The Honorable Senator Fran Pavley

March 10, 2016

The Honorable Senator Fran Pavley

Chair, Natural Resources and Water Committee

CaliforniaGeneral Assembly -Senate

State Capitol

Room 5108

Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: Opposition to State of California Bill SB 1062

DearChairman Pavley:

The American Association of Zoo Veterinarians (AAZV) is sending this letter in response to SB 1062and respectfully asks you to oppose the bill which would ban the use of the elephant guides (specifically referred to as“bullhook” or “ankus” in the bill) when working with elephants.

The AAZV is an organization representing over 1,100 veterinarians involved in all aspects of the veterinary care, health, welfare and research for captive and free-ranging wildlife. We represent animal health professionals from multiple disciplines with wide expertise in zoo and wildlife species, including elephants. The AAZV is the leading organization representing veterinarians providing elephant care in the United States. It is from this perspective as knowledgeable and caring veterinarians seeking the best elephant carethat we write in opposition to SB 1062.

The AAZV agrees completely that it is not humane or ethical for baseball bats, axe handles, pitch forks or similar devices to be used to inflict pain for the purpose of training or controlling the behavior of an elephant, or any animal in human care. We also agree that people who mistreat elephants should absolutely be held accountable. It is the inclusion of the elephant guide in the bill that triggers our opposition.

The elephant guide (mistakenly called by the archaic name of “bullhook” or “ankus” in the bill) is used to aid communication between the elephant handler and the elephant by gentle touch or visual cues to direct the elephant. The guide extends a handler’s reach allowing more effective and immediate communication between handler and elephant and maintains a safe distance between elephant and handler. When used properly, it should never inflict pain or punishmentto an elephant. As veterinarians medically assessing and treating elephants our attention is on the medical task at hand and often in close proximity to the elephant, so it’s critical that the elephant handlers’ are communicating clearly and effectively with the elephants to keep us safe. If the handler-elephant communication is not clear, veterinarians and others in the area are put at risk. By removing the elephant guide, the State of California would be removing an essential safety and welfare tool for a large and potentially dangerous animal. This limits elephant caretakers and veterinarians from providing the highest standard of care and creates unnecessary safety concerns for veterinary and animal care staff.

Minority anti-elephant activists groups have promoted misinformation and incorrect language about the appropriate use of the elephant guide. While it may seem they are striving to ban the elephant guide for welfare reasons, manyof these groups haveinstead challenged captive elephant management to make housing and caring for elephants everincreasingly more difficult, with the goal of no elephants to be allowed in human care. While the AAZV gives praise to the California Senate for caring about the welfare of elephants, it is important to see past the misinformation and rhetoric regarding elephants in captivity to avoid making erroneous decisions regarding safe and compassionate elephant care.

Any tool can be misused in the wrong hands. While a small number of unethical or untrained handlers mayuse an elephant guide inappropriately, and they should be appropriately punished for doing so, the guide itself should not be outlawed. This is a handling tool, much like bridles on horses or collars on dogs. It would be unreasonable to outlaw these tools for the millions of responsible pet owners due to a few owners who misuse them. Punish the animal welfare violators, not the vast majority of elephant handlers who are acting humanely and using elephant guides appropriately.

The AAZV, the American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA) and the Elephant Managers Association all have published policies or position statements supporting the appropriate use of elephant guides. This is a tool that is recognized as both one that can be used humanely and one that is integral for the safe managingof captive elephants.

The AAZV absolutely supports improving elephant welfare, but please oppose bill SB 1062.

Respectfully submitted,

Kelly Helmick, DVM, MS, DACZM

President, American Association of Zoo Veterinarians

References:

-American Veterinary Medical Association 2008 “New Policy- Elephant Guides and Tethers”[ accessed 6mar16 at CONTINUED:

-AAZV 2007 Position statement supporting elephant guides ( accessed 6mar16 at

-“Literature Review on the Welfare Implications of Elephant Training”, April 14, 2008 from the American Veterinary Medical Association ( accessed 6Mar2016 at

-Fowler, M.E. and Mikota, S.K. Eds. 2006. Biology Medicine and Surgery of Elephants.Ames, Iowa, Blackwell Publishing.

-Anonymous . 2006. Guidelines for Elephant Management and Care. Buffalo, New York, Elephant Managers Association. Available as Appendix 11.Fowler and Mikota.Biology, Medicine and Surgery of Elephants.

-Olson, Deborah. Ed. 2004. Elephant Husbandry Resource Guide. Published jointly by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Elephant Taxon Group; The Elephant Manager’ Association and the International Elephant Foundation.