PERFORMING ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY
Rescue. Advocacy. Sanctuary. For Life.
Since 1984
June 2018 | Newsletter
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Above: African elephants Maggie, Toka and Lulu
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Spotlight on African Elephant Toka
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You can easily identify African elephant Toka as she navigates the grass-covered hills at ARK 2000, together with Maggie and Lulu. Her long tusks make her stand out from the other elephants. The 48-year-old elephant came to PAWS in October 2013 from the Toronto Zoo, with Thika and Iringa. Iringa was humanely euthanized in July 2015 following a long history of degenerative joint and foot disease, the leading reasons for euthanizing elephants in captivity.
Toka was only four years old when she arrived in Toronto – one of seven wild-caught elephants imported from Mozambique in 1974 (she is the only surviving member of the group). She likely was the victim of a cull, meaning that she witnessed the massacre of her protective mother and aunts, before being thrust into a crate and shipped across the world. Toka would spend the next 39 years at the zoo, living in close quarters amid a number of elephants and the ever-shifting alliances between them. She gave birth to a female calf named Toronto, who died at age 10. By 2010 only Toka, Thika and Iringa remained, the Toronto Zoo having lost four elephants in as many years and others before that. After the zoo decided to end its elephant program, the Toronto City Council voted to relocate the elephants to PAWS.
Today Toka spends her days immersed in nature, foraging throughout the day on grass, trees and other fresh vegetation. She loves being close to friends Lulu and Maggie, as the group moves together throughout their habitat. If there is one thing Toka adores, it’s a good mud bath (click on the video link below). She can often be found stomping, splashing and rolling in the mud, which serves to protect her skin from insects and the sun. Toka’s caregivers report that she is relaxed and calm during husbandry care and training, and that bananas send her into a blissful state as she savors this special treat.
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Some people think that all elephants get along because they are a social species, but this isn’t always the case. Female elephants naturally would only live with their mothers, daughters, other female family members and their offspring – and not with unrelated elephants. In captivity, elephants are haphazardly brought together. Not only are they not from the same family, they aren’t even from the same locale. Home countries for the African elephants at PAWS include Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland and South Africa.
At PAWS we let the elephants tell us what social situation works best for them. Their individual life histories generally dictate these choices. For example, an in-depth story by
Toronto Life
magazine (2010) on the elephants at the zoo reported that “Thika, despite being more than a decade younger than the other two [Toka and Iringa], had taken over as matriarch, and she was using her new-found power to antagonize Toka.” The keepers tried to teach the two to get along by “forcing them to spend time with one another in short ‘compatibility sessions.’”
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Above:
Toka, far right, loves being close to friends Lulu and Maggie, as the group moves together throughout their habitat.
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These days Thika (the only captive born elephant among the Africans) spends her time with long-time PAWS resident Mara. She can often be seen following Mara around like a little sister follows a big sister. Toka is most relaxed with Maggie and Lulu and is never far from them. PAWS’ first priority is always the health and welfare of our animals. By closely monitoring the elephants’ behaviors and honoring their choices, they have the most stress-free and comfortable lives possible – which is how it should be.
You can adopt Toka, or any of the elephants at PAWS, for a year by clicking
here
. Your adoption provides the animals with a full range of care, including plenty of TLC!
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PAWS' co-founder, the late Pat Derby, was a courageous leader in the movement to protect captive wildlife. She would have celebrated her birthday on June 7
th
, had she not lost her battle with cancer in 2013. There isn’t a day that goes by that we don't recall Pat's wisdom, her love of animals, and the fearlessness that made her truly fearsome to her adversaries!
Pat originally was a Hollywood wild animal trainer who became disgusted with the abuses that she saw happening behind the scenes of films, commercials and advertising. She wrote a tell-all book published in 1976,
The Lady and Her Tiger
, that exposed the exploitation of these animals, and became the first to champion the plight of wild animals used in entertainment. With her Hollywood career now behind her, Pat launched into the work that was her real passion: rescuing and caring for captive wildlife and advocating for an end to their use in entertainment, especially circuses. Her intrepid activism and investigations into the lives of wild animals in circuses led to
Mother Jones
magazine naming Pat the circus’ “no. 1 antagonist.”
Today, Pat’s partner of 37 years and PAWS' co-founder and president, Ed Stewart, continues to lead the organization into the future, building on the work that he and Pat long engaged in for captive wildlife. That work is more vital now than ever.
Click
here
to make a donation to PAWS in honor of Pat Derby.
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Jackie Coyote: In Memoriam
Saying Goodbye and Thank You
by Jackie Gai, DVM
PAWS Director of Veterinary Services
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Animals are wonderful teachers if you're willing to listen, and Jackie coyote, who died on June 2, was one of the best. During the years I spent caring for her she taught me valuable lessons about wildness, captivity, acceptance, resilience and inner strength. She had an impish sense of humor and a lighthearted joy for living. Here is her story, my tribute to this special friend.
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Jackie was born in the wild in 2002, and "rescued" soon afterwards by a well-intentioned individual who found the tiny pup and thought she was orphaned. This good Samaritan took Jackie into her home and tried to hand raise her, an action that caused the little coyote to become deeply and irreversibly attached to humans, dependent on them for food, companionship and safety. In other words, it sentenced her to a life in captivity.
