tagged w/ Asian Elephants
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Los Angeles Times...
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Tucson zoo fight involves elephants, Bob Barker
January 18, 2012 | 3:52 pm
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Elephant herd at San Diego Zoo's Safari Park
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Connie is an Asian elephant, Shaba an African one. Nonetheless, they formed a bond, paling around together for three decades at Tucson’s Reid Park Zoo.
So when zoo officials announced plans last year to move Connie to the San Diego Zoo –- without her buddy Shaba -– animal activists were enraged.
The Tucson zoo was planning to bring in a herd of African elephants from San Diego, the Arizona Daily Star reported. Because zoo accreditation standards demand that new herds not mix African and Asian elephants, "due to multiple species differences and possible disease transmission issues," Connie would join other Asian elephants in San Diego.
But local activists Tracy Toland and Jessica Shuman considered the separation cruel. It “defies everything we know about elephants: their intelligence, profoundly deep social bonds (females remain with their mothers for life) and the capacity for deep emotion,” they wrote in the Daily Star.
The women launched a campaign to keep Connie, 44, and Shaba, 31, together and added some celebrity sizzle to the debate. At their behest, former “Price Is Right” host and well-known animal advocate Bob Barker recently offered to contribute $500,000 to send the elephants to a California sanctuary if others could raise matching funds.
This week, Tucson zoo officials reversed course, announcing that Connie and Shaba could both move to San Diego, the Daily Star said. Turns out, San Diego’s Asian elephant herd already has an African member, so Connie and Shaba’s cross-species kinship will fit right in.
.Los Angeles Times...
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Tucson zoo fight involves elephants, Bob Barker
January... more
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Los Angeles Times...
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Editorial
Elephant rides should be a thing of the past
Elephant rides are a tradition at the L.A. County Fair, but it's one tradition the fair should abandon, both for the animals' and the public's sake.
PHOTO: Rosie, an Asian elephant, cooled herself off with water during a break from giving rides at the Los Angeles County Fair. (Los Angeles Times)
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September 7, 2011
The Los Angeles County Fair is steeped in traditions, from its Ferris wheel to fried everything. But elephant rides are one tradition the fair should do without.
The Humane Society of the U.S., the country's most influential animal welfare organization, is against them, saying that elephants are typically trained for rides and other performance activities through the use of bullhooks and electric prods. The Assn. of Zoos and Aquariums "strongly encourages" its member organizations to discontinue rides in the interest of safety.
The elephants at the fair are supplied by the Perris, Calif.-based outfitter Have Trunk Will Travel, a member in good standing of the association. But its founders, Kari and Gary Johnson, are accustomed to controversy following in their elephants' footsteps. Officials of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, who asked the fair to cancel the rides, circulated a video from Animal Defenders International that purportedly shows trainers from Have Trunk Will Travel using bullhooks and electric prods to get elephants to perform.
In a statement, the Johnsons said the video was six years old and heavily edited. "We stand by our care and training methods," said the statement. Kari Johnson confirmed that the trainers use bullhooks — "the pointed end is to push them away, the curved end is to pull them toward you." But she defended the company's care of its six Asian elephants, saying they are well treated on a 10-acre ranch and noting that the outfitter is involved in research on and conservation of the endangered species.
What's more, the company has supplied Asian elephants to the fair off and on for 20 years without incident or evidence of inhumane treatment on the grounds, according to fair spokesperson Leslie Galerne-Smith.
In our view, the video is beside the point here. Zoos, including the L.A. Zoo, are spending millions to create elaborate habitats for elephants, which are the world's largest land mammals. Some zoos have reevaluated whether their facilities can sufficiently accommodate the needs of pachyderms. Some are also instituting a policy of almost no unprotected contact between keepers and elephants, which is considered more humane and safer for all. At a time when the management of captive elephants is focusing on conservation and the animals' well-being, hoisting people onto their backs seems out of step.
The animal welfare groups, the elephant supplier and the fair officials all say they care deeply about elephant conservation. If that's true, there ought to be a way to allow people — including fairgoers — a chance to see and learn about these stately creatures of the wild without riding them.
.Los Angeles Times...
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Editorial
Elephant rides should be a thing of the... more
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Short documentary “Behind the Siamese Smile” exposes the shocking truth about Asian elephants in Thailand's booming tourist trade, which rarely receives any media coverage.
