The State - News from June 15, 1988

Citing “shocking” reports of animal abuse at the San Diego Wild Animal Park, the chairman of a state Senate committee has launched an investigation into the alleged beating of Dunda the elephant, as well as broader zoo policies and procedures that might have led to the incident. Sen. Dan McCorquodale (D-San Jose), chairman of the Natural Resources and Wildlife Committee, is “genuinely concerned” about the reported beating and “now it’s a matter of trying to find out what’s happened,” committee staffer Mary K. Shallenberger said. Dunda, an African elephant, was allegedly chained, pulled to the ground and beaten on the head with ax handles for several days last February after she was transferred from the San Diego Zoo.