Coyote mothers rarely stray long distances from their pups, and often leave them in a hiding place while they forage for food. People who accidently stumble upon these young, vulnerable animals will mistakenly think they are abandoned and pick them up. The best option is to leave them where they are. The wild mother is probably nearby and will return to care for them. If it's determined that the animals are truly orphans, their best chance for remaining in the wild, where they belong, would be to turn them over to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator immediately after being found.
Jackie was two months old when she was finally surrendered to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Because young pups like Jackie are not suitable for release into the wild they are often euthanized by wildlife authorities. This time authorities chose to send her to PAWS' sanctuary in Galt, California, where she would receive expert care and a lifetime home.
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PAWS' co-founder, the late Pat Derby, sent me to retrieve the little pup. I will never forget the first time I saw her. She had big, sky-blue eyes, huge ears and both a wildness and a vulnerability about her. It was immediately evident that she looked to humans for care and comfort, as she crawled into my lap and pressed her body against mine the minute the door to her crate was opened. My heart ached. This was
not
the life nature had intended for her.
Pat's partner, and PAWS' co-founder, Ed Stewart, built an enclosure for Jackie that was filled with tall grass, shade trees and a comfortable wooden shelter.
This tiny coyote did not like being left alone.
As she settled into her new home, she solicited us frequently for attention. I spent many hours sitting quietly on the ground beside her. She would sometimes flop on her back next to me with her little paws in the air. When I got up to walk around the enclosure, she would follow along. As she grew more confident, she would run around me in a circle, occasionally stopping to bow her head down on her front legs, the universal canine invitation to play. Despite my many suggestions that we give her a Native American name, Pat called the young pup Jackie,
after me
. I was humbled and deeply honored by Pat's choice. I still am.
When Pat and Ed were at the Galt sanctuary, they stayed in a cottage that was located next to Jackie's enclosure. Jackie fell in love with Pat, and the two would often joyously howl and yip together when Pat was outside. Jackie was selective with the people she included in her circle of "friends", but when Pat, Ed, or I would approach, she would jump out from the grass, tail excitedly wagging, and come to greet us at the fence.
Wild coyotes have an interesting social structure, living in a sort of fission-fusion, loose-knit community. Individual coyotes spend much of their time alone and independent, gathering occasionally in pairs or small groups to hunt, mate, or socialize. As Jackie grew into adolescence and felt secure in her new home, we gradually spent less and less time with her. I visited a few times a week from the outside of her enclosure, just long enough to say hello and make sure she was doing well. Our visits were brief but joyful, and once I walked away, she resumed exploring her habitat for bugs or bits of food she buried. It was a relief to know that she no longer needed us with her all the time.
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At PAWS, we believe that wild animals belong in the wild. For those animals who are in our care, we strive to provide a natural setting, room to roam, excellent care, and the freedom for animals to choose how to spend their days. We don't, for very good reasons, physically interact with, or enter the enclosures of the animals. Because of Jackie coyote's unique situation, she was a notable exception to our general practices. As it turns out, our close relationship with her allowed us to work together to overcome significant physical disabilities after she suffered a stroke in November of 2015. (
Click here
to read about this resilient coyote's devastating stroke, and her moving story of rehabilitation and recovery while learning to walk again.)
Though her stroke left her back legs a bit wobbly at times, Jackie learned to stand squarely and could run short distances with sure footing, and seemed to have found a new lease on life. We did notice small changes in her personality, as she would now allow herself to be seen more often and would hide less from her caregivers. Her voice deepened, and her yip-howls took on a softer, deeper tone. She enjoyed the extra attention from all of us, as we kept a closer eye on her daily activities. We made sure that she took her medications and special nutritional supplements that were carefully hidden in favorite foods. She continued to be active, and even playful during our frequent visits.
In recent months we noticed Jackie's mobility begin to decline. Adjustments were made to her medications and new creature comforts were added to her enclosure by her attentive caregivers. In late May her mental attitude and appetite were both still good, but it was becoming more difficult for her to stand and walk. On June 2nd, she was suddenly unable and unwilling to stand up. When her caregivers called me to tell me of her condition, I raced to be with her. As I knelt at her side, she told me as clearly as any animal ever has, that she was ready to pass from this world. Jackie calmly and peacefully slipped away, surrounded by love.
I will treasure memories of this special coyote for the rest of my life.
Run free, little one.
Click
here
to donate to PAWS in memory of Jackie coyote.
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Animal Protection Around the World in Three Days: November 9-11
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This year’s PAWS International Captive Wildlife Conference is not to be missed. We are bringing together the
largest international array of speakers ever
, representing work for captive wild animals in more than a dozen countries, including Australia, Canada, China, Japan, Kenya, Lebanon, Serbia, South America, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States and Zimbabwe. Speakers include conservationists, scientific researchers, attorneys, academics, and animal care, welfare and policy professionals.
The three-day conference will take place November 9-11 in Burbank, California. It is PAWS’ largest conference and presented just once every four years.