The documentary unveils the other side of the elephant tourist business in the Land of Smiles (Thailand), where domesticated Asian elephants are trained to give ingenious performances in tourist camps. Their cuteness and 'intelligence' never fails to attract tourists from around the world. However, not so many people are aware of the real situation of these animals or their living conditions. Besides uncovering the current situation of the elephants, the documentary also features an ancient taming ritual known as 'Pajaan,' where baby elephants receive hard training in order to enter the tourist business.
"Behind the Siamese Smile" aims to raise the public awareness of the animal's plights, while questioning the common perception of the Thai Asian elephants in the tourist business.
The documentary has been selected for screening at 2011 ISFF Detmold Short Film Festival in Germany as well as at the Once A Week Film Festival.Short documentary “Behind the Siamese Smile” exposes the shocking truth... more
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Four elephants, allegedly poisoned, dead in Assam
Kishalay Bhattacharjee, Updated: October 12, 2010 16:38 IST
Guwahati: The fringes of the Kaziranga National Park have turned into deadly territory.
In the last few days, four elephants - two of them calves - have been found dead in the area, the most recent was discovered in the Panbari Reserve Forest. All are suspected to have died of poisoning.
Panbari is one of the most important animal corridors in the country, but the corridor has been choked with more than a hundred stone quarries.
The impact of that on wildlife is compounded by the tea estates in the area which chemical pesticides and toxic weedicides.
It's not clear whether the poisioning was deliberate. But the conflict between elephants and humans has been rising. This year, elephant herds from near-by Karbianglong have destroyed fully-grown rice paddy in at least ten villages in Kaziranga.
In September, the government announced that the elephant would be given National Heritage Animal status, which would entitle it to the same level of protection as the tiger. A task force set up to draft policy has presented an agenda that tackles the diversifying conflict with humans, as well as the loss of habitat. However, it has not touched upon the issue of pesticides in eco-sensitive zones.
"There is no measure as of now and we have enough laws, it's the implementation which is lacking," says Rathin Barman, Coordinator of the Wildlife Trust of India.
Last month, pictures of seven elephants run over by a speeding train in Siliguri in West Bengal had people all over the country cringing. It also became a sore point between the Railways Ministry and Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh.
Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/four-elephants-die-in-five-days-in-assam-59091?cpFour elephants, allegedly poisoned, dead in Assam
Kishalay Bhattacharjee,... more
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New Delhi, Oct 14 : Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh has asked Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to immediately probe into the recent death of four elephants, including two calves, in the Kaziranga National Park (KNP).
Suspecting that the jumbos had died due to poisoning, Ramesh while expressing his concern in a letter to the chief minister said, "enquiry may be immediately conducted and take the most stringent action against those found responsible for this tragedy."
http://www.sinlung.com/2010/10/probe-assam-elephant-deaths-jairam.htmlNew Delhi, Oct 14 : Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh has asked Assam Chief... more
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New Delhi (25 May ,2010),(pti).
A majority of captive elephants in south India suffer from various foot ailments which can lead to crippling the gentle giants and severely hampering their day to day activities, finds a sample study.
Scientists working with temple elephants reported that foot problems constitute the single most important ailment among the pachyderm with more than half of them which were studied found to be suffering from some form of foot ailment in their lifetime.
The pilot study conducted between April 2008 and February 2010 by K S Subramanian, T G Prabhakar and M G Jayathangaraj from Madras Veterinary College examined temple elephants in Tamil Nadu. They found that over 50 percent of these jumbos endure one or more foot problems and require regular filing, polishing and application of medicated oils to maintain their feet.
"Captive elephants kept at various temples in the state showed one or more foot ailments such as cracked and split nails, excess cuticular growth above and in between the nails, hardened footpad, excess footpad growth, abrasion of foot sole, foot rot, abscesses in the nail, cuticle and footpad, arthritis, analysis of joints and degenerative joint disease,"says the report.
A total of 182 captive elephants from Aringar Anna Zoological Park (7), Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (23), Anamalai Tiger Reserve (19), Temples of Tamil Nadu (53), Guruvayur Devaswom (66) and Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Karnataka (14) were examined for the presence of foot ailments.
The study found various predisposing factors such as absence of regular foot care and management, unhygienic and unsanitary tethering conditions, minor foot lesions or foreign body, negligence of lesions at the early stage, incomplete treatment and unscientific approach making the problem big.
The study observed and recorded details regarding husbandry practises like housing, flooring, details of enclosure and tethering site, use of leg chains, foot care practises carried out if any, general hygiene and sanitation.
