San Diego Zoo Safari Park - Allegation of Mistreatment

Allegation of Mistreatment

In 1988, an 18-year-old African elephant, Dunda, was subject to controversial training methods which, according to San Diego City Attorney John W. Witt, included "chaining her four feet, hauling her down to her knees and repeatedly smacking her on the top of the head, where the skull is thick, with ax handles and the wooden end of elephant hooks." None of the five zookeepers who took part in the discipline technique were charged, due to a lack of conclusive evidence and the fact that at the time these training techniques were accepted by the animal training community. Two of the zookeepers requested transfers after their homes were vandalized by animal rights activists.