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In the past captured elephants were sent to war and used for heavy logging and construction work, but the industrial revolution replaced them with machinery. elephants have never bred well in captivity and, consequently, a continuous supply of elephants captured from the wild was needed to maintain or increase the captive stocks. For their riders, or mahouts, this can mean four years’ lost income. Around the world there exist between 15,000-20,000 captive elephants and the circumstances for most of them are abysmal. Unlike dogs and cats, working alongside, breeding, and interacting with elephants has not changed their behaviors and they remain wild (undomesticated). African elephants are just about twice the size of Michael Jordan! Both evolved from a common ancestor and have distinctly different DNA. Conservation organizations estimate nearly 100 elephants are poached each day. For example, the extensive and intricate irrigation system on Sri Lanka was built up with the assistance of elephants. A much more natural approach is taken these days, with modern zoos using streams and moats to prevent animals from leaving a specific area.The animals are also housed in what is known as a mini-habitat, this means the enclosure where that particular animal lives is Elephants in the wild have one of the largest home ranges, often walking up to 40 miles each day. Number of Dolphins Held Dolphins in Captivity. ElephantVoices' standpoint is that the treatment of ceremonial and working elephants must be re-evaluated and much improved in the light of modern scientific knowledge. https://connectusfund.org/17-pros-and-cons-of-keeping-animals-in-captivity Many of them have been "tamed" through the use of unbelievable brutality, and kept under life-long human control with continued abuse. Animals such as chimpanzees, orangutans, gorillas, elephants, whales, and dolphins are in high demand to supply both zoos/ocean parks and private collections. The image of man and elephant working side by side can suggest a relationship of mutual respect and benefit, yet our relationship with captive and working elephants has always been an exploitative one. As early as 1400 BC their enormous size and power was harnessed on the battlefield and recorded in Thai history. In captivity, most elephants have become accustomed to people and have learned that people bring rewards, such as food treats; even some wild elephants will interact with people in return for kindness or food – though this can be very dangerous. As they did so, nine jewels surfaced, one of which was the elephant. The strength and intelligence of elephants has also been used by people in huge construction projects to great effect. And elephants fought for the Khmer Empire in Cambodia between 800 and 1600 AD. All elephants are herd animals with a very definite social structure. Animals such as chimpanzees, orangutans, gorillas, elephants, whales, and dolphins are in high demand to supply both zoos/ocean parks and private collections. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that elephants in captivity are more likely to become aggressive than those in the wild. Many zoos train animals to perform tricks as if they were in a … Captive elephants are tamed, not domesticated. Some are in aquariums, circuses, theme parks and zoos, others live caged at private homes. Captivity Can Make Animals Literally Crazy To put it in perspective, Asian elephants can reach about 10 feet tall and are a minimum height of 6.8 feet. Elephants in the wild sleep more time standing up because it is easier for them to move. Or sign up to our mailing list by completing the form to the left. All Rights Reserved. Your interest and support is invaluable to us! We can also take action by reporting illegal ivory sold in shops where there is a ban in place to the proper authorities, decreasing the social acceptance of ivory, and working to protect their natural habitats. While most people assume there are only two—Asian and African—there are actually three: the African bush elephant, the African forest elephant, and the Asian elephant. Elephants Have Feelings! There is a 96% chance that an elephant in an entertainment facility is treated poorly. Caring for male elephants in captivity is a challenge at best. What we do know is that in general, life in captivity does not offer elephants even a fraction of what they would have in their natural lives, and what they need to be healthy both mentally and physically. Forest elephants are smaller than savanna elephants, the other African elephant subspecies. In captivity, whether it’s a circus, zoo, or other commercial venue, captivity can not nearly replicate their natural environment. Animals kept in zoos and aquariums are deprived not only of their natural habitats and climatic environments, they are… Enter your email address to get updates with our latest news, appeals and campaigns worth sharing. By adulthood, the trunk is large and powerful, weighing close to 300 pounds and 6-8 feet long. Female elephants are social animals, living in herds with their relatives. By about 4 months, calves learn to use their trunks to eat and drink. Today, elephants are captured and/or kept in captivity primarily for our entertainment. In Hinduism, the powerful deity honored before all sacred rituals is the elephant-headed Lord Ganesha, who is also called the Remover of Obstacles. They eat a lot of different types of plants, mostly eating leaves, bark, fruits … 535 Eighth Ave, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10018 This is a fact that just doesn’t sit very well with many people. The African elephants species can reach a staggering 13 feet tall at shoulder height. For example, temple elephants, though exalted, may be chained outside places of worship in the hot sun for months on end. Circus, and Shiners (which still continues to travel and perform). World Animal Protection is a U.S. registered charity EIN #04-2718182 Porus, Emperor of India, used 85 elephants to confront Alexander the Great at the Battle of Hydaspes in 326 BC. As Asian elephant