Many of you may have read about the lawsuit PETA and Zoocheck Canada recently have filed against the Valley Zoo in Edmonton, Canada. Living alone in such a cold climate, Lucy has spent much of her life standing on concrete. The result? A young elephant in an old body. As an expert witness, my view is that Lucy has been and continues to be deprived and is suffering. My hope is that the Valley Zoo will release Lucy to live in a better home where she will have what elephants need: companions, a warm climate and space to roam.
In this day and age the best way to do this is through the web, posting on Facebook and YouTube, sharing and cross-posting.The ivory trade is unsustainable. Elephants are in jeopardy because people covet their tusks. In a collaborative effort ElephantVoices is working to get the facts and figures out to decision-makers, and to spread the word in hopes of reaching potential buyers of ivory.
Over 80 celebrities have donated their time to public service announcements (PSAs) produced by our colleagues at WildAid. This organization is among the few with a substantial audience in a Facebook- and Google-free China - the country that is currently the biggest threat to elephants. Take a look at one of their PSAs about elephant, ivory and poaching starring famous Chinese basketball player, Yao Ming.
Kenya is among countries working hard to convince the parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to reject proposals from Tanzania and Zambia that would downlist their elephant populations and allow them to sell their stockpiled ivory. Kenya has secured the support of 16 other African nations in this battle for elephants. Further support appears to be coming from Britain where Environment Secretary Hilary Benn confirmed that the UK intends to vote against the proposed sale of ivory from Tanzania and Zambia, a move that we applaud. Many, including us, are convinced that such sales would lead to further killing of African elephants.
Kenya, herself, has submitted a proposal on behalf of 24 of the 37 African Elephant Range States that supports a lengthening of the moratorium on ivory trade from 9 to at least 20 years. The current nine year moratorium (which applies only to the countries that have already been permitted to sell their stockpiles) has no biological basis. The mean age of first conception of a young female elephants is about 12 years. A resting period commensurate with an average elephant generation time should be based on mean female reproductive age (ca. 20 years and mean age of first male reproduction (ca. 35 years).
ElephantVoices is working with others to stop the trade. Until we depart for CITES in Doha in mid March 2010 we will continue to update you - both here on ElephantVoices.org and on ElephantVoices on Facebook. You can find selected media coverage related to poaching and the ivory trade here, and a page dedicated to this topic and our views here. We appreciate your support toward this effort!
On the final days of December, in the case against Ringling Brothers Circus for their abuse of elephants, Judge Sullivan ruled against animal welfare advocates on technical grounds. He did not address the merits of the case, nor the expert opinions that we spent years preparing and weeks presenting in court.
This is a hollow victory for Ringling; it certainly isn't a vindication of their brutal training and management practices. The trial brought into the public domain the depth of abuse practiced by the circus. This particular battle has been lost, but although Ringling might think they have achieved a victory they have in fact been significantly wounded. The war will yet be won as more and more people give their own verdict.
Ironically, the judgement was announced just days after additional abuse of baby elephants surfaced - this time one of Ringling Brother's own employees blew the whistle, ashamed by his own treatment of baby elephants. You can read and see some of the horrific photos in Washington Posts coverage here.
I reviewed reams of evidence against Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus as an expert witness, so I am well acquainted with their abusive treatment of elephants. Yet, late Samuel Haddock's description of babies screaming and the harrowing images of them straining against their ropes and chains, and being poked, prodded and manhandled, brought tears to my eyes.
The only reason why a bullhook has a steel point is to inflict pain. Deprivation, force and pain form the basis of the training baby elephants undergo to perform in the circus. Thereafter, restraint, deprivation and attempts to avoid pain keep circus elephants under constant control.
Circus elephants are mere commodities for human entertainment: Prevented from behaving naturally and forced to perform behaviors never seen in nature, they are bought and sold, poked and prodded, separated from companions, confined, chained, on concrete and on trains. It is insincere to allow children to believe that elephants in circuses are living an acceptable life when the evidence for the opposite is overwhelming.
Ringling's treatment of elephants is outdated, ignorant and inhumane. Progressive Norway intends to ban the use of elephants in circuses. India has already done so. Isn't it time for America and other so called enlightened countries to follow suit?
People often ask us what THEY can do for elephants. There is actually a lot you CAN do - whether its helping to stop the killing of elephants for ivory, strengthening conservation efforts, being an eco-tourist (as Barack Obama) or improving the lives of elephants in captivity.
We have listed some ideas here. One special challenge is to educate those who do not understand what a life of confinement means, and especially about how much elephants in circuses suffer. WE NEED YOUR INVOLVEMENT!
We're asking an important favour of you: Get your friends to join ElephantVoices on Facebook, and not only those you believe support elephants already. We would like to reach as many people as possible about elephant interests - which is why we're spending time also on Facebook. Each day we work with cases and issues trying to convince legislators, judges and other decision-makers that elephants deserve proper treatment - and public opinion is extremely important!
You can use Facebook Widgets to market our cause on your own website or blog - we will appreciate it very much.
We wish You and Yours a great 2010 - please spread the word!
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In this day and age the best way to do this is through the web, posting on Facebook and YouTube, sharing and cross-posting.The ivory trade is unsustainable. Elephants are in jeopardy because people covet their tusks. In a collaborative effort ElephantVoices is working to get the facts and figures out to decision-makers, and to spread the word in hopes of reaching potential buyers of ivory.
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