If she is happy, no one can know. The famous elephant “Happy” from the Bronx Zoo has apparently not been seen in public for over two weeks, causing concern among activists for the well-being of the huge mammal.
Although the zoo insists that Happy is fine and simply shy in front of the cameras, activists believe there may be more behind the mystery, and visitors came up with their own extravagant and not so serious theories on Tuesday afternoon.
Does anyone know where "Happy" is?
"Honestly, it's probably in someone's backyard in the Bronx," joked Tony, a Westchester resident, after he and his family saw the zoo's other elephant, Patty, strolling from the monorail. "I mean, you never know. Someone had a big garage," he told the Post.
Jossie, a mother of two children visiting from the Dominican Republic, joked that Happy was "being a good companion" to Patty.
"I don't know where Happy could be, but I think he went out and got something for Patty," Jossie said.
But Happy's health was no laughing matter for 39-year-old Carlos Bonaparte, a resident of East New York who was visiting the zoo with his five children for his son's birthday. "I think there is something wrong with her if they haven't seen her," Bonaparte said. "They are both very old. It is a bit worrying."
What does the zoo say?
Zoo officials have continuously pointed to a statement issued last week that says Happy is perfectly fine and has decided not to venture out where visitors can see her.
"There is nothing wrong with Happy," the zoo said in a statement.
"Both Happy and Patty are over 50 years old and, as we usually report, they are in good health... Happy has decided not to go out to the visible area from the monorail, so Patty is the elephant that visitors recently saw."
"The zoo added, 'Happy has the opportunity to use the exhibit area every day, and when he decides to do so, visitors love to see him again.'"
Concerned activists
The Non-Human Rights Project, which sends monitors to observe the elephants from the monorail daily and has been fighting for Happy's freedom since 2018, pointed out last week through social media that an elephant that "chooses" not to move is not a "normal and healthy behavior for elephants."
"“Something is wrong with Happy,” wrote the activist group last week after filing a complaint with the Animal Welfare Act to the USDA on behalf of the elusive pachyderm."
"We fear that Happy will not go out because: 1) he physically cannot leave the barn, 2) he is experiencing great psychological distress due to his prolonged isolation in a deprived environment and refuses to leave the barn, and/or 3) he is denied access to the main yard," reads the complaint.
"The confinement of Happy in a closed space for at least a week is deeply concerning, and we fear that the physical and psychological suffering she has endured for decades is now reaching a critical point."