populations decrease (they’re listed as endangered by IUCN), the numbers of elephants in captivity continue to rise for various exploitative industries. Animals in captivity suffer from boredom, stress, and confinement. Facts ; Captivity. More tigers live in cages in this country, than exist in all the wild. The inadequacies for elephants in captivity will always be a source of disease and suffering for elephants. Asian elephants have significantly smaller ears than their African counterparts. Elephants play an important role in both Hindu and Buddhist religions. African elephant males are the biggest of the bunch, weighing in at up to 6 tonnes, while smaller Asian elephants can still tip the scales at 5 tonnes. Captive Asian elephants are often referred to as domesticated, but this is an erroneous use of the term. Captive animals need better laws, and … Captive elephants are transported around in small trailers and boxcars for the travelling circus, confined in small enclosures in zoos, used as gimmicks in promotions and marketing, used to carry tourists on safari or to entertain them by playing football or polo, paraded in the streets for ceremony and begging purposes, and chained in the sun at Temples. About a third of Asian elephants live in captivity. The relationship between elephants and people is, and has been, an extraordinary one. Recent research suggests that captive elephants suffer long-term depression over the trauma of their capture and captivity, as well as drastically shortened life spans. Captive elephants have an important place in the history, religion and culture of many countries, especially in Asia. You can see more photos of "Ganga" if you click on one of the photos on this page - all visible and embedded photos will then be shown as a slideshow assuming that you click on the slideshow play button appearing in the upper right corner. In Thailand, these elephants are being used for riding, bathing, for selfies, and in the logging industry. They feel that elephants are too intelligent to be ordered around and to spend time chained up. Captive animals - whether in a zoo, at a circus, or on a farm - have a far greater chance of having their families broken up. ; Elephants live in complex family structures led by a matriarch.Female elephants stay with their mothers for life. Elephant Facts; Help Nepal Eles; Elephants in Asia | Mahouts. Facts about elephants and why they don’t belong in captivity: It’s true! ElephantVoices' views on different captive elephant issues are presented within this section and in our many statements and testimonies. You can read in my eyes, and in the color of my skin, that I am sad, lonely and frightened of those small, bad men. By contrast, the majority of elephants in zoos are frequently separated from their relations and companions and are subjected to unsuitable climates and insufficient space. They want to see elephants at their zoo.” Jenkins expresses his personal frustration and sorrow over a controversial deci… This is "Ganga", a juvenile Asian elephant living her life in solitary confinement at the Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo, Sri Lanka. World Animal Protection is working to end elephant entertainment through legislation in the US and by transforming commercial Thai venues to stop all direct contact interactions. Attempts to provide a quality of life within the parameters dictated by their captivity produce poor results. Elephant trunks have "fingers" at the end to grip small objects. Most animals in zoos in China and Vietnam are 'wild caught'. This means that trainers have to implement painful and traumatizing techniques, such as “the crush” to force the captive elephants to obey. One of the things I learned in grade school is that one of the easiest ways to tell a species of elephant apart is from the shape of their ears. While Asian elephants are still poached for their tusks, all species are at risk for poaching due to demand for their skin, which is fashioned into jewelry. Elephants can sleep both standing up and lying down. In captivity, whether it’s a circus, zoo, or other commercial venue, captivity can not nearly replicate their natural environment. Nearly 35,000 African elephants are poached for their tusks each year for traditional Chinese medicine. Most tuskers are male, with the largest tusks being targeted for the most ivory. One of the most important things we can do to protect elephants is to refuse to participate in activities where direct contact of wild animals takes place. No pen—no matter how humane—or drive-through safari can compare to the freedom of the wild. 7 Facts About Elephants and Why They Don’t Belong in Captivity, Demand the FDA take action to reduce the use of antimicrobials on factory farms, Hold companies accountable to past promises on pig welfare, Urge KFC to add plant-based chicken to the menu, Tell congress to pass the Preventing Future Pandemics Act of 2021, Tell PetSmart to stop the sale of reptiles and amphibians. One out of every three Asian elephants left in the world is a captive animal. Male Elephants in Captivity. Forest elephants are smaller than bush elephants at about half the size and their tusks are straighter and downward pointing while African bush elephants have more curved tusks. “Not a day goes by when someone doesn't ask where the elephants are or when they will be back. And prior to the development of machines, elephants played an essential role in logging and other lifting and transportation tasks. Students will recognize that elephants travel in "family units" which consist of related adult females … Some organizations like In Defense of Animals think breeding elephants in captivity is bad for elephants and therefore rank the Denver Zoo as 10th worst zoo for elephants. Breeding from captive elephants is costly, however: gestation lasts two years and another two passes before the calf is weaned. The capture and taming of elephants began in the Indus Valley more than 4,000 years ago and people have continued to capture, train and work them since that time. 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