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The recent "controversy" about elephants is being created by a handful of animal-rights activists who have strategically chosen this species as their first target in a longer-term campaign to close zoos — all zoos. They claim that seeing an animal on television is just as good as experiencing animals in an up-close-and-personal setting. The American Zoo and Aquarium Association strongly disagrees.

With a firmly rooted commitment to excellence in animal care, conservation and education, zoo association members like the Reid Park Zoo provide experiences that inspire respect for animals and nature. Together, we are building an important wildlife conservation movement, which can make a daily difference in the lives of our visitors and for animals all over the world. We believe strongly that elephants should be in our future — in zoos and in the wild — and by collaborating with caring, conservation-minded people, they will be.

As the zoo association's "Standards for Elephant Management and Care" go into effect May 1, some zoos are electing to phase out their programs and concentrate their conservation work on other species. At the same time, more than 40 zoos nationwide are planning to expand or enhance their elephant conservation programs in the next five years, among them the Reid Park Zoo.

The Reid Park Zoo has demonstrated its commitment to elephants by working closely with the Tucson City Council and explaining the zoo association standards of care for elephants. The zoo staff is comprised of dedicated professionals who are passionate about caring for animals and about sharing their conservation work with visitors. They are part of a vast network of animal experts who willingly share knowledge, advice and strategies with each other on behalf of the animals.

Nationwide, "local" anti-elephant groups are being coordinated by national animal-rights activists. We know this because the groups advertise for people who are willing to take this agenda on at a local level. Second, the tactics they are using in Tucson are the same tactics used across the country, including attempting to influence City Council members and the public by taking information out of context from animals' medical records, twisting data from research studies to meet their goals and creating sensational media events.

In some cities, these groups threated zoo staff. In a federal court of law, one group stated for the record they would rather see elephants dead than in zoos. Thankfully, the public takes a dim view of such thoughts and actions.

A recent Harris Interactive Poll showed that 95 percent of U.S. adults agree that visiting accredited zoos and seeing animals helps people appreciate them more and encourages people to learn more about them. Further, 86 percent of those respondents agree that visiting zoos and aquariums encourages people to donate money and/or time to animal conservation efforts. Elephants are some of the most popular animals at zoos, and as ambassadors for their species, they inspire people to protect them.

Being a leader means taking responsibility for those that rely on you — something the Reid Park Zoo does well for all of its creatures. They are committed, along with other American Zoo- and Aquarium-accredited zoos, to ensuring that elephants remain in the world's future.