Letter: Elephant lives life to fullest

Monday, Aug. 21, 2000 | 9:30 a.m.

I saw her many times in the Mirage's Secret Garden. I saw her often playing with Chris, her trainer, or by herself. An unhappy animal would never be so playful. And I have watched elephants in zoos living in groups -- they were not playing together. Unfortunately they don't have such a wonderful home like Gilda has in the Secret Garden.

Gilda doesn't need to be together with other elephants. She needs instead to live with her human families, who love her and treat her in a wonderful way and take care of her. If she lived with other elephants, she would be an outsider and might even be afraid of the other elephants. I believe it could make her physically sick.

If the activists really wanted the best for Gilda, they would understand she is living in the best surrounding. And when one day she has to retire from Siegfried & Roy's show, the Secret Garden is the best place for her to stay.

ERIKA HEINZE

Germany

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