Indian Elephants Released from Zoos

SYNOPSIZED BY E.M. FAY

In a move welcomed by animal advocates everywhere, Indian officials have decided upon the remarkably enlightened policy of releasing all the elephants in Indian zoos and circuses into wildlife parks and game sanctuaries. The animals will be allowed to move about and graze freely, although mahouts, traditional elephant trainers, will monitor them.

Approximately 140 elephants from Indian zoos and circuses will be in this program. It is believed that this new policy was brought about by complaints from animal rights activists who noted that captive elephants are often kept in chains while living in zoos and with circuses. It is a known fact that captive elephants suffer more from such diseases as arthritis and obesity and die prematurely compared to wild elephants.

Elephants have long been acknowledged to be intelligent, social animals with strong family ties and active memories.

Unfortunately, the thousands of elephants still living in temples and used as timber lifters in logging camps are not included in this program. Perhaps if animal advocates worldwide show their appreciation of the new Indian policy, and continue to speak out against all forms of enslavement for elephants, these, too, may some day be freed.

As John Cannon, a well-known poet from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, put it, “At least some individuals and countries are becoming aware of the need to transition from keeping wild animals in captivity to honoring the rights of these animals to be free. Around the world, the transition will be slow and piecemeal, but at least there is a growing awareness of the impracticality (and, hopefully, the immorality) of keeping wild animals captive.”

Read the whole story at:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8356553.stm