tagged w/ captive elephants
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KNBC News | Los Angeles...
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No More Elephant Rides at OC Fair.
The rides were part of the fair for 25 years, and were stopped with a 6 to 1 vote.
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By Samantha Tata
| Thursday, Mar 22, 2012 | Updated 6:25 PM PDT
Elephant Rides Nixed from OC Fair
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Endangered Asian elephants were at the heart of the board's decision to nix elephant rides at the OC Fairgrounds.
Something big will be missing from the OC Fair this summer. Elephant rides, which have been part of the fair for 25 years, have been nixed.
The fair board voted 6 to 1 to get rid of the rides, which have drawn the ire of veterinarians, animal rights groups and elephant experts.
The private company Have Trunk Will Travel lost their contract with the fair after being notified 10 days ago that they were on the chopping block.
"It didn't make a bit of sense to me," said Kari Johnson.
Johnson said liability concerns were blamed for why she and her husband's company were let go from the fair after more than two decades.
"I think a lot of people are going to be surprised when they learn about this," said Johnson, who discovered from a blog that liability would play an role in Thursday's hearing.
She doubted the legitimacy of those fears, namely because her team of 6 elephants had never posed any problems on the road and the company has more insurance than the fair requires.
Still, animal rights concerns seemed to seep into the decision to stop the rides.
A television special chronicling elephant behavior inspired OC Fair board director Nick Berardino to examine how his own company was handling the endangered species, he said.
"I remember last year, right after I was appointed to the fair board, the fair had elephant rides and there were protesters there," he said. "So, I began to look into it."
That's when he suggested the board discontinue the rides, which cost about $7 per person and lasted for several minutes in a 50 by 100 foot grass enclosure.
Johnson's company would typically supply the fair with two to three elephants, and stay there for the five days a week that it operated before heading back to their Perris ranch.
"It was a month-long gig, and quite a chunk of income for us," Johnson said, adding that the company is privately funded and does not receive donations or grants.
The large audience, which spilled into the lobby, at Thursday’s board meeting was split on the issue.
Citing new research into how elephants react in captivity, advocates against elephant rides said using fear and "extreme human dominance" with such a large animal is unnatural and insensitive.
While others, including commercial animal trainers and singlular "nay" voter David Ellis, defended the rides by citing an incident-free history at OC Fair, coupled with a educational and sentimental value was proof enough to keep the attraction.
"We love animals elephants, and that's what we do," Johnson said, adding that Have Trunk Will Travel operates their own breeding program and is heavily involved in elephant conservation and research.
Supporters' "prime motivating factor is: we've had them for 25 years and we've never had an incident," Berardino said. "Now, given our action, we guarantee we will never have an incident."
More than 60 community members were each allotted two minutes to make their case in front of a packed board room.
Johnson also two minutes and was not asked questions by the board. She met with Berardino prior to the meeting, but suspects the rest of the board made up their minds beforehand.
"I don't think we could've done anything to please them," she said. Her husband, the company's co-founder and co-owner, was unable to make the meeting due to short notice.
Notable voices weighed in on the contested rides, including that of "The Price is Right Host"-turned-PETA supporter Bob Barker, who sent a letter to the board opposing the use of endangered Asian elephants for entertainment.
"Offering [elephants] for rides send the wrong message about how we treat our planet's rare and vanishing species," Barker wrote.
Have Trunks Will Travel is no stranger to the backlash that comes with keeping elephants in captivity. They had a similar issue at the San Diego County Fair.
That fair decided to keep the rides and revisit their liability worries in 2014, when new guidelines set by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) will go into affect barring trainers and elephants from sharing space.
Bererdino cited those restrictions as part of his decision, but Johnson said she's not sure why the blanket rule would apply to them.
AZA "continuously recertifies us, even though we offer rides, which is in conflict with their rules against elephant rides at zoos," she said. "We're not a zoo. ... We have a higher degree of training than most zoos can provide.
"I didn't quite get it."
Thursday's decision makes the fair the second Orange County entity in three months to end elephant rides.
The Santa Ana Zoo put an end to them last December following allegations of elephant abuse, which were not confirmed by a city investigation.
.KNBC News | Los Angeles...
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No More Elephant Rides at OC Fair.
