(AU) These elephants are being rescued from hell

[Guest guest]

These elephants are being rescued from hell

The Age

Michael Lynch

June 23, 2006

 

THE latest public comment in the debate on Melbourne and Taronga zoos'

elephant acquisition project (David Hancocks, Opinion, 19/6) perpetuates the

misinformation surrounding this proposed importation.

 

Wildlife conservationists estimate that the Asian elephant will be extinct

in many parts of its natural range (including Thailand) within 50 years. One

of the reasons for this impending tragedy is unwittingly touched upon by

Hancocks — elephants require a lot of space to exist in a natural

environment. The need and the desire of humans for productive farmland and

forest products produce a conflict with wildlife, and the result is

predictable. In Thailand there are now more elephants working in tourist

camps or used by their owners to beg for money on city streets than there

are in the wild.

 

In 2001, I spent a seven-month stint providing volunteer veterinary care to

Thai elephants and this experience gave me some understanding of their life.

They are used mainly to perform tricks for tourists and to give rides. Camp

elephants are not kept in family units but are moved about the country by

truck depending on where tourist demands are greatest. When not in use, the

elephants spend most of their time tethered to trees. Five of the eight

elephants destined for Melbourne and Sydney were from such camps, two were

tethered outside a regional zoo providing photo opportunities and one was

begging on the streets of Bangkok.

 

Hancocks compares the life of a wild elephant with that of a captive animal

as a means of highlighting the inadequacies of the latter. I have not heard

any zoo employee claim that a captive life of a wild animal equals that of

its free-ranging counterpart. Natural ecosystems are complex and not easily

artificially recreated, whether in a zoo or a damaged natural environment.

This is true for all species, not just elephants. The aim of caring for

animals in captivity is to cater for their physical and psychological

welfare, not to pretend their ecosystem can be manufactured.

 

The reason some zoos are moving away from elephants is because a lot of

resources are required to care properly for this species in captivity — not

because they cannot be cared for, as implied by Hancocks. The welfare of

elephants at Melbourne Zoo has steadily improved since 1993, when it was

recognised that hard enclosure floors and an inadequate behavioural

enrichment program were contributing to foot infections in our bull

elephant. A process was introduced to tackle welfare issues by improving the

housing and enrichment for these animals. This included the opening of their

excellent exhibit in 2003 and will, I hope, include the acquisition of new

elephants to create a more natural social group. I am sure David Hancocks

would be happy to know the elephant's recurrent foot infections have ceased.

His statement that the animals had " a litany of problems " is untrue.

 

The final question is whether there is any conservation value in having

elephants in Australia, as ultimately the survival of these animals in the

wild depends on the efforts and will of the human population in their range

states. The value of an elephant gene pool in Australia as wild and captive

populations in range states decrease is something that is difficult to

assess at this time.

 

However, the educational value of the viewing of healthy, functional family

groups of elephants by future generations of Australians should not be

underestimated. Inspiring individuals in Australia's relatively well-off

society by providing opportunities for their connection with wild animals

can lead to time and money spent conserving animals in their range states.

This is why Melbourne and Taronga zoos have linked this acquisition with a

commitment to support such conservation efforts. Nothing compares with

seeing an animal in its natural habitat, but zoos do provide an opportunity

for large numbers of people to be inspired by, and make a connection with,

wildlife. I do not believe the same impact can be felt by watching TV

footage of wild animals.

 

The debate on this elephant import has been muddied by the contributions of

people who have no knowledge of feeding, housing or caring for these animals

and no experience at the coalface of wildlife conservation for animals such

as elephants. Getting out of the armchair to view these realities before

commenting would serve the interests of the eight elephants.

 

Dr Michael Lynch is veterinarian at Melbourne Zoo.

 

http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/these-elephants-are-being-rescued-from-hel\

l/2006/06/22/1150845313132.html

[Guest guest]

Am I missing the point here?

 

To me whether they are being rescued from hell or not is irrelevant. Taking

them to a zoo, not only is another unnatural environment, but what it is

doing to rectify the situations that they came from?

 

And if they really are being " rescued from hell " - why is this the first

time the world arena is being told about it? Wouldnt it have been a

positive move for them to use their unplanned publicity to get the world

onto the track of stopping elephant abuse in Thailand (or anywhere else for

that matter)?

