Elephant In The Room!

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Why Elephants Will Never Belong In Zoos. You would be hard-pressed to find a person who isn’t drawn to the majestic beauty and intelligence of elephants. Unfortunately, these traits are exactly what led people to capture elephants and put them in zoos where they could be seen by everyone.
There are approximately 1,200 elephants in zoos across the world and the majority of them suffer from some degree of physical or emotional distress. The American Zoo and Aquarium Association has specific standards for elephant care that are applied to the treatment of these animals, but these alone are not adequate for the animals’ happiness. When you consider the fact that an elephant’s natural behaviors and physical attributes have evolved for survival in the wild, any attempts for zoo facilities to match these natural experiences fall short.

Social Life for Zoo Elephants

The environment in zoos can simply never be adequate for elephants. Their high levels of intelligence and social needs make living in a zoo painful for them emotionally and physically. In the wild, elephants can live in herds that range from eight to 100 elephants. These herds form complex social groups that bear a strong resemblance to human groups in that they love one another, play and chat, and even mourn each other. In zoos, they are stripped of this ability and confined to small areas where they are forced to interact, elephants, like people, don’t always get along so there can be fights and stress.  Just imagine being stuck forever in one room with your least favorite co-worker. This alone is in fundamental conflict with the elephant’s natural social structure which understandably leads to a lot of stress for captive elephants.
This sort of deep mental distress manifests itself in stereotypic behaviors in zoo elephants. A recent study of elephants by the AZA found that approximately two-thirds of captive elephants exhibit stereotypic behaviors such as head bobbing, weaving, and swaying.According to Born Free’s Adam Roberts, “These behaviors are acknowledged as an indicator of past or present welfare problems.”

Physical Ailments

The Stories of 4 Elephants in Captivity – and How You Can HelpArran ET / Flickr
In the wild, elephants walk up to 30 miles a day. In a zoo where they only have a few acres of space, captive elephants become prone to conditions like obesity that they would not suffer from in the wild. Limited space also means that elephants have no other option than to stand on hard concrete for the majority of their days. Compared to the forgiving surface of grass or dirt, concrete puts an inordinate amount of stress on the elephant’s feet and joints. Foot or leg injuries can be fatal for an elephant as if they collapse and can’t right themselves, the weight of their body can crush their internal organs.
Additionally, zoo elephants are more prone to contracting diseases than their wild counterparts. According to In Defense of Animals, keeping Asian and African elephants in the same enclosure in zoos heightens the risk for the spread of fatal Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus. Tuberculosis is another common illness spread amongst captive elephants, this is particularly concerning as it can also be passed to humans as well.

Hope for Captive Elephants

The combination of physical ailments and the emotional/social component of captivity takes a major toll on the actual lifespan of captive elephants; an African elephant in the zoo lives an average of 16.9 years while in the wild they live an average of 56 years. Considering the stark contrasts in living conditions for the lives of wild and zoo elephants, it can be deduced that the failings of zoos to create an environment where elephants can thrive can’t be ignored.
The good news is, there are alternatives to the cruel confinement of elephants in zoos. Obviously, the ideal situation would be to first end all elephant zoo programs and then retire the elephants to sanctuaries where they can live in a manner that is as close to wild as possible. A number of zoos in the U.S. have already put an end to their elephant programs, including the Bronx Zoo  and in Seattle, although these two places still need to take the extra step to send their animals to sanctuaries.
There are currently two elephant sanctuaries in the United States that offer hope: The Elephant Sanctuary and the Performing Animal Welfare Society. These places offer as close to a natural environment as they can and serve as examples for the fact that life after captivity is possible for elephants.
It is up to us to help end the practice of keeping elephants in zoos and subjecting them to lives that are wholly unnatural and harmful to their well-being. You can help elephants by boycotting any captive animal attraction and sharing what you’ve learned with others. Together we can help prevent the future suffering of wild elephants – that’s something we can all be on board with!
Lead image source: Friends of Woodland Park Zoo Elephants

Retire 46-year-old elephant Beulah after 19 years of exploitation.

I first saw Beulah the elephant on a trip to the New Jersey State Fair. Beulah was a part of a petting zoo where she was forced to give kids and teenagers rides. I watched as they kicked her and pulled on her ears. Beulah also looked to be overweight and unhealthy. Even after I left the fair, I couldn’t get the elephant out of my mind. I wanted to know more about where she lived and how she was being treated.

