When you think about it…a species with a brain should be able to think.

The intelligence of animals is often times underestimated.

For centuries, animals were considered nothing more than robots, machines that made noises but nothing more. They were considered to have no intelligence and certainly couldn’t learn other than by constant repetition. They certainly couldn’t use tools or show emotions like love.

However, the more we engage with animals where they are—not where we think they should be—the more we learn that we have underestimated them.

When given a stick to find food, a chimpanzee can fashion it into a tool to dig termites out of rotted tree trunks. When given a stick to reach food, an elephant ignores it. Are elephants “dumber” than chimpanzees? No, elephants don’t use sticks the way chimps do. If an elephant wants to reach food, especially food suspended above her head, she will extend her trunk. If the food is too high, and there is a suitable object that the elephant can step on to reach the food, the elephant will move that object and step up to grab the food. Once we begin to recognize the species’ differences, and develop “tests” to test their abilities on their terms, the more we learn about their intelligence.

Can animals love? Can they show compassion and empathy for their own kind or for other species? Can they learn by adapting what they already know to new situations? The answer to these and other questions about animal intelligence is more often today “yes.” When you think about it, a species with a brain should be able to think.

Keep the Circus From Coming to Your Town

Exotic animals such as these elephants are forced to perform unnatural tricks during circus performances.

It’s that time of year again. Box cars and tractor-trailers carrying wild creatures in chains and cages will be touring the country for the annual circus season. Cole Bros. and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey are among the most recognized of traveling circuses transporting elephants, monkeys, and big cats, among several other animals, for an average of 26 hours between stops.

While the sole purpose of these companies is to exploit animals for entertainment and their own financial gain, many patrons are unaware of the tortuous acts that take place behind the scenes. Through these training tactics, animals, particularly elephants, are forced to perform unnatural tricks through the use of electric shock, ropes, and sharp metal bull hooks. Cole Bros. Circus has been cited and fined repeatedly by the United States Department of Agriculture for failing to meet “minimum standards of care and treatment” established by the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). Violations include negligent and cruel living conditions, lack of adequate veterinary care, and use of blatant, abusive training tactics.

While animal circuses have been fined thousands of dollars throughout their existence, families still flock to these events unaware of the suffering that these animals endure because of their ticket purchases. These animals not only face years of both physical and psychological distress, but also pose a threat to onlookers during their performances. Contact your city Chamber of Commerce and local venues that support these inhumane performances, and urge them to close their doors to companies allowing such violent training to be committed in their own community.

Click here to view the list of venues and Chambers of Commerce for each state hosting a circus.

Elephants Belong in the Wild

Elephants belong in the wild, not in zoos

Elephants do not belong in zoos. They do not belong confined to spaces inadequate for them to function normally. In fact, most elephant zoo exhibits cannot begin to replicate the normal roaming and foraging patterns of elephants who, in one day, can cover 10 miles over ranges measuring hundreds of square miles. In addition, zoo elephants;
• Reside on hard ground and cement surfaces, contributing substantially to painful foot and leg ailments. Foot disease is a common cause of death in captive elephants.
• Endure conditions that induce psychological and emotional suffering; for instance, living in isolation for extended periods of time.
• Suffer from the inability to partake in natural behaviors, like forming family groups. Infant elephants are often shipped to other zoos or circuses.
• Develop stereotypies, such as swaying or patterned walking, which are considered symptoms of psychological distress.
• Are subjected to inhumane treatment through the use of bullhooks and other negative training devices.
• Live in climates that do not replicate their natural environment, causing them undue stress.

The life of a zoo elephant is fraught with much pain, suffering, and sorrow. Therefore, permanently closing elephant exhibits and retiring the elephants to appropriate sanctuaries would do a great service to the world’s largest land mammal. Such a compassionate act on the part of zoo officials would serve as a true testament of their concern for the well-being of wildlife. Additionally, such an action will go far in fostering a public understanding and respect for the magnificent and gentle elephant.

We urge you to contact zoos in your locale where elephants are being deprived of their natural environment, companionships, and freedom from inhumane treatment and urge those zoos to close their elephant exhibits and retire any elephants in their care to appropriate sanctuaries. By urging zoo directors to permanently close their elephant exhibits, you will be demonstrating your compassion, respect, and concern for these gentle giants.

Elephants to Stay in Zimbabwe

Paws Up!
To Zimbabwe for returning elephants to the wild instead of shipping them to Chinese zoos.

According to a news story, Zimbabwe has decided not to ship five baby elephants to China for exhibition in zoos in that country.

