Elephant to retire - SPCA launches Jumbo Fund

The management of Weber Brothers today announced the retirement of crowd
favourite, Jumbo the elephant after an illustrious 28-year career in the
circus business.

Weber Brothers owner Harry Weber said a group of experts had met in Auckland
this week to discuss the future of the 36-year-old African elephant and made
the difficult decision to put her into retirement.

Jumbo's most recent role has been touring with the Loritz Circus, a
subsidiary of Weber Brothers, for the past 12 months.

"We have met with the team at the SPCA and will be gifting Jumbo to the
organisation to manage her transition into retirement," Mr Weber said.

"Jumbo is a real crowd favourite and it's always been our intention to
ensure she has the opportunity to enjoy the second half of her life at a
less hectic pace and out of the public eye," he added.

"Being on the road with the circus can be tiring for animals and their
health and well-being is always our main priority. The care and transport of
an animal of this size is also a big undertaking for any organisation."

SPCA National Chief Executive Robyn Kippenberger said the SPCA had been
working with Weber Brothers and elephant experts from Australia and New
Zealand to ensure the right decisions were made regarding Jumbo's future.

"Final plans for her future have not yet been confirmed but Jumbo is still
very bright-eyed and the experts believe she will be able to manage the
change in her environment easily."

Weber Brothers has been on a break over winter and Jumbo has already been
put into a temporary care facility to start her transition process into
retirement.

Due to the on-going costs to care for an elephant, the SPCA has set up a
special fund for the public to donate to her care.

Donations can be made to the "Jumbo Fund" at any SPCA office throughout New
Zealand or via the SPCA website at www.rnzspca.org.nz

For more information about Jumbo visit www.jumbo.net.nz