Former US & Australia Zoo Director speaks Elephant Polo

[Guest guest]

*Posted with the permission of the sender:*

 

The following message was sent by Mr. David Hancocks, former Zoo Director

(US and Australia). He was director of Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle,

Washington, USA, 1976-1984; director Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson,

Arizona, USA, 1989-1997; and director Werribee Open Range Zoo, Melbourne,

Australia, 1998-2003

 

Dated: Friday, November 23, 2007

 

" *The growth of elephant polo is a shameful embarrassment to humankind. **

*

*It is a degrading spectacle, dangerous to the elephant participants and to

the human spectators, but with elephants in the unfortunate role of

unwilling and innocent players before an audience that chooses

to participate in this exploitative enterprise for mercenary and shallow

purposes.*

*

*

*It typifies a callous attitude that we have the right to do with animals as

we wish, simply for the temporary pleasure of our

selfish entertainment. Elephant polo is sustained and promoted by those who

seek only their own puerile satisfaction at the expense of noble and

intelligent animals deprived of their natural ways of life, degraded and

abused physically, emotionally, socially, and psychologically. *

*

*

*It is a spectacle that degrades all of us, and, most of all, it is

a scandalous reflection upon the qualities of a culture that will permit

such activities and allow its legal continuance. "

 

David Hancocks

 

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**United against elephant polo

*http://www.freewebs.com/elephantpolo