Elephant Abuse

Many people argue that they should be allowed to be kept in the small enclosures because they are well taken care of. This isn't the case. They may be healthy physically from being in a small enclosure, and not having any responsibilities besides getting up to eat or drink, but they are being destroyed mentally. Their enclosures are too small for them to have a normal life. Animals should have adequate space to live and raise their offspring, which means that the animal has enough space to perform its natural functions, happily. Zoo’s do not allow animals the proper space that they need, thus causing many issues. For example, zoo enclosures for polar bears are one-millionth the size of its range in the wild, which can reach up to 31,000 square miles. In addition, cramped enclosures for elephants create stress and dangerous situations. This is mainly because they are forced to be in close quarters with other elephants that may

Most animals stuck in zoos live by themselves even if they are meant to live in herds. While in the wild, playful african elephants live peacefully and splash each other with their trunks. In zoos with cages there is not enough space to play and enjoy themselves. The average size of elephants is 7 feet, and they live in 12 foot enclosed cages, so that leaves them with only 5 feet to move around. Elephants can not move, nor use their trunks and this causes them to die

Animals are deprived of their natural habitat when transferred from the wild open space of the wild only to be fenced inside a limited habitat. Peta.org explains “Elephants typically walk up to 30 miles in just one day, but Lucy, the lone elephant at the Edmonton Zoo, is locked inside a barn… spends most of her time indoors…”. This doesn’t only apply to elephants, but to many other animals. Preventing them from thriving, because of the limited space provided per animal. Additionally, this leads to health problems because of the restricted amount of movement, health problems like arthritis. However zoos are not only causing physical harm, but mentally making animals sick causing many cases of depression. Trapping animals in cages stressed them out and can make them unhappy taking matters into their own hands trying to kill themselves according to

Explanation and Analysis: There really are a lot of characteristics overlooked when talking about Elephants as a whole species.

Enclosures in zoos do not provide everything the animal needs. In paragraph 6 in the article

Secondly, zoo animals are kept in enclosures that don’t allow them to live their lives in a natural way. The elephant, Happy, from the Bronx Zoo is kept in solitude which is not ideal for elephants. Tullis says, “Happy has lived alone, separated from the zoo’s two other elephants. Her solitary confinement is quite unlike the life of a wild elephant. In nature, elephants live in closely bonded matriarchal families.” Moreover,

The Bush elephant has to make annual migrations to find suitable conditions, these migrations can be up to several hundred kilometers. The Bush elephants usually migrate from a permeant water source at the beginning of the rainy season, then return during the dry season (once what water holes begins to dry up). When the water is scarce the elephants will dig holes in water beds using their trucks, feet and tusks. Once enough water emerges to use their trunk to suck up the water. They usually prefer to be near water sources. The Bush elephant needs 200-300 kg of food a day and 160 liters of fresh water a day. They are herbivorous. The diet of the Bush elephant consist of: roots, bark, twigs, shrubs, roots, herbs, grass, tree foliage and some

The author of this article, Michael D. Lemonick, discusses how some animals aren't able to be kept humanely in captivity. This article mainly focuses on elephants that are kept in captivity. Normally elephants roam up to, if not more than, 30 miles a day and they socialize with up to 20 other elephants a day. While in captivity, elephants are not experiencing their lives the way they should. If an elephant is in an exhibit that is too small for them, they can develop serious health issues such as, foot problems, arthritis, and even premature deaths. Most zoos aren't equipped to take care of elephants like they should. Lemonick discusses zoos across the country that have stopped exhibiting elephants altogether, due to severe issues seen in elephants.

77 elephants were examined at a British zoo, and only 11 of them were able to walk correctly. It is said that advancements are being made to improve elephant environments in captivity, but numerous zoos have shut down their elephant attractions (Smith, 2008).

I think elephants do belong in zoos. Here are my reasons why they do belong in zoos. One is lifespan/disease, Second is People can see elephants, Third is Work out.

Elephants are an endangered species and their fatality rate is rapidly inclining. According to Graham Boynton, there happens to be fewer African elephants being

Over the centuries, wild animals have always fascinated humans. As a result, wild animals have been put on display, but the logistics of these displays have changed throughout the years to resemble zoos humans now visit (Rutledge et al, 2014). Enclosures were once very small and did not provide the opportunity for stimulation that the animals need. There has been a shift from small, sterile enclosures to larger, more natural enclosures (Shepherdson, 1998). This change in the care of captive animals was caused by an interest in studying the animals (Shepherdson, 1998). Studies have revealed the importance of providing captive animals with an environment in which behaviors typical of the captive species, when in the wild, can be exercised in the enclosures in which they are housed (Shepherdson, 1998). By mimicking a natural habitat, scientists are able to observe more natural behavior. If enrichment is not provided, stereotypic behavior such as pacing, aggression, and abnormal behavior, may occur. In order to discourage these stereotypic behaviors, zoologists have begun implementing enrichment programs to stimulate the captive animals to exhibit more natural behaviors (Swaisgood and Shepherdson, 2005).

First, animals are not well taken care of. This is true because in a exception in China there was no sign of sleeping areas or like they have been fed recently. Also in the same inspection 53 % of the elephants had behavioral problems. Think about it, no food, no water and no sleeping areas.In the same inspection their was no sign of natural habitat. That is like waking up and somebody taking you to a place that have never seen before.In one zoo they refused to have a animal taken care of when it was sick.

Life on the road can be very harsh for these animals, most of which are supposed to be living in the vast plains and forests of the world. These animals are being transported in boxcars all across America for up to 50 weeks a year (3 Reasons). Knowing the size of boxcars, I am left wondering how they shove elephants into those for long hours. Not only is the life on the road tough for these animals but also life at the circus is extreme. Elephants are being chained by their ankles and are only given a few feet to move around (Animal Circuses). In the wild, elephants are known to be extremely social and live in large groups that travel miles every day (Newkirk). For these elephants, being chained by the ankles in circuses is equivalent for humans serving a life long prison

The study and research of reproduction in elephants is increasingly critical in consideration of the quickly dwindling population numbers and estimates. The current Asian elephant population is estimated to lie between 50,000-70,000 across the world, with 15,000 of these individuals in captivity. African elephant population numbers are low as well after serious culling through hunting and poaching. These numbers make the low reproduction rates a great concern as elephants do not currently sufficiently reproduce at an adequate rate to sustain population size.12