Alaska's elephant hates cardio!

The Alaska Zoo has been trying to coax its elephant, Maggie, onto the world's first elephant treadmill for two months. But so far, the stubborn and sometimes moody elephant has shown more interest in treats than exercise. She's not about to take up jogging.

The treadmill was custom-made for Maggie amid much fanfare, then delivered to the zoo in September. It is one of the key items in the zoo's plan to improve the controversial living conditions of the pachyderm.

She is the lone elephant in Alaska. Critics argue she should be in a warmer climate where she can walk outdoors year-round and be with other elephants.

But the zoo decided to try this experiment first.

It is truly a terrible thing to keep this poor creature in this inhospitable state, she is lonely, and clearly suffering from depression.

Maggie came to Alaska in 1983 as a companion for our previous elephant superstar, Annabelle, who was the very reason that the zoo was built in the first place. Annabelle had been a prize that a local greocery store owner won by selling the most toilet paper. It soon became obvious that the grocer could not care for a full grown elephant on his own, so he solicited help from a local rancher and then later through donations they built our little zoo.

Annabelle passed away in 1997, leaving Maggie all alone. She did not acclimate as well as Annabelle appeared to have acclimated. So now she is just a sad, cranky creature who clearly does not belong up here amongst the moose and bears.

It is time for Maggie to move to a much better environment.