Some months ago I read a strange story about a single female Asian elephant which lives in a Monastery in mid Wales... It was given to the Monks by an Indian religious sect and has lived alone in a barn and tiny yard ever since it arrived as a part grown animal some years ago. I can't now find where I read about her though I think it was on the 'Born Free' Foundation's website. Does anyone know if Chester Zoo(as the obvious nearest 'good' home for her) are aware of this elephant's existence, or have tried to persuade the Monastery to allow her to join their herd as they did with 'Birma'. from France? I don't think this one is past breeding age yet, but she must be very socially deprived in her current situation.
I didn't know until I saw your post. This must be the one you mean. NDTV.com: Row in Wales over bull's slaughter I would assume that if they are keeping an elephant and the place is open to the public, then they must need a zoo licence. In which case I expect the elephant is not being kept in adequate surroundings. As for the bull, if it has, or is suspected of, bovine TB then it must be culled. There are thousands of farm animals which could be infected, not to mention wild ones. The spread of the disease would be a disaster for Welsh farms.
Born Free I would take anything that Born free says with a large grain of salt . They have accused Auckland Zoo of having dolphin shows when the zoo has NEVER displayed dolphins , has never seriously considered doing so , and never will .....
Bongorob- Yes, that is it, in Carmarthenshire... It mentions the elephant by name, Valli, 27 years old "the only temple elephant in the Western Hemisphere" Nigel- yes Born Free often get their facts wrong, but this one definately exists...
She does exsist, and she was found in Sri Lanka I think at about 2 years old, orphananed and living with a herd of buffalo. I don't think there's any chance of them giving her up for all their religous beliefs etc. However I think they plan to get another elephant, which I don't think will help considering she's housed in a tiny barn and a concrete yard coverd in bark which is about 800 sq. metres. Send her to Whipsnade!
There are a few photos of the elephant on their website. It seems you can visit them if you abide by their rules. They don't have a Zoo License or a DWA License - a fact that the antis don't seem to have picked up on. The situation has been discussed by the Government's advisory body on zoos but I'm not sure if anything has transpired thus far.
The farm has had sacred cattle infected with TB slaughtered by government vets against much protest by the community at the monastery, so the elephant will have been significantly exposed to tuberculosis, I imagine no zoo would want her. She just needs to go to a sanctuary, despite being genetically valuale. Unless Skanda Vale can miraculously raise proper money for a large facility in order to recieve companions for her, I can't see them being allowed to bring in others, just look around the UK, even our biggest elephant facitlities look like they could do with or are in the process of expanding. I can't see them doing anything other than sitting tight and refusing to budge on any issue concerning this animal.
