In 2002, Patty and her companion Maxine fatally attacked an elephant named Grumpy. Grumpy was one of a group of wild-born elephant calves imported to the US (all were named after the dwarfs in Snow White). This awful event wasn’t surprising given the 'zoochosis' elephants can develop from being confined in zoos where they have no space and no choice.
Three years old. $6,000.
That’s the age Patty was when she was torn from her herd in India
along with other calves, and that’s the amount the Bronx Zoo paid
for her in 1973. It’s half a century later, and Patty remains in
captivity in the “Wild Asia Monorail” elephant exhibit.
Young elephants are as emotionally reliant on their families as we
are, so the trauma isn’t hard to imagine. And this was only the
beginning.
In 1981, Patty gave birth. The Bronx Zoo named her baby Astor. He
died before his 2nd birthday from the elephant endotheliotropic
herpesvirus.
In 2002, Patty and her companion Maxine fatally attacked an elephant
named Grumpy. Grumpy was one of a group of wild-born elephant calves
imported to the US (all were named after the dwarfs in Snow White).
This awful event wasn’t surprising given the “zoochosis” elephants
can develop from being confined in zoos where they have no space and
no choice.
Shortly after, the Bronx Zoo separated Grumpy’s companion Happy from
the other elephants for her own protection and began claiming Happy
doesn’t get along with other elephants. In 2018, the Bronx Zoo
euthanized Maxine, who had cancer. Now Happy and Patty, the only two
surviving Bronx Zoo elephants, are each held alone in the exhibit.
Elephants are deeply social beings who form lifelong bonds and need
herds to thrive. Studies show captive elephants experience brain
damage because they’re confined to small, barren environments. In
sanctuaries, elephants with traumatic histories can heal and thrive,
regaining their peace, dignity, and freedom to roam after years of
being on display.