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Los Angeles Elephant Sanctuary » Los Angeles Zoo
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#61
30-10-2008
Yes, but it might not happen for a long, long time. Even with around 16 zoos in North America abandoning the notion of keeping elephants, there are about 45 zoos that have either expanded or created brand new elephant habitats in recent years. The space and social network comparisons are obviously not even close, as the sanctuaries are in my humble opinion a thousand times better than zoos for elephants. I'm only talking about elephants here as they traditionally fair poorly in captivity, but I realize that everyone has their own thoughts on the subject. There is even an elephant zookeeper on this site that thinks that elephants should not be in zoos!
When I was younger and in my teens I was all for every species of animal in captivity and adored zoos. I still love zoos and go out of my way to see new ones at every opportunity, BUT I am now 33 and see that wildlife institutions aren't as rosy as they used to seem to me when I was young and wide-eyed with innocence. For example: I used to love visiting Woodland Park Zoo's AZA Award-winning Asian Elephant Forest exhibit (it opened in 1989) and at 1.5 acres for 3 elephants is what some assume to be a good size. However, the elephant "herd" consists of one African and 2 Asian females, and in the wild elephants are known to travel in large groups. At the Seattle zoo there have been many nights where the elephants are chained by their feet inside areas that are barely big enough for them to take more than 10 steps. They are left inside a small building for 50% of their lives...and then when let out for the other 50% of the time have a tiny area that is not even a fraction of what would be their wild range. Certain animals like elephants, polar bears, some big cat species, should either have multi-acre facilities with 100% access to all aspects of the habitat...or should be only kept in massive sanctuaries. |
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#62
30-10-2008
I personally don't think that all zoos should give their elephants to a sanctuary, but very little zoos actually have a good enclosure and contains a herd to relate to the wild e.g around 15-20 family group memebers made up of aunties and calves. Sanctuary provide a great home for elephants, though most contain rescued ones that may have social problems and are too old for breeding.
It really asks what makes up a successful elephant sanctuary? |
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#63
30-10-2008
I personally hope that elephants will always last in zoos. I think that 1 acre is enough space for 3 elephants if they are given the proper exercise, but 3 acres or more is preferable. I don't think every zoo in America is going to give up their elephants and just send them to the sanctuaries which are just basically elephant ranches. There are plenty of Big Cat habitats that have been done right making no need for sanctuaries. There are also some Polar Bear exhibits that have been done right and more on the way. Zoos with nice habitats basically are sanctuaries.
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#64
30-10-2008
I, too, would like the general public to see and enjoy elephants in zoos (and polar bears and mice and.....).
How big must an exhibit be? I don't believe that anyone really knows. Lots of opinions being thrown out by IDA, PETA, zoo fans, AZA, but it's all gut feeling based on smoke. It is easier to say what is too small then what is big enough. The L.A. zoo says Billy the elephant shakes his head because "that's just Billy." Several faded Hollywood stars assert that Billy shakes his head because he's neurotic. Seems like everyone sees in Billy what they want to see. What does this have to do with determining an animal's welfare? If we must look to how an animal lives "in the wild" to see if an exhibit is large or varied enough, then the entire concept of a zoo is in question. The fact of zoos is based on the idea that animals in captivity do not require all the territory they do in the wild. A zoo is not a wildlife preserve. A garden is not "Nature." For that matter, neither is a National Park really. It's all managed according to the whims, politics and fashions of humans. It is all artifice and we should accept that or close the damn things down. You can't have it both ways. That is not to say that anything goes. Rather that if we accept the premise of animals (or plants) in captivity (or humans in cubicles!), then we need research to understand what succeeds and we need both research and philosophy to define success. |
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#65
31-10-2008
Another point to add...its not only how much space an animal needs, but also how many animals can the land support. An enclosure that is built well and meets the needs of the animal is nice, but can the enclosure survive the impact an animal can have on the land?
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#66
31-10-2008
Good point, you could have a huge mansion to yourself or perhaps one other person, but wouldn't that be just a tad lonely?
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#67
L.A. Zoo elephant exhibit to proceed
07-11-2008
Another celebrity challenge to elephant exhibit rejected by the politicians
The Associated Press: Panel rejects idea of stopping LA elephant exhibit The so-called sanctuary will have to wait |
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#68
08-11-2008
Yeah I read an editorial stating that Bob Barker never went to veterinary school and Lily Tomlin has never trimmed an elephants feet. I thought it was pretty funny.
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#69
08-11-2008
I was gonna go to the council meeting but I had to study for a midterm and do some school work, so I didn't go.
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#70
08-11-2008
How's progress coming on that exhibit anyway? When does Billy get to stretch his legs?
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#71
08-11-2008
Quote:
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#72
09-11-2008
If you go to lazoo.org and go to their press room their is a great article that they posted on November 6th about the rejected sanctuary proposal. It was really well-said.
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#73
09-11-2008
Quote:
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#74
09-11-2008
well to be the CEO of AZA you got to know a heck a lot about zoos and zoo animals
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#75
09-11-2008
Quote:
For the record, though, Jim Maddy has no zoo experience. AZA wanted a certain kind of leadership in their CEO. They still select a zoo professional as AZA Board president |
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