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Maggie the elephant: California dreamin'

by Steve Mac Donald
Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Maggie the elephant will soon be a California girl.    

The Alaska Zoo Board of Directors chose to send its beloved elephant to a sanctuary run by the Performing Animal Welfare Society, also known as PAWS.

The board made the decision during a closed-door meeting last night, but the board didn't make that choice public until this afternoon.   

For nearly all of her 25 years, Maggie has called a pen at the Alaska Zoo home, but not much longer.

After months of research, debate and pressure, the Zoo's board of directors decided to ship Maggie to the 100-acre PAWS sanctuary in northern California.

Of the three facilities considered, PAWS was the most visible.

In late August, one of the co-founders of PAWS, Ed Stewart, came to Anchorage to make a public pitch for Maggie.      

"We're just here to present a case. We know what we have and what we can offer," Stewart said in August.

Stewart brought with him some celebrity star power, former TV game show host and animal rights activist Bob Barker.

"I received a letter at the studio from someone in Anchorage who was concerned about Maggie," Barker said in August.    

But Alaska Zoo Director Pat Lampi said celebrity wasn't the reason for going with PAWS.

"They have a lot of experience integrating new elephants into their group of animals, a very large exhibit, a lot of expertise, good climate. I think it's a very good choice," Lampi said.

Money wasn't a factor, either. PAWS promised a $100,000 donation to the zoo if it got Maggie. The zoo says it will not accept the cash.

"We chose PAWS because we think it's a good facility for her to go to, not because any money is going to be donated to the zoo," Lampi said.

While it may be losing a large donation, the zoo is winning praise.  Paul Joslin with the group Friends of Maggie said it's a good decision.     

"I'm delighted. I think they will find the whole of the Anchorage community delighted with the fact that they're planning to move her before we get ourselves into winter. I don't know how she would do if she were to stay here another winter," Joslin said.

Even Maggie's fans, like Gabrielle Markel, are reluctantly happy for her.

"It's hard to say that. I know all of Alaska would love to have an elephant here, but that's really not what's best for Maggie," Markel said.

Now Maggie must prepare for her long trip south. Lampi said, how long it actually takes to get her ready is entirely up to her.

Zoo officials said they must train her to get into a shipping crate and that could take days or even weeks.    

Lampi said they are already working with Maggie by getting her on her treadmill, which is somewhat of an enclosure.

The zoo said Maggie's health is very well. A vet from the San Diego Animal Sanctuary recently checked her out in preparation of moving her and gave her a clean bill of health.    

The abrasions she suffered when she collapsed last spring are healing. Maggie collapsed due to a case of colic, which started the push to move her to a warmer climate.    

When she does move, it will be the first time in the zoo's 38 year history it won't have an elephant on display.

Contact Steve MacDonald at stevem@ktuu.com