The rides... 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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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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No Federal Violations for Boiled Monkey Death - Everett Judge Refuses to Allow Prosecution in Scalded Monkey Case
She was a cynomolgus monkey, also known as a crab-eating macaque or a long-tailed macaque. Whatever name you prefer, her horrifying, gruesome death followed a brief life that itself was surely lonely, frightening, and painful.
There were no trees, no gusts of wind, no natural smells, sounds, and sights, no family or companionship, no joy or wonder in her daily existence. Instead there was a tiny, barren space, with walls, ceiling, and floor made of cold metal wires. Instead there was terror.
Instead there were likely injections and restraints and intentionally inflicted pain and isolation. And there was to be far more of that, as humans tested drugs on her--and in a lab with a history of abuse and cruelty at that.
But then even before they were done with her, she was killed, and in the worst way. She died horrifically in the same cage in which she lived so sadly. She gripped the cage bars as 180 degree water and caustic, burning chemicals rained down forcefully all over her trapped body, boiling her ALIVE, melding the skin of her tortured body to the cage, permanently fusing her fingers to the metal bars that she gripped in terror and excruciating pain like we will never know.
There is no doubt that she screamed. God, how she must have screamed.
They had to peel her dead body from the cage.
To those of you out there who don't understand why animal rights activists are sometimes so angry, who think we have nothing to be angry about, who don't understand how we can cry over animals we've never met, who prefer to remain blissfully ignorant and insist that the way we use animals is fine and that animals don't suffer at our hands because, after all, we have laws to prevent and punish animal abuse, or who condemn the open or covert rescue of animals from labs, to all of you--please pay attention.
Incidents such as this, in which animals are not just abused but tortured--these 'incidents' are not rare -- WE, the general public, are informed only by mistake or by undercover work --when informed, OUR society chooses not to listen to such uncomfortable and disgraceful acts of inhumanity -- these are among our reasons for being angry.
Go read the article that first appeared early this year, http://www.kirotv.com/news/15189249/detail.html ...when a Washington news station first broke this story. Among everything else you read will be the following, which tells a not-unusual story about what happens when employees who witness cruelty, whether in a lab or a slaughterhouse, dare to speak up: they get fired, and the abuse continues.
Details of this story will shock and sadden you. Please follow links at:
http://www.kirotv.com/investigations/16341994/detail.html
http://animalrights.change.org/blog/view/no_justice_for_the_monkey_boiled_alive
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008326494_webmonkey29m.html
http://animallawonline.blogspot.com/2008/10/washington-state-judge-refuses-to-allow.html
'Protect Captive Primates Act' http://animalrights.change.org/actions/view/urge_senate_to_pass_captive_primate_safety_actNo Federal Violations for Boiled Monkey Death - Everett Judge Refuses to Allow... more
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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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Following the untimely death of beautiful elephant, Alport, the San Antonio Zoo has been sending the same reply to everyone who has contacted them regarding the future of the sole remaining elephant, Lucky:
"THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN. WE ASSURE YOU THAT THE SAN ANTONIO ZOO WILL ALWAYS DO WHAT IS BEST FOR ELEPHANTS!"
If this is indeed true, then the zoo must certainly wish the best for Lucky. They should arrange for release from her zoo prison and arrange for her to be sent to an elephant sanctuary. Compare the photos at the top. The one on the left, is the drab, barren, lifeless enclosure at the San Antonio Zoo. On the right, a portion of the green, natural, 2400 acre habitat at The Elephant Sactuary devoted to Asian elephants. The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee has already agreed to accept Lucky and pay for transporting her, all AT NO COST TO THE S.A. ZOO.
Despite the small size of the enclosure, director Steve McCuster is already planning on purchasing 2 additional elephants!
No matter how well-intentioned zoo officials may be, a zoo just cannot provide adequate space and habitat to accommodate the needs of an animal the size of an elephant. We are asking that the S.A.Zoo follow the lead of other progressive zoos around the country and close the elephant exhibit forever!
The reported cause of death for Alport was an orthopedic tear. Now, Lucky is having foot problems as well. Look at these photos taken by Don Elroy of Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation, May, 2008.
Please see the video and listen to interviews!Following the untimely death of beautiful elephant, Alport, the San Antonio Zoo has... 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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