 

Interesting that this viewpoint comes from someone on the payroll of one of

the profiting zoos....... Is this an independant comment?

 

On 7/20/06, Cate <cateanna wrote:

>

> These elephants are being rescued from hell

> The Age

> Michael Lynch

> June 23, 2006

>

> THE latest public comment in the debate on Melbourne and Taronga zoos'

> elephant acquisition project (David Hancocks, Opinion, 19/6) perpetuates

> the

> misinformation surrounding this proposed importation.

>

> Wildlife conservationists estimate that the Asian elephant will be extinct

> in many parts of its natural range (including Thailand) within 50 years.

> One

> of the reasons for this impending tragedy is unwittingly touched upon by

> Hancocks — elephants require a lot of space to exist in a natural

> environment. The need and the desire of humans for productive farmland and

> forest products produce a conflict with wildlife, and the result is

> predictable. In Thailand there are now more elephants working in tourist

> camps or used by their owners to beg for money on city streets than there

> are in the wild.

>

> In 2001, I spent a seven-month stint providing volunteer veterinary care

> to

> Thai elephants and this experience gave me some understanding of their

> life.

> They are used mainly to perform tricks for tourists and to give rides.

> Camp

> elephants are not kept in family units but are moved about the country by

> truck depending on where tourist demands are greatest. When not in use,

> the

> elephants spend most of their time tethered to trees. Five of the eight

> elephants destined for Melbourne and Sydney were from such camps, two were

> tethered outside a regional zoo providing photo opportunities and one was

> begging on the streets of Bangkok.

>

> Hancocks compares the life of a wild elephant with that of a captive

> animal

> as a means of highlighting the inadequacies of the latter. I have not

> heard

> any zoo employee claim that a captive life of a wild animal equals that of

> its free-ranging counterpart. Natural ecosystems are complex and not

> easily

> artificially recreated, whether in a zoo or a damaged natural environment.

> This is true for all species, not just elephants. The aim of caring for

> animals in captivity is to cater for their physical and psychological

> welfare, not to pretend their ecosystem can be manufactured.

>

> The reason some zoos are moving away from elephants is because a lot of

> resources are required to care properly for this species in captivity —

> not

> because they cannot be cared for, as implied by Hancocks. The welfare of

> elephants at Melbourne Zoo has steadily improved since 1993, when it was

> recognised that hard enclosure floors and an inadequate behavioural

> enrichment program were contributing to foot infections in our bull

> elephant. A process was introduced to tackle welfare issues by improving

> the

> housing and enrichment for these animals. This included the opening of

> their

> excellent exhibit in 2003 and will, I hope, include the acquisition of new

> elephants to create a more natural social group. I am sure David Hancocks

> would be happy to know the elephant's recurrent foot infections have

> ceased.

> His statement that the animals had " a litany of problems " is untrue.

>

> The final question is whether there is any conservation value in having

> elephants in Australia, as ultimately the survival of these animals in the

> wild depends on the efforts and will of the human population in their

> range

> states. The value of an elephant gene pool in Australia as wild and

> captive

> populations in range states decrease is something that is difficult to

> assess at this time.

>

> However, the educational value of the viewing of healthy, functional

> family

> groups of elephants by future generations of Australians should not be

> underestimated. Inspiring individuals in Australia's relatively well-off

> society by providing opportunities for their connection with wild animals

> can lead to time and money spent conserving animals in their range states.

> This is why Melbourne and Taronga zoos have linked this acquisition with a

> commitment to support such conservation efforts. Nothing compares with

> seeing an animal in its natural habitat, but zoos do provide an

> opportunity

> for large numbers of people to be inspired by, and make a connection with,

> wildlife. I do not believe the same impact can be felt by watching TV

> footage of wild animals.

>

> The debate on this elephant import has been muddied by the contributions

> of

> people who have no knowledge of feeding, housing or caring for these

> animals

> and no experience at the coalface of wildlife conservation for animals

> such

> as elephants. Getting out of the armchair to view these realities before

> commenting would serve the interests of the eight elephants.

>

> Dr Michael Lynch is veterinarian at Melbourne Zoo.

>

>

>

http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/these-elephants-are-being-rescued-from-hel\

l/2006/06/22/1150845313132.html

>

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