Source: calgary.ctv.ca
CALGARY, CANADA, September 25, 2009: The Calgary Zoo is defending its decision to erect a statue in front of the elephant enclosure. The statue is a depiction of the elephant headed Hindu God Ganesha.
Ganesha is widely revered as the remover of obstacles and is often the deity whom worshippers first acknowledge when they visit a temple.
Concerned Christians Canada says religious statues should not be in publicly funded spaces. The group wants the zoo to remove the statue or allow other religious groups to place icons from their faiths around the zoo.
“This is not intended to be a religious symbol,” said Grahame Newton, of the Calgary Zoo, “This is a cultural symbol and it depicts the tie between our Asian elephant herd and the Asian culture.” The zoo specifically asked the sculptor to remove the religious symbols and icons normally associated with Ganesha.