Bull Elephant Introduced to New Home-Cincinnati Zoo

[jrob9inson]

I got to pet and feed these guys. Really cool.

[917Amber]

His 'yard' looks really small. He needs to come live at the OKC zoo where he would have probably 5x that much room if not more =)

[HenryDavidT]

For such a beautiful, majestic, and large 21 year-old bull, he needs --- even if he must be kept in captivity --- a space 3-5 as big as that. Keeping an animal as intelligent and large as that in that space, is exactly keeping humans in a cell of 10 12 sq.ft all his life, with him receiving all the good food and medical checkup's, of course.

Who would want to live in a space of 10x12 all his life, even if you could eat any thing you want everyday?

[MrRagtimer]

What a small and uninspiring yard! Given the fact that Asian elephants are living in tropical jungle environments, this area must be like desert for this poor bull.

Anyway it's an illusion to think that zoos protect species. What's not survining in the wild is lost for ever, and these few zoo elephants are not the same as their wild relatives. Zoos are just money-making machineries.

[girlofgaga63]

Elephants are my fave animals!

[donna1948ful]

Oh boy, more babies to be born into this unnatural setting...hope the herpes virus doesn't take the babies out as fast as they can reproduce them...that has to be a real heartbreaker for the females....but that's inmaterial...who cares what an elephant feels....we can see baby elephants!..man look at those tills growing...mo money, mo money, mo money....we can dress it all up like we give a rat's a@# about elephant conservation... as long as the moneys coming in we are pro elephant here dude!

[pizzapingvin]

that is one small yard. sad

[TopThrillDan]

I saw Sabu at the Zoo yesterday.

[pindragin]

thats true but they take good care really good care have u eva been to that zoo

[CreamyDove]

This yard is ridiculous. It's like locking a person up in a closet. When are you people going to learn elephants don't belong in zoos. He should be sent to the PAWS Ark 2000 Sanctuary. Get real! This is pathetic!

[stratotanker518]

This is true. It is very small and concrete and unnatural. I live in North Carolina and the NC Zoo's Elephant and Rhino area is so large that you are lucky to see them. It's like a small preserve. That is the way it should be for these precious animals if we must contain them.

[littlefurballs]

@CreamyDove

Yes, you said it well!! Rescuing elephants on a sanctuary is one thing, but breeding them for zoos and profit makes me sick. I just came back from an elephant sanctuary in Thailand where the elephants can roam free for many miles

[MlleCantonVaud]

What makes me sick are people like you who are poorly read on the subject of elephant conservation. Wild and captive populations in Asia are not reproducing at a replacemnet rate, so there is a critical need to supplement them with efforts in North America.

[littlefurballs]

What's the point of replacing them in North America if they are just stuck in a small area when elephants normally roam many miles a day!! That makes me sick!

[MlleCantonVaud]

So your solution is to let them become extinct as their third world habitat vanishes. The real solution is for that to happen to you and the rest of the Obama lovers.

[littlefurballs]

You know, we'reboth just making arguments on both our stands. You don't have to be so hostile in your argument. How do u know if Im an Obama lover? You're just making a generalization. I just really care about animals and their welfare. No, I don't want them to be extinct! I just dont think it's right to breed them so rapidly when all we're doing is confining them to a small space. It's just like keeping killer whales living ina small pool when they're meant to swim free for hundreds of miles.

[littlefurballs]

In addition, Ringling Brothers is NOT helping elephants. Yes, they'e breeding them quite rapidly, but that's not helping them. Forced breeding is not the answer. They are so tortured and abused during training practices. An elephant was not meant to do demeaning tricks and live in tiny spaces. I think anyone with a heart would agree that they wouldn't want to be forced against their will to do something, and then beaten and tortured until they are submissive.

[MlleCantonVaud]

Elphants have been domesticated for thousands of years and their use in entertainment is almost as long. Domestic reserves are full of 70+ year old retired circus elephants - so if that life is so horrific, why do they live longer than Asian Indian elephants in the wild (avg. lifespan about 63 years max).

[littlefurballs]

What's the point of living a long time if you're living a life of misery and confinement outside your natural habitat and being beaten and tortured? Even if the elephants in the wild are living shorter lives, at least it's a better life for them as it's in their natural surroundings, the way they were meant to live. In the wild, they don't have to be submissive or do any demeaning tricks for humans, having their spirit broken down in addition to the abuse they go through.

[QCG513]

@littlefurballs Give it a rest.

Zoos (particularly the Cincinnati Zoo) are instrumental in ensuring the survival of a variety of endangered specicies. But I guess you would rather see animals be "free and happy" in the wild, and completely disappear from the face of the Earth, rather than be bred and protected in captivity, and then released back into the wild.

Maybe you should spend more time living in the real world, and less in some tree-hugger utopian fairytale.

[littlefurballs]

@QCG513 NO, I'm not going to "give it a rest". I'm not asking you people who feel it's alright to keep elephants in a small, concrete area when they normally roam for many miles a day and are extremely social creatures to "give it a rest".

You're saying that you want elephants to be bred in captivity and then released back in the wild? When will that happen?

[QCG513]

@littlefurballs Issues like these tend illustrate the basic problem with people and societies. At some point, you have to be less idealistic, make concessions, and focus on the big picture.

Ok, so 5% of the Elepahants on Earth are in captivity, and don't get to prance around 30 miles a day in Africa... but having them at Zoos brings in money, which is ultimately used to save a myriad of other species from going extinct. Not a good trade?

[littlefurballs]

@QCG513 Yes, I realize that Barnum and Bailey isn't a zoo. Did I ask you if it was a zoo? NO. I was merely asking you if felt B&B contributed to "conservation", as others have pointed out how they're helping with conservation (which is absolutely ridiculous).I was merely asking your opinion. Give me a break: "prance"? Stop making it seem like their freedom inthe wild is something meaningless. Maybe they do bring in money for other species. I am all for preventing the extinction of species (cont)

[littlefurballs]

@QCG513 (cont) but not when they are put in conditions like this concrete jungle just to make "money" (which is not only going to the animal (unlike sanctuaries, where the money usually goes to the animal to give it a good life. So, no, not a good trade. I thought Stratotanker had a very good point about the NC Zoo's elephant and rhino area (in the Highest rated comments). If we must contain these domesticated animals, at least make their living space a lot bigger and natural

[GWRevolution2008]

@QCG513 the fact of the matter is that this "wild" that people say that zoo animals need to "return" to doesn't exist anymore, due to human encroachment and habitat destruction.

[littlefurