In the synopsis Ghosh strongly urges range states to leave free-ranging African and Asian elephants strictly where they belong - in the wild. In late 2009 India took the enlightened step of banning elephant from zoos - applauded from around the world.

Zoo elephants shunned of basic needs

Dr. Sunil Srivastava, a veterinary doctor with 25 years experience and Delhi representative of international animal rights organisation Animal Equality says, “In the wild animals have their roles and jobs to fulfill. The natural behaviour exercised by them provides the required physical and mental stimulation. But zoo elephants are shunned of their basic needs and Shankar is no exception to this. During my early days when I volunteered with the Delhi zoo, I noticed deep bruises on the ankles of elephants, a result of their struggle to get out of the chains. One of the Delhi zoo keepers agrees that elephants are chained during the period of musth.”

Amruta Ubale of Animal Equality adds, “In an informal exercise at a zoo, we asked lay visitors about stereotypic behaviour in elephants like head bobbing, swaying, etc. The common answer we received is the elephants seem happy and are dancing.”

The grim practise of exporting elephant babies

In the mean time Zimbabwe continue to reach the headlines, for the wrong reasons. Their recent delivery of four baby elephants to China shows that elephants welfare is way down on their agenda. One has alredy died. Fourteen more babies, who are milk dependent, are slated to be shipped off soon. As in 2010 - Zimbabwe show little concern for the tragic consequences of this grim practice. Several countries have appearantly expressed their interest in importing many more elephants from Zimbabwe. We can only hope that sound arguments, compassion and decency will prevail, but we are not too optimistic.