Buttonwood among worst elephant zoos

NEW BEDFORD, Mass (WPRI) - In Defense of Animals has released its annual list of the "Ten Worst Zoos For Elephants", and New Bedford's Buttonwood Park Zoo is near the top.

In its second appearance on the list, Buttonwood took third place on this year's list.

In a news release, the animal rights group claims the zoo's two elephants, Emily and Ruth , "continue to languish in their small, outdated exhibit that even the zoo director, an elephant expert, admits is unacceptable for them. They spend at least 15 hours indoors nightly, and even more time inside during the cold, icy winters, resulting in painful chronic foot disease, severe arthritis and chronic pressure sores."

According to the group's Elephant Campaign Director, Catherine Doyle, says such conditions can have serious psychological impact on the animals.

“These include abnormal repetitive behaviors, hyper-aggression, social isolation, and deadly conditions such as foot and joint disease caused by lack of space and movement," she said.

In Defense of Animals says the elephants at Buttonwood are suffering from these symptoms now.

"These elephants display abnormal behaviors, including neurotic swaying and rocking and hyper-aggression. In 2006, Emily bit off six inches of Ruth’s tail, and Ruth has been aggressive toward keepers," the group's news release said.

The organization is now calling on Buttonwood to close down its elephant exhibit and allow Emily and Ruth to live out their lives in an elephant sanctuary. In Defense of Animals also wants zoo officials to upgrade its many other "dilapidated exhibits"