After doing research, I discovered that Beulah had been on the road for almost 20 years. She belongs to the Commerford and Sons Traveling Petting Zoo. The zoo has been cited by the US Department of Agriculture for mistreating and abusing their animals. They have been documented using bullhooks -- a device meant to inflict pain -- on elephants in their care and opposing legislation to ban their use.

A traveling petting zoo is no place for an intelligent animal like Beulah, let alone a traveling zoo with a long list of Animal Welfare Act violations. It is time they let Beulah retire and live out the rest of her life in an elephant sanctuary.

I started this petition in hopes of giving Beulah a better life. Together, we can make that happen. Thanks to public outcry, many elephants across the world have been freed from exploitation and given a better life. Big circuses like Barnum and Bailey have committed to stop using elephants in their show. We can do the same for Beulah. Help us convince Beulah’s owners to send her to an elephant sanctuary by signing and sharing the petition.

Here is documentation of abuses by the Commerford and Sons Traveling Petting Zoo:

Ask the Juniata Fair to revoke Commerford's spot!

Jul 18, 2015 — A lot of you have been asking "what else can I do?" and thanks to a supporter on our Facebook page, we have an answer.

 Commerford & Sons will be at the Juniata County Fair in Port Royal, PA in September from the 5th-12th. Help us get the fair to revoke their spot!

 Here is the schedule that shows it:
http://juniatacountyfair.com/schedule.jsp.

 Here's what you can do:
You can email or call the fair:
jcfair@centurylink.net
(717) 527-4414

 You can leave a comment here. The letter is from last year but the president should still see the comments:
http://juniatacountyfair.com/post.jsp?id=4

 There Facebook page is here, please comment on any recent posts they have up:
https://www.facebook.com/JuniataCountyFair

 Please link the petition in any and all writings.

 Also please, DO NOT BE RUDE in your messages and do not bash them in their Facebook ratings! These messages are directed towards the fair itself, which may not be truly aware of everything about the company. Do not take your anger out on them, or they may just shut down our concerns and our point may not even get across. KINDLY write to them and state your opinions on Beulah's situation and provide the necessary links.

 Thank you so much and please continue to share and "like" us on Facebook!

 Free Beulah Mae

Free Beulah Mae. 5,032 likes · 3,751 talking about this. Help save 46-year-old elephant Beulah from 19 years of exploitation.
HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM



Urgent! Action Needed to Create Governing Body to Protect Captive Animals in Europe
In the European Union (EU), there is no central body to regulate the treatment of animals used in zoos, the pet trade and vivisection. Only the Central Animal Welfare Unit exists and that deals solely with animals used for food. A huge number of animals in European zoos, circusesand sold as pets are kept in dire conditions that fail to meet their basic mental and physicalneeds. This is largely the result of poor legislation and enforcement of laws of government authorities. For that reason, a central body is needed within Europe in order for there to be stronger laws and legislation for animals used in European zoos, circuses, dolphinaria and for wild animals sold as pets.
The Born Free Foundation, aware of this issue through their ongoing investigations, has started a campaign calling on EU members of Parliament to establish a “One Stop Shop” to improve animal welfare in the EU.
Developed by Jacqueline Foster, British Conservative MEP and Vice-President of the Animal Welfare Intergroup, the written declaration No. 22/2015 proposes a “One Stop Shop” and, if it passes, will be a really positive step for wild animals throughout Europe.

How Would the One Stop Shop Benefit Animals?Urgent Appeal, One Stop Shop Needed for EU's AnimalsFlickr

Even though times have changed and animals are, to an extent, gaining more rights, many wild animals throughout Europe are still living a life of misery at the hands of humans. Highly sociable animals like elephants and parrots live a life of solitude in concrete prisons in zoos. They crave company and stimulation but do not receive it. Often, this can lead to self-destructive behavior in many animals and even premature death.
“A one stop shop for animal welfare, as proposed, would establish a centralised information point within the European Commission to provide much-needed support and capacity-building to the 28 EU governments,” the Born Free Foundation writes in a declaration, “Rightly, it is the responsibility of the Member States to protect animals, but without the necessary knowledge and expertise, currently poor animal welfare standards are unlikely to change.”
Over the years, the Born Free Foundation and a number of other animal welfare charities have received hundreds of complaints about animals suffering in zoos and circuses in the EU. A central animal welfare unit within the EU would benefit the welfare of all animal species, as law enforcement and legislation would be dramatically improved in all EU countries.
“We are fully supportive of a ‘one stop shop’ for animal welfare established at the European level as it will centralize and consolidate expertise in animal welfare and have relevance for all animals under human care,” says Daniel Turner, Programs Manager for animal protection policy at the Born Free Foundation. “As with many animal protection NGOs, Born Free seeks to protect the welfare of animals, largely hindered by poor enforcement and non-compliance.”

