Press Conference discusses Winkie's retirement to the Elephant Sanctuary
Carol Buckley, director of the Elephant Sanctuary, held a press conference in Madison August 3, on the front steps of the City-County Building.
The Elephant Sanctuary ( http://www.elephants.com ) is the future home of Winkie, the Vilas Zoo Asian elephant, and Ms. Buckley visited Madison to make initial plans for Winkie's retirement to the Sanctuary. Winkie's retirement, and African elephant Penny's relocation to a large, modern facility, are the result of a diligent citizen campaign to improve the lot of Vilas Zoo's elephants. This campaign combined the efforts of a local citizen advocate group, community leaders, schoolchildren, and county officials, including the county Board of Supervisors.
Winkie and Penny have spent years in an facility that is too small to accomodate the significant space needs of captive elephants, spending 2/3 of their lives chained in place in their indoor enclosure.
For more information, see WISC-TV 3's story about Elephant Sanctuary director Carol Buckley's visit to Madison
