Elephant conservation in captivity

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http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ideas_opinions/story/468246p-394064c.html

Keep elephants in captivity? Yes

 

A Bronx Zoo pachyderm can recognize itself in the mirror, we learned this

week. Zoo defenders and animal rights activists square off on letting Dumbos

go free

 

BY KRISTIN L. VEHRS

 

There is no place on the planet where elephants are not in contact with

humans. On increasingly shrinking territory, elephants in Africa and Asia

face poaching, predation, hunger and disease - their wild state. If we

abandon elephants to their fate, in a few short years the only place you'll

be able to see them is in a museum. But this is where high-quality,

accredited zoos come in, offering a vital link to elephant conservation.

 

Most people can't afford to travel to Africa or Asia to experience the

majesty of elephants up close. So the first step in conservation is to

establish a connection between people and animals. Zoos provide that.

Inspiration and wonderment spark involvement in wildlife conservation.

 

A recent Harris Interactive poll revealed that 95% of Americans said that

seeing elephants in real life helps people appreciate them more and

encourages people to learn more about them. That same poll showed that 85%

thought zoo visits encourage people to donate money or time to conservation

programs that help protect animals.

 

In fact, when you visit an accredited zoo, you are supporting more than 85

elephant conservation projects in Asia and Africa, including field-based

training, habitat restoration, reduction of human-elephant conflict and

community-based initiatives. If there were no elephants in zoos,

conservation work in the wild would dramatically decrease - and so would

wild elephant populations.

 

Noble, intelligent creatures not only deserve to be protected in the wild,

they deserve to receive the highest standards of animal care we can provide.

These standards are strictly enforced by people who care deeply about

elephants. Every day, well-trained scientists, veterinarians and researchers

in zoos across America are safeguarding the health and well-being of all 148

African elephants and 142 Asian elephants in our care.

 

Elephants in accredited zoos are thriving. More than 40 zoos have committed

to improving and expanding their elephant habitats, enabling them to

accommodate larger breeding groups and to provide even more stimulating

enrichment programs.

 

These elephants are not only well cared for by hundreds of professionals,

they are ambassadors for their kind. They encourage us to protect their

brethren across the globe. Those who would remove elephants from accredited

zoos - so that only the rich and privileged can see them - fail to

understand our core conservation mission. Elephants belong in zoos. Their

very survival depends on it.

 

*Vehrs is executive director of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

 

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*Originally published on November 5, 2006*