THIS IS THE PRESS RELEASE THAT IDA SENT OUT THIS MORNING.

May 14, 2007
Contact: Catherine Doyle (323) 301-5730

Alaska Zoo Responsible for Maggie the Elephant's Endangered Condition, Group
Charges Weekend Fall Is Sign that Elephant Should be Moved ASAP

Anchorage, Alaska--Responding to news that Maggie, the elephant at the
Alaska Zoo, laid down over the weekend and could not get back up,
international animal protection organization In Defense of Animals (IDA)
renewed its call for the elephant's transfer to a sanctuary as soon as
possible. IDA said it holds the zoo responsible for the dangerous situation
in which Maggie has been held for years, including 10 years of solitary
confinement.

"This perilous event is a sign that Maggie must be relocated without delay,"
said IDA president Elliot M. Katz, DVM. "Maggie is a young elephant, and the
fact that she went down and could not right herself is extremely troubling."

"While the Alaska Zoo has selfishly refused to move Maggie, the conditions
of her confinement in Alaska have taken their toll," Katz continued. "It is
likely that she will not survive many more winters of confinement indoors,
alone, without the ability to exercise, breathe fresh air, or enjoy the
company of another elephant."

Maggie has been alone since the 1997 death of her companion, Annabelle,
caused by chronic foot infections. Months spent indoors and sedentary in a
tiny stall on concrete floors during the long sub-arctic Alaska winter can
spell fatal foot and joint disorders. Winters in Alaska have always taken
their toll on Maggie, and recent photos and video taken by visitors to the
Alaska Zoo show an elephant in what appears to be poor physical condition.

The world's leading African elephant experts, along with members of the
Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), a trade association for the zoo
industry, have recommended Maggie's transfer to a more appropriate facility.
But instead of moving her, Alaska Zoo built an expensive treadmill on which
it hoped Maggie would exercise. More than a year after its installation, the
treadmill goes unused.

IDA said that when an elephant lies down or collapses and cannot right
herself, the situation is extremely dangerous because the weight of the
elephant's body can stop blood flow to the extremities, impair breathing,
and damage internal organs. Last year, Gita an elephant at Los Angeles Zoo
died after collapsing and remaining down for over 12 hours. Another
elephant, Lucy at Milwaukee Zoo, also collapsed last year and was righted by
hoists and a crane. Several months later, however, she collapsed again and
was euthanized.

Katz said that Maggie's young age (27) left him hopeful that it was still
not too late to transfer her to a sanctuary. Access to space and varied
terrain, he explained, would strengthen Maggie's muscles, which have
atrophied from years of inactivity, and relieve pressure on her joints.
Natural substrates also help heal elephants' feet, which become diseased
from standing on hard surfaces like concrete and from prolonged immersion in
feces and urine.

"Maggie's situation is far too dangerous to ignore," Katz concluded. "If
this young elephant dies, the responsibility falls squarely on Alaska Zoo."

For more information please visit www.helpelephants.com