Rhanee Needs Your Help

Rhanee (c) Animal Defenders

Rhanee is a female Asian elephant who featured in the high profile Chipperfield trial at the start of 1999. Rhanee was the elephant seen madly rocking and swaying in the corner, whilst the other elephants were beaten.

Rhanee’s sad story began in Thailand in 1969 when she was taken from the wild and sold to a circus; she spent the next three decades as a circus amusement. She was continually tethered with very short chains, barely able to move and her now constant head rocking and nodding is the sign of a very behaviourally disturbed animal.

The prosecution that ended her miserable life in the circus was brought about by an investigation by animal rights group, Animal Defenders, but although the other elephants were sold to zoos within the UK by their owner, Mary Chipperfield Promotions, Rhanee disappeared and her whereabouts were unknown.

However, at last she has been found, living a lonely existence as the only elephant at Valwo Zoo in Spain (owned by Parques Reunidos).

Animal Defenders have had an incredible response to her story and their ultimate aim is to rehabilitate her to the Performing Animal Welfare Society's sanctuary in California. Here, she would have extensive space, natural vegetation and swimming/bathing facilities. In addition, the personnel have enormous experience of caring for abused elephants, particularly former circus animals.

Although there have been negotiations and meetings with the officials of Valwo and Madrid Zoos, both owned by entertainment group, Parques Reunidos, Parques Reunidos have refused to let Rhanee go and she remains at Valwo Zoo; this despite evidence to show that Rhanee needs special care, and should not be part of a breeding programme.

(c) Animal Defenders

Give Rhanee a Break
A worldwide campaign to 'Give Rhanee a Break', including a boycott of Parques Reunidos attractions, which include zoos, amusement, and water parks in Spain has been launched by Animal Defenders and they need your help!

You should write to Parques Reunidos with protest letters and involve as many people visiting Spain as possible. Travel agents are being asked to support the campaign, and the support of Spanish animal welfare and animal rights groups has already been enlisted. It is currently the main tourist season, so it is essential to act now!

What You Can Do

  • Order a free RHANEE ACTION PACK  today! This includes protest postcards, petitions, colour posters for your local travel agents, campaign suggestions and information sheets.
    N.B. Much of the information below is contained within the Rhanee Action Pack - so, you can either order your own colour copy, or print off a black and white copy today then order a pack for a friend!
     

  • Order a supply of RHANEE ACTION PACK REQUEST cards to distribute amongst family, friends, neighbours, work, your local health shop, pet shop, travel agent, club etc so that as many other people as possible order Rhanee action packs.
  • Click here to make a donation to help Rhanee and other animals.
  • Print off a copy of the RHANEE ACTION SHEET today, for a list of things you can do to make a difference to Rhanee.
  • Read the full story of Rhanee, plucked from the wild 30 years ago for a life in the circus; deprived, beaten, lonely for her own species. (PDF file).
  • If you are visiting Spain, please DO NOT go inside the following PARQUES REUNIDOS attractions.
  • Read the many heartwarming comments from celebrities in support of the Rhanee campaign, from Sir Paul McCartney to Jay Kay, to Samantha Robson etc and many more.
  • Please print off and gather signatures for the petition to the Spanish Ambassador in the UK. (PDF file)
     
  • Please click here to send a postcard of protest to the President of Parques Reunidos, urging him to consider the proposal to retire Rhanee to California. Click here for an English translation of this postcard.

 

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