Four elephants had been shipped in November and one died. The five other baby elephants were awaiting transport when the decision was made to return them to the wild once they have been prepared for their transition.

“State parks and wildlife officials agreed on their release,…and ‘the capture of wild animals for zoos or similar habitats, irrespective of location’ is expected to be stopped.”

Elephants live in herds and work together to protect everyone in the family.

Elephants, like all wild animals, belong in the wild or in protected sanctuaries and not on display in zoos.

Take Action: Thank the Zimbabwean officials for their commitment to saving lives. Let them know that this compassionate act will serve as a true testament of their concern for the well-being of wildlife and that such an action will go far in fostering a public understanding and respect for the magnificent and gentle elephant.

Mr. Francis Nhema, Minister
Environment and Natural Resources Management
The Permanent Secretary
Kaguvi Building, 11th Floor
Central Avenue, Harare
Zimbabwe
environment@gta.gov.zw

Mr. Edson Chidziya, acting director of National Parks
Parks & Wildlife Management Authority
Corner Sandringham & Borrowdale Roads
Botanical Gardens
PO Box CY140, Causeway, Harare
Zimbabwe
echidziya@simparks.co.zw

LA May Ban Performing Elephants

Life with a circus is not humane for elephants.

According to a news story, the City Council of “Los Angeles is poised to ban elephants from performing in circuses within its city limits….”

The circus has been around since ancient times. Meant to entertain, circuses often mean suffering, pain, fear, and degradation for the animals who are forced to perform day after day. Life is hard for the humans who choose to work in the circus. Life is inhumane for the nonhuman animals who have no choice.

Los Angeles residents, please contact the mayor and your council members to express your desire that circus elephants should not be allowed to perform in your city.

California residents, please contact the mayor of Los Angeles and members of the Los Angeles City Council to express your support of the proposed ban.

The Honorable Antonio R. Villaraigosa, Mayor
The Honorable Herb J. Wesson, Jr., Council President
The Honorable Ed Reyes, President Pro Tempore
City Hall
200 N. Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

When you think about it…when animals grieve, they look a lot like us.

Animals show signs of grieving much like we do.

We have long since passed the point where we have to wonder, “Do animals think?” We know they do. Do animals feel pain? Absolutely. So, do animals grieve when one of their own dies? Yes. Animals who lose animal friends can become anxious or depressed and may lose their appetites and their interest in playing. They may have trouble sleeping. Anyone who has companion animals may have seen such behavior when one companion dies, leaving the other(s) bereft.

While some animals show signs of distress when a companion of theirs dies, some hold actual funerals for their dead. According to an article in BBC Nature, “When western scrub jays encounter a dead bird, they call out to one another and stop foraging…The jays then often fly down to the dead body and gather around it….”

In another article, we learn that Yellow-billed Magpies often descend on the carcass of one of their own, “hopping and making loud squawking noises for prolonged periods. Some biologists have described these reactions as ‘funeral behaviors,’….”

Marc Bekoff, Professor Emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, in an essay on animal emotions, notes that animals display grief at the loss or absence of a close friend or loved one. “Among the best examples are grieving rituals of elephants in the wild observed by such renowned researchers as Iain Douglas-Hamilton, Cynthia Moss and Joyce Poole…To quote Joyce Poole: ‘As I watched Tonie´s vigil over her dead newborn, I got my first very strong feeling that elephants grieve. I will never forget the expression on her face, her eyes, her mouth, the way she carried her ears, her head, and her body. Every part of her spelled grief.’ Young elephants who saw their mothers being killed often wake up screaming.”

Mothers grieve the loss of their babies and babies grieve the loss of their mothers. Flint, a young chimpanzee, died of a broken heart after his mother Flo’s death. Conrad Lorenz, Nobel-wining zoologist, observed grief in geese. And, recently, at the National Zoo in Washington, DC, a mother panda lost her 6-day old infant. Mei Xiang was heard making “distressed vocalizations,” which alerted zoo staff to the death.

When you think about it, animals grieve the loss of loved ones, experience depression, create rituals, hold wakes, and generally act like us when a companion, friend, partner has died.

Ivory Kills

African elephants cannot afford a legalization of ivory trade.

There is growing concern that a proposal to legalize the ivory trade may be approved at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) at the organization’s March 2013 meeting in Bangkok, Thailand.

Even though the trade in ivory is illegal, approximately 38,000 African elephants are killed each year for their tusks. If the ivory trade is legalized, that number will dramatically increase. If we do not protect elephants in Africa, they may face extinction within the next 10 years.