Please Support the Written Declaration

In order to make the declaration the official position of the EU, it needs the support of over half the MEPs (376). And there’s a deadline: July 20th! A few MEPs have signed the declaration 22/2015 already, one of whom is the President of the Intergroup for Animal Welfare.
“A one stop shop within the European Commission will ensure the Member State Competent Authorities have the means to access guidance and training in order to build capacity, ensure effective enforcement of law and uphold animal welfare standards,” explains Turner. “Today, the Born Free Foundation joins over 100 animal protection NGOs in support of this vital initiative.”
To make the One Stop Shop happen, ask your MEP to sign this written declaration. Inform your MP of the ways to sign:
  • In Brussels at office PHS 07C 085 / PHS 07C 087
  • In Strasbourg at office LOW T02024
  • Via email by downloading the relevant form for written declaration 22/2015 from parliament’s intranet
If you live within the UK, you can contact your MEP here and enter your postcode to list your local MEPs. If you live outside the UK, you can contact your MEPS here. And if you live outside of Europe, please contact the President of the Intergroup for Animal Welfare, Mr Janusz Wojciehowski and explain the issue to him. You can email him atjanusz.wojciechowski@europarl.europa.eu.
Image Source: Aflowergirl/Flickr
How Tearing Elephant Calves From Their Mothers for Captivity Impacts the Wild Herd
Elephants have roamed the savannahs of Africa for millions of years. They descend from a long line of ancient land mammals, making today’s elephants the remnants of a truly remarkable evolutionary radiation.
Elephant populations comprise distinct components: Cow-calf herds are usually made up of an older matriarch, her daughters and their calves. Young bulls form bachelor groups while older bulls are often seen in solitary existence.
These gentle giants are widely held to display more human-like traits than any other large mammal, and the elephant has long been acknowledged for its intelligence, strong family bonds, and complex levels of consciousness and social cohesion.

Cohesion between families and extended families or clans is the very foundation of elephant life.07_10_15_taking

Yet even though this phenomenal intelligence and social complexity is well understood, few species are as persecuted and exploited as the elephant.
Removing a young elephant from its family group is appallingly traumatic for the calf, and is as traumatic for their family groups impacting greatly on their social set up. Scientific recognition of this fact greatly informed the argument in halting elephant culling.

However the capture and removal of live young elephants from family groups persists.

This is fuelled by economic greed and a bogus, conservation rhetoric claiming over-populations amidst the lack of any scientific evidence. These dubious arguments have been the major defence by the Zimbabwe government in justifying their decision for the capture late last year of an unnamed number of elephant calves, and the export earlier this week of 24 elephant calves to a zoo in China.
There can be fewer things more distressing than removing a youngster from its family group; the resulting stress alone often leads to the death of these young elephants before they even reach their destination. For those that do survive, that trauma remains for a life time – often manifesting in mal-adjustment and anti-social behavior.
In the case of the Zimbabwe elephants, the regulatory body governing the trade in wildlife, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), made it possible for this trade of elephants to China to be legal, showing an absolute lack of any welfare and ethical considerations. What’s more, no legislation to protect animals governs facilities in China.
Mechanisms which base their existence on making regulations to conserve species yet ignore the welfare of the individual animal involved need to be questioned by society together with those tasked with making them.
Lead image source: Mariamichelle/Creative Commons
A Setback in the Quest for Mohan's Freedom

We have somber news to report about the fight for Mohan. On Thursday, the high court's decision set aside that of the lower court, meaning that for now Mohan will remain with the man who currently has illegal custody of him. 

The high court's decision was made based on examination of a veterinary certificate presented by the Chief Veterinary Officer of Pratapgarh, while the two other veterinary certificates, one of which was the work of a completely independent veterinary expert, were not considered by the court while hearing this matter. These other veterinary certificates both concluded that Mohan must be transferred to our center in Mathura for treatment and care.

While the high court's decision is a setback, we will never give up on rescuing Mohan.

We have consulted with our attorneys, who have presented us with several options to move forward. We will be carefully assessing those options in the coming days, but whatever path we choose, it seems clear that we will be incurring more legal costs in the pursuit of Mohan's freedom.

 

To help us fight and win the upcoming legal battle, please donate to our Elephant Legal Fund today.

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