Out of seven elephants maintained at Aringar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur, three were found to be affected with minor foot ailments and one having major foot ailment. Out of 23 camp elephants examined at different camp sites of Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, minor foot ailments were revealed in 15 camp elephants and one elephant had nail abscess, according to the study. Of 19 camp elephants examined at different camp sites of Anamalai Tiger Reserve, 12 were found to be suffering with one or more of minor foot while one had major foot ailment.
Out of 53 elephants (maintained in different temples of Tamin Nadu) examined, 48 temple elephants had one or more ofminor foot ailments while 23 showed one or more of major foot ailments. Similarly, out of 66 elephants maintained at Guruvayur Devaswom eight were found to be affected with major foot ailments.
The researchers say that the"study can be carried out throughout the country involving larger numbers of captive elephants in different regions in order to understand the regional incidences of foot ailments and their microbial etiology."
Since unlike their wild counterparts, captive elephants do not have access to natural vegetation which contain necessary trace minerals and vitamins that promote foot health the study calls for better awareness on the foot care and management among their caretakers.
The study notes that captive elephants traditionally being maintained in temples, the foot problems can cause serious economic loss in terms of productivity and utility of the animal.In fact, if not handled adequately and timely, the ailments may eventually lead to a painful death in due course, says the research project.
"The aim of the project is to prepare a database about the common foot problems encountered in captive Asian elephants and to analyse the predisposing factors leading to them. It also aims to identify the bacterial organisms in the foot lesions and to suggest appropriate treatment measures,"says researchers.
http://www.indiareport.com/resources/images/original/elephant.jpgNew Delhi (25 May ,2010),(pti).
A majority of captive elephants in south India... more
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Information video about the 49-year-old female, Asian elephant, Lucky, who remains to date alone in a barren and inappropriate habitat at the San Antonio Zoo. Find out what you can do to help her achieve freedom.
Song credit: Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Karri Rose.Information video about the 49-year-old female, Asian elephant, Lucky, who remains to... more
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Please help save the Asian Elephants. Please follow links to view the protests.
1) http://forests.org/shared/alerts/send.aspx?id=india_elephants
2) http://www.rainforestinfo.org.au/e/appeal.htm
Asian Elephants require connected large habitats. Asian Elephants survival depends on having access (via the corridor) to roam and forage throughout the seasons.
The largest and potentially most viable population of Asian elephants is found in the mountains of the Western Ghats where the 3 Indian states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka meet.
Of a total population of about 2000 elephants surviving in Peninsular India in various fragmented habitat islands, the largest single population which may number over 1000 individuals is found in a near contiguous habitat extending over this 4500sq km tract.
The best forage is in the Tamil Nadu section but the elephants need to migrate to Kerala and Karnataka each summer when water and food become scarce in Tamil Nadu.
Direct movement from Tamil Nadu to Karnataka is no longer possible because of clearing and development and so now the only way for the elephants to migrate from the east to the west in the dry time and return during the wet season is via the Mudumalai TIGER Reserve in Tamil Nadu, to the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala.
However, due to habitat fragmentation this route must now pass through a corridor which is only about 2.5 km wide extending from Mulehole in Karnataka to Muthanga in Kerala.
There are suitable alternatives to this development outside the forest.
In another part of this elephant population's range, the proposed establishment of the India Based Neutrino Observatory (INO) in Singara, within the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and in the buffer zone of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, threatens to further fragment elephant migration routes.Please help save the Asian Elephants. Please follow links to view the protests.
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If you have already signed the 1st petition for Lucky, PLEASE sign this new one.
The Petition Site: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/a-dream-of-freedom-for-lucky
'A Dream of Freedom For Lucky'
Target:Mayor & Council Members of San Antonio
Sponsored by: ZCTF & Voice For Animals
We urge you, The Board of Directors at San Antonio Zoo, to follow the lead of other large zoos and release Lucky to the Elephant Sanctuary where her needs can be better met. Lucky, the last surviving elephant at San Antonio Zoo is lucky only in that she has managed to outlive her companions, Alport and Ginny, both of whom have died prematurely in the last three years.
Elephants in the wild live in large groups and will walk for tens of miles every day.
Lucky has spent over 40 years in her prison - a small, barren, concrete, zoo enclosure.
It is estimated that over 60% of zoo elephants have arthritis or foot disease problems of the sort that killed her companions. Such an environment cannot meet either the physical or psychological needs of a large and social creature.