As yet, the United States has not yet taken a strong stand against the proposal. Please contact your senators and representatives and urge them to protect African elephants by voting against any proposal that would legalize the ivory trade. In addition, contact the secretary of the Interior and urge him to protect Africa’s elephants by taking an active stand against any reversal of the ivory trade ban.

The Honorable Ken Salazar
Secretary
Department of the Interior
1849 C Street, N.W.
Washington DC 20240
Tele. No.: 202-208-3100
E-mail: feedback@ios.doi.gov

Elephants Need Your Help

Elephants are majestic creatures who in the wild travel dozens of miles each day. They do not belong in captivity.

Paws Up!
To the Honorable Superior Court Judge John L. Segal for ordering the Los Angeles Zoo to make changes in the way elephants are treated at the zoo.

Judge John L. Segal is quoted as writing in his decision, “The evidence at trial shows that life at the Los Angeles Zoo for Billy, Tina, and Jewel is empty, purposeless, boring, and occasionally painful.” While the judge did not issue an order to close the exhibit, he did order the zoo to make changes in how they care for the elephants. Such changes include increasing exercise time for the elephants, rototilling the soil to soften it, and banning bullhooks and electric shock devices.

NHES opposes zoo elephant exhibits in which the elephants:
• Have inappropriate space for roaming and foraging. Elephants typically roam 10 miles a day over ranges measuring hundreds of square miles.
• Reside on hard ground and cement surfaces, contributing substantially to painful foot and leg ailments. Foot disease is a common cause of death in captive elephants.
• Endure conditions that induce psychological and emotional suffering; for instance, living in isolation for extended periods of time.
• Suffer from the inability to partake in natural behaviors, like forming family groups. Infant elephants are often shipped to other zoos or circuses.
• Develop stereotypies, such as swaying or patterned walking, which are considered symptoms of psychological distress.
• Are subjected to inhumane treatment through the use of bullhooks and other negative training devices.
• Live in climates that do not replicate their natural environment, causing them undue stress.

While the judge’s order will help the elephants in the short term, they are not the best solutions for their long-term welfare.

Take Action: Thank Judge Segal for his order to protect the elephants at the Los Angeles Zoo and urge him to reconsider his decision to let the elephant exhibit remain open.

The Honorable John L. Segal
Judge, Superior Court, Los Angeles County
Stanley Mosk Courthouse
111 North Hill Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Elephants to Find New Home

Elephants do not deserve to be in captivity.

Paws Up!

To the Calgary Zoo for announcing plans to relocate its endangered Asian elephants.

According to a news story, “Zoo President Dr. Clement Lanthier says ‘The decision is all about animal welfare.’ ‘It was based on a growing acceptance and understanding of the importance of the social structure in elephant herds and the knowledge that their welfare is better served by being part of a large social group.’”

NHES opposes zoo elephant exhibits in which the elephants have insufficient space for roaming and foraging since elephants typically roam 10 miles a day over ranges measuring hundreds of square miles. In addition, some exhibits have elephants residing on hard ground and cement surfaces, contributing substantially to painful foot and leg ailments. Foot disease is a common cause of death in captive elephants. Elephants in some exhibits endure conditions that induce psychological and emotional suffering; for instance, living in isolation for extended periods of time. They suffer from the inability to partake in natural behaviors, like forming family groups and may develop stereotypies, such as swaying or patterned walking, which are considered symptoms of psychological distress. Frequently, elephants are forced to live in climates that do not replicate their natural environment, causing them additional undue stress.

Take action: Canadian residents, please send a note of thanks to the president of the Calgary Zoo. If a zoo in your community has an elephant exhibit which limits the elephants in enjoying their true nature, contact the director and let him or her know of your desire to see the elephants moved to an appropriate sanctuary.

Dr. Clement Lanthier
President
Calgary Zoo, Botanical Garden & Prehistoric Park
1300 Zoo Road NE
Calgary, Alberta
Canada T2E 7V6

Source:
The Calgary Herald

Update on the Apple Blossom Festival’s Circus

This year, the circus’s tigers, elephants, and other animals will not have to perform in Winchester, VA.

Update!

For decades, Cole Brothers Circus has been bringing elephants, tigers, and other animals to the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® in Winchester, VA. Thanks to public outcry and allegations of animal abuse, this year will be different: no animals will appear in Cole Brothers’ act. This was not an ethical decision on the part of the circus or the festival’s planners. Rather, Simon Property Group, which owns the mall property where the circus is held, recently banned all circus animals from its properties. We are happy that Simon held strong to its resolution as the circus has a long history at this location. Hopefully, this will be the end of circus animals at the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival®.

Read our initial post on this issue.