The State - News from Nov. 14, 1988

A study by the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was critical of the methods used to discipline elephants at the San Francisco Zoo. While not going into specifics, the society’s director said a report will be made to the zoo director. The study was undertaken after a 7,000-pound Asian elephant at the zoo seriously injured a veterinary technician last month and keepers said the elephant was retaliating for previous abuse. A panel of three nationally recognized elephant experts who investigated the incident said there had been no abuse but that elephant handlers at the zoo were poorly trained.