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SAMPLE LETTER FOR GILDAH

RE: GILDAH – ENDANGERED ASIAN ELEPHANT IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT PERFORMING WITH SIEGFRIED & ROY AT MIRAGE HOTEL IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

Dear USDA and Government Leaders,

Serious concerns are raised about "Gildah," an endangered Asian elephant who is owned by FELD, Ringling Bros, and performing with Siegfried and Roy at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas.

Elephant experts worldwide have concluded that it is cruel to keep elephants, who are highly social animals, in solitary conditions. Regardless, Gildah has been kept alone for 20 years now. I feel compelled to demand her retirement. She is now 42 years of age and the public feels she has done her time and should be rewarded with sanctuary retirement.

Our group desperately urges the USDA to adopt stricter guidelines AT LEAST stating that performing elephants be retired before age 18.

A former Mirage employee writes testimony: "I worked at the Mirage for 6 years and saw poor Gildah on a frequent basis. In that time, about 10 of my letters to the editor were published in various Vegas papers. There was also at least one op-ed piece about her. Several times I knew people who picketed her performances. Siegfried and Roy are a multi-million dollar production and they and their staff live lavishly while their animals (the "products" that have made them rich and famous) languish. The white tigers are their meal ticket and main attraction and they do get exercise and at least can interact with others of their own species. Poor Gildah is all alone and always chained when not in view. Her handlers always carried a hideous device in their hand which they would hit upon Gildah's trunk. I have seen this, because I was physically in the hotel and corridors because I worked there. In fact, I became an elephant "activist" solely because of what I witnessed with Gildah. She is a gentle, dear soul and I looked into her eyes and saw such pain and loneliness. They would allow kids to throw pennies and dimes at her and sometimes people would throw baseballs at her, which would hit in on the flank and head. It's so sad! I have seen Gildah hundreds of times. She is lonely, chained and miserable. Her diet consists of dried hay and in the summer, they occasionally gave her some watermelon and some kind of yellow mush. I have written and demanded her release for years. Siegfried and Roy treat their tigers no better. They are on display in a glass booth in the hotel for one hour a day, the rest of the time they are forced into tiny cages. All of this makes my heart bleed!"

This matter can no longer be ignored. At the very least, I must demand in great desperation that Gildah be retired to the highly reputable Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee where she can be with other retired female elephants. Our group has volunteered to help raise the funds necessary for Gildah’s retirement as well as make all the arrangements necessary to transport her.

As a TAXPAYER and REGISTERED VOTER, I must desperately urge Federal and State Legislatures to pass a law forbidding the ownership of a sole elephant, that they must be kept in a group of three or more. The reason for three or more is so that if one dies, there won't be a single one left to die of a broken heart. This has been documented many times in many countries. In fact, in Australia, they passed this law when a circus elephant died of a broken heart when her companion died.

Last year Germany became the first country ever to grant constitutional rights to animals. Lawmakers voted to add "and animals" to a clause in the German Constitution that obliges the State to protect the dignity of humans. I highly commend Germany for recognizing God's creatures as individuals. I pray that the United States will follow.

I ask that the USDA inspect the Mirage and Gildah on a regular basis and since extra funds have been set aside to enforce the Animal Welfare Act, I must ask that an elephant expert be brought in to inspect and assess Gildah’s solitary confinement.

The campaign to retire Gildah is just part of the major campaign to prohibit elephants and other animals in enslaved performing situations within the United States. Please expect more pressure on this issue as our group feels uncontrollably compelled to change laws in our country that allow such cruelty to continue.

Thank you for your time, consideration and attention in this matter.

Truly,

(name address), Taxpayer and Registered Voter

cc:
USDA
Presidential Leaders and First Ladies
Nevada Senators
Nevada House Representatives
Nevada Congressmen
Nevada Governor and First Lady
Mayor of Las Vegas and First Lady
Press Releases to Major Media Sources - ongoing