Day 1 of the conference is all about elephants (covered in last month’s
newsletter
). On Day 2 you will hear from speakers addressing a range of topics, including:
Steven Wise of the Nonhuman Rights Project talking about the groundbreaking cases for chimpanzees and elephants that would grant legal personhood.
Jason Mier and Maggie Shaarwari of Animals Lebanon on their work for captive exotic animals, including groundbreaking protective legislation. Their presentation is one you won’t forget.
An all-star panel on captive wildlife protection through law, legislation and regulation, featuring Delci Winders of the PETA Foundation, Nicole Paquette from The Humane Society of the United States, and Steve Wells of the Animal Legal Defense Fund.
Read more about Day 2 in next month’s PAWS E-newsletter!*
Registration is open now.
You can find more information on the conference, speakers, and registration by clicking on the "Register Now" button below. See you in November!
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*Program details are still in progress and speakers are still being added; a final program will be released in September. The dates for some speakers/panels may be subject to change.
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Good News for Animals
France destroyed more than 500 kilos of ivory
as part of the international campaign to end elephant poaching. France banned all sales of elephant ivory and rhinoceros horn in 2016. The event was the third of its kind in France in four years, and brings the total amount of ivory destroyed to over a metric tonne.
Oregon's Washington County has voted to ban the ownership of exotic animals.
The ordinance is intended to prevent the introduction or keeping of exotic species not normally found in the state of Oregon, such as lions, tigers, bears, monkeys and crocodiles, and prohibits direct contact between these animals and the public within unincorporated Washington County.
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Thank You June 2018
Amazon Wish List Donors!
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Valerie M. Smith:
one qt., one gal. Red Cell.
Patricia D. Adler Cartozian:
one Renal Essentials, 60#; one 8 oz. EicosaDerm.
Cristen Esquibel:
two EicosaDerm, 8 fl. oz.
Cara L. Gregorio:
one gal. Red Cell; one 8 oz. EicosaDerm.
Sammarye Lewis:
one gal. Red Cell.
Yanina:
one Renal Essentials, 60#; one 8 oz. EicosaDerm.
Carole Bognar:
one 32 oz. EicosaDerm.
Cindy Guillett Beytin:
one 20 lb. tub of Psyllium.
Nancy Gordon:
two sets of Motorola radios.
Marisa Landsberg:
one 8 oz. EicosaDerm.
Linda Khym:
two 32 oz. EicosaDerm.
Nathan W:
one bottle Azodyl, 90#.
Shannon Russell:
one gallon Red Cell; one bottle CosequinDS, 132#; two 8 oz. EicosaDerm.
Stirling Fraser:
one bottle Renal Essentials, 60#; one 8 oz. EicosaDerm.
Anonymous Donors:
one EicosaDerm, 32 fl. oz.; two 10 lb. tubs Psyllium; one qt. Red Cell;
one bottle AminiVast, 60#; 10 bottles Emcelle Tocopherol
.
Click on PAWS' "wish list" links below to
donate specific items that are needed at our sanctuaries:
View "wish list" items that are needed,
but not listed on the Amazon list,
here
.
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There are many ways you can help PAWS animals:
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Donate To PAWS.
Although we work closely with regulatory agencies on animal rescues, PAWS receives no government funding and must rely on your donations to continue our work. Three ways to give and every donation matters.
Learn more
Adopt A PAWS Animal.
If you would like to help our animals, one of the best ways is to become an "adoptive parent," or give a PAWS adoption as a gift to an animal lover in your life. PAWS adoptions are symbolic adoptions only. No animal will be sent!
Learn more
PAWS Partnerships.
Help us change the life of a victim of captivity by becoming a PAWS Partner. PAWS partnerships help support our sanctuary operations and the day-to-day care of the animals.
Learn more
Estates/Planned Giving.
You can help us make sure captive wildlife in need of shelter will always have a PAWS sanctuary to call home!
Learn more
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Purchase PAWS apparel and merchandise.
Clothing for adults, kids, toddlers and infants, as well as other fun merchandise like coffee mugs - available from our
online gift shop
.
Shop online through IGive and raise money for PAWS!
Up to 26% of your purchase - at more than 1,600 retailers - can be donated to PAWS.
Learn more
EBAY Giving Works.
List items on EBAY and choose PAWS as your charity. Donate a percentage of each sale to the animals. Visit our EBAY charity listing page
here
. Start selling!
Corporate Donations and Matching Fund Programs.
Learn more
about what is needed.
Donate Your Vehicle To PAWS.
Attend A Fundraiser.
PAWS sanctuaries ARE NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC but we do schedule a limited number of special events throughout the year.
Click here
to view PAWS' Calendar of Events.
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PAWS provides lifetime care to the tigers, bears, elephants, and other animals that call our sanctuaries home. As animals age, their needs change and they may develop arthritis, kidney disease, and other conditions that are readily treatable with proper care. PAWS expert animal care and veterinary staff provide specialized nutritional and medical support, tailored to the individual needs of each animal.
Your generous donations make this excellent care possible.
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P. O. Box 849, Galt, CA 95632
(209) 745-2606
email: info@pawsweb.org
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