Reply to "Burying the Elephant Patsy"

http://www.reelclassics.com/Audio_Video/Music7q/clips/d...elephantfly_clip.mp3

In fact the plight of Elephants is an international problem. Here is a link that suggests that we should re-think having Elephants in zoos at all. They are wonderful and magnificent creatures, and they are just, oh, so inconvenient. . .

http://www.helpelephants.com/

Here is a quote from the above link:

"As the largest land mammal, elephants are genetically designed to move and in the wild are in motion for eighteen hours each day. Constant movement is necessary for their physical well-being, especially for foot, joint, and digestive health. Yet the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA), a zoo industry trade organization, only requires a minimum outdoor enclosure size of 1,800 square feet for one elephant - the equivalent of six parking lot spaces. Lack of space in zoos causes captivity-induced physical and psychological health problems for elephants including debilitating foot and joint problems, arthritis, digestive disorders, and neurotic behaviors resulting from the severe confinement.

With the recognition that zoos cannot adequately provide for the complex physical and psychological needs of elephants, eight successful U.S. zoos have
closed their elephant exhibits, setting a positive precedent worldwide.



As the joints and feet [of zoo elephants] become progressively injured by life spent on a concrete floor, the pain the elephants feel makes them reluctant to move around as much on their sore legs and feet. This creates a vicious circle and downward spiral of pain, followed by less movement, causing further injury, causing more pain, causing even less movement, etc. It is a slow gradual process that does its damage bit-by-bit and this damage continues hourly, daily, weekly, monthly and through the long decades of a zoo elephant¹s life.

Michael Schmidt, DVM
former Chief Veterinarian
Portland Zoo"