The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald Tennessee is willing to provide a more humane and natural lifestyle for Lucky - with 2,400 acres for Lucky to roam in with her new companions. The Elephant Sanctuary will also pay transport costs.
After 46 years of imprisonment, the life of such a beautiful and innocent lady is more important than the few dollars from visitors who walk past her sad and lonely figure.
Now is the time to Free Lucky!If you have already signed the 1st petition for Lucky, PLEASE sign this new one.... more
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PLEASE Help Send Lucky to The Elephant Sanctuary: An All Creatures Action Alert
46 years is long enough... please follow link for 3 seperate petitions.
'Lucky's Name Has Been a Misnomer' (by Don Elroy)
Something in an animal's eyes can haunt you and draw you into its world, a world we seldom view the same way that they experience it. Loneliness, pain and understanding can sometimes all be combined inside one gaze. Such is the case with Lucky, an Asian elephant at the San Antonio Zoo.
If we could read her experiences through her eyes, she might convey to us the story of an extraordinary elephant life.
Wild elephants live in complex social structures with extended families, spending their time foraging for food, traveling 10-50 miles daily, interacting through intertwining trunks and social bonding. They swim, roll and play in mud holes and enjoy emotional interaction together.
Lucky has missed opportunities that make an elephant's life enjoyable. Born in Thailand in 1960, Lucky was taken from her mother and family at four months and sent across the ocean to Brookfield Zoo in Chicago. When elephants are captured from the wild, their mothers fight to protect them at all costs. Her mother and other adult elephants were likely killed to bring Lucky to the United States. Lucky was transferred in 1961 to a private facility in Texas. In 1962 she arrived at the San Antonio Zoo, where she has spent the last 46 years.
The zoo's elephant enclosure has no grass or trees and is compacted ground with some sand thrown into the mixture. A small pool of knee-deep, usually dirty water also doubles as her drinking source. Her only shade is provided by two umbrella-shaped structures in this small barren enclosure. She cannot position her entire body in the shade from one of these structures.
Captive elephants are subject to pododermatitis that leads to swelling and pain and arthritis from long periods of standing on hard surfaces. Foot problems are the largest killer of captive elephants. Her feet are routinely soaked in buckets and filed and rasped, made necessary by lack of walking space and the hard substrates she stands on daily. She favors her feet by constantly holding one up in the air or leaning to take the weight off.
Lucky frequently shows repetitive behaviors, which is normally a sign of stress and boredom associated with captivity. One afternoon, for 45 minutes, she repeated the same behaviors over and over.
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums space standards for elephant enclosures are a minimum 1,800 square feet. In human weight comparison, it is equivalent to living in a 36 square-foot room.
Voice for Animals, Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation and Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force have joined in a campaign to send Lucky to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, after her companions Missy, Ginny and Alport all previously died in the San Antonio Zoo.
Where better than a sanctuary? Other zoos have placed elephants in sanctuaries. Lucky could have ponds, trees to knock over, mud holes and she could even step on grass for the first time in 48 years.
Join us in requesting the San Antonio Zoo send Lucky to a sanctuary.
Just maybe, what we then see in Lucky's eyes will be extraordinary.
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Don Elroy is advocacy and education coordinator for Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation. Article originally published on My San Antonio.
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For more information about elephant abuses and rescue, see I Am An Elephant, Mulike the Orphaned Elephant, Sissy Arrives at The Elephant Sanctuary.
PLEASE Help Send Lucky to The Elephant Sanctuary: An All Creatures Action Alert
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The four-year-old bull elephant appears to have put his years of drug abuse behind him thanks to time spent on China's tropical island province of Hainan.
A year of methadone injections at five times the human dosage helped wean the elephant off heroin. Gradually, the dosage was reduced until he was completely weaned off the drug.
Referred to as 'Big Brother' or 'Xiguang' in Chinese media reports, the elephant was captured in 2005 in southwest China by illegal traders who fed him heroin-laced bananas.
The traders used the spiked bananas for several months to control him before they were arrested by police.The four-year-old bull elephant appears to have put his years of drug abuse behind him... more
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Elephant Art & Conservation Project showcases and sells paintings made by animals. Elephants in Asia are in a bit of trouble because they are no longer needed in the logging business. So, The Asian Elephant Art & Conservation project's mission is to "promote and distribute the work of elephant artists to raise funds for elephant conservation."
Elephant Art & Conservation Project showcases and sells paintings made by animals.... more
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