firestorm and had a statement ready, or better yet, been proactive and got their story out first.
 @al_02 She side-stepped every direct question that was asked, and seemed to have an apathetic look on her face the whole time. I wasn't buying it.
Please call your Metro representative as Metro oversees the zoo. Metro should not be doing business with such organizations as Have Trunk Will Travel heavily critized by international elephant experts. Push Metro to provide better care for our elephants and get them into a better living environment.
 @Betty Here's the link to the council of elected officials for Metro:
http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=28
 @Betty And if you're not sure what district you're in:
http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=778
 @Betty I heard that they have plans of extending the Elephant exhibit after zoolights this yearÂ
 @Theodore Alverson  @Betty Yea, last I heard there are two expansions - one at the zoo and an off-site area where some of the elephants would go (like a sanctuary).