Comment from Ronald J. Maraia, Bridgeport, NY

A significant number of elephants have had to be destroyed because of advanced joint and foot problems that stem from inadequate space in which to exercise, and hard surface areas on which to walk. Additionally, there are a number of elephants in zoos around the country that are currently suffering from the same conditions. Five or six experts in elephant care and elephant needs, with respect to healthy and humane exhibit space requirements in zoos, have all submitted a great deal of information with respect to the situation at the Los Angeles zoo, where an elephant recently died due to the zoo's failure to provide timely vet care. One need only to visit the website at "helpelephants.com" to read about several zoos that have had to destroy animals due to joint and foot problems brought on by inadequate conditions in indoor and outdoor exhibit areas. Elephants are by far the biggest attraction that zoos have, but unfortunately they present the greatest challenge to zoos to build an adequate exhibit area to resemble natural conditions for these incredibily intelligent and social animals. In the wild, elephants range over tens of miles each day, live in highly social herds and move most of the time. In zoos most of the time, elephants live in absurdly small areas that preclude them from getting adequate exercise, resulting in joint problems. Surface areas are mostly too hard due to the limited space, or are made of concrete, which is deadly too healthy feet.