PRESSE-MITTEILUNG

12 April 2017

Elephants: Hannover Zoo takes measures
Independent experts already at the zoo; Video material to be examined by state attorney;
Elephant shows suspended several years ago
As announced, Hannover Zoo has taken various measures to investigate accusations of
maltreatment of its elephants. As of this week, experts are on site to examine the animals’ physical
condition and other factors.
Zoo Director Andreas M. Casdorff welcomed the Lower Saxony state attorney’s investigation to
ensure that video material which Peta has so far withheld can be examined by an independent
assessor.
Immediately after the accusations were made public, Hannover Zoo asked Peta and SWR [public
service broadcasting company] to release the entire video recordings, said to be dating from May
and autumn 2016, to enable the zoo to conduct a full investigation. Andreas M. Casdorff: “On
Monday Peta let us know that they would not be giving us access to their video material.”
The state attorney’s action means that Hannover Zoo is no longer dependent on Peta’s readiness to
cooperate. Andreas M. Casdorff: “We’re pleased that it will now be possible to determine objectively
whether there has been any violation of animal protection law. The Zoo will, of course, cooperate
with the state attorney in every respect. We cannot, and do not wish to, anticipate the findings of
this investigation in any way, even if the procedure could take several weeks.”
Calls have come from several parties that the keepers involved should be temporarily suspended
from their duties with the elephants until the situation has been clarified. This demand does not,
however, take into account that elephants kept in ‘free contact’ need just these keepers, with whom
they are familiar, to allow regular checks on their teeth and foot care.
Procedures agreed with external experts
“Over the last few days we’ve gone through all our standards and procedures again in detail,”
explained Andreas M. Casdorff. As announced, Hannover Zoo is also bringing in diverse
independent experts for consultations on the keeping and handling of elephants. On Tuesday
several professors of Hannover University of Veterinary Medicine were at the zoo to examine the
Herausgegeben von der Zoo Hannover GmbH  Pressestelle
Adenauerallee 3 30175 Hannover  Tel +49 511 28074-160 oder 117  Fax +49 51128074-156
E-Mail: presse@erlebnis-zoo.de  www.erlebnis-zoo.de

 PRESSE-MITTEILUNG

elephant herd, and in the next few days elephant experts from the European Association of Zoos
and Aquaria (EAZA) will assess the entire spectrum of keeping, animal training and staff training.
Andreas M. Casdorff: “The ‘Report Mainz’ programme and Peta are still implying that we put our
elephants on show in circus performances. We must make it clear that the elephant shows to which
they object have not been given for several years now. Instead, there are commentated feeding
times during which we convey knowledge about the animals and their biology.” Regular training
sessions are important because they occupy the animals and make it possible to carry out medical
examinations and routine care.
For everyone interested in finding out more about the issues, the zoo has set up a special page on
its website: www.zoo-hannover.de/elefanten.

Herausgegeben von der Zoo Hannover GmbH  Pressestelle
Adenauerallee 3 30175 Hannover  Tel +49 511 28074-160 oder 117  Fax +49 51128074-156
E-Mail: presse@erlebnis-zoo.de  www.erlebnis-zoo.de