WILD-CAUGHT CALVES
KARACHI ZOO, PAKISTAN
In June four infant elephants were ‘stolen’ from their wild families in northern Tanzania and shipped to a lifetime of captivity in Karachi Zoo and Safari Park, Pakistan. This was despite our best efforts, working with colleagues at PAWS*. Capturing wild elephants for zoos and circuses is now considered entirely unacceptable by elephant experts.
In three of the captures the babies and their mothers were sedated, and the mothers revived after the infant was removed. Imagine their distress on awaking, unable to find their calves. In the fourth capture only the infant was immobilised. The frantic mother was shot dead.
Conditions at Karachi Zoo are very poor, the concrete elephant enclosure extremely small. Their last elephant spent over 20 hours a day chained by three feet. The new babies will be put on display and ‘broken’ to give elephant-back rides. Handlers will use sticks with pointed spikes to make them perform. A far cry indeed from a wild and free life at home with their extended families.
Born Free’s campaign to hold the Tanzanian and Pakistan authorities to account, and to end the trade in wild elephants, continues. Please help us.
- Caught from the wild, facing a lifetime of captivity
- It is hard to comprehend the babies' distress
SUSI
BARCELONA ZOO, SPAIN
Susi is 36 and lives in a barren environment at Barcelona Zoo. Wild-born in 1973, she now lives in the city centre zoo. Her concrete and earth yard measures just 25 x 40m. Susi is lethargic and behaves abnormally - repeatedly nodding her head and flapping her trunk.
The two palm trees in her enclosure offer little shade and there is nothing for her to do. Brought up surrounded by loving family members in a rich, varied, challenging and wild environment, she now endures a life without meaning.
In a controversial attempt to dispel reports that Susi was ‘lonely’, the zoo has acquired another elephant, Yo Yo from the RioLeon facility in Catalunia. Yo Yo is reportedly very aggressive and it is uncertain whether she will ever be fully introduced to Susi. It is also possible that Yo Yo is infected with tuberculosis.
Born Free’s campaign to move Susi and Yo Yo to more tolerable conditionscontinues. Please help us.
- Susi in her barren enclosure at Barcelona Zoo
- She strains to reach the greenery outside her enclosure
ELEPHANT CALF CONTROVERSY
SRI LANKA & THE UK
The Sri Lankan government's recent gift of two baby elephants to a prominent Buddhist temple has sparked international protests. The calves, called Raju and Sindu, were taken from their mothers at Pinnewala Elephant Centre in July and sent to the nearby Temple of the Tooth. Colourfully festooned elephants are paraded during Buddhist festivals and used to carry holy relics.
However the separation has caused distress and trauma to both the mother elephants - who huddle together, sad and dejected, for comfort - and the babies. Under three years old and still suckling, they need specialist care and nutrition. Frantic and disturbed, they are restrained by stick-wielding temple workers. An atrocious situation, which highlights the problems of Pinnewala – notorious for breeding elephants for captive institutes worldwide, instead of releasing elephants back to the wild.
And in the UK, two baby elephants, Leelee and Donaldson, recently died at Whipsnade Zoo. Victims of the devastating elephant herpes virus, they died of internal bleeding. Elephants in zoos suffer from many ailments rarely seen in the wild. Lifespans are greatly reduced, mortality is high. As breeding programmes fail, more are taken from the wild.
Born Free is campaigning to return the Sri Lankan calves to their mothers; and to end the keeping of elephants in zoos. Please help us.
- One of the Sri Lankan babies plays with her mother before being removed
- Leelee, pictured with her mother at Whipsnade Zoo before she died
CIRCUSES AND BEYOND
UK AND WORLDWIDE
Amazingly it is still legal for UK circuses to tour with elephants and other wild animals. Until recently only one semi-retired circus elephant remained in the UK. Now the government’s inability to carry out their promise to end the use of wild animals in UK circuses has led to an appalling new Great British Circus act.
Three elephants, Sonja (caught from the wild), Vana Mana and Delhi, perform demeaning, unnatural tricks in the circus ring. Driven about the country in a trailer, chained for long periods. And it gets worse. Recent ADI¹ footage shows the elephants abnormally rocking and repeatedly swaying. And worse. It shows them being beaten. Over and over again. Hit in the face. Flinching and crying out.
“This simply has to stop. We must do everything we can. We must persuade the UK government to bring the curtain down on elephants in circuses. Help us, as we work with ADI, the RSPCA², CAPS³ and other animal organisations, to stop this senseless abuse.
“Caught from the wild – NO. Shipped to zoos – NO. Locked up for life – NO. Taken from their mothers – NO. Dying from disease – NO. Abused under the big top – NO. Help us investigate, campaign against AND STOP captive elephant exploitation – YES! Thank you.”
Will Travers,
Chief Executive,
Born Free Foundation
¹Animal Defenders International ²Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ³Captive Animals’ Protection Society
- Elephants are back in a UK circus - why?
- Unnatural, unnecassary, unacceptable. Elephants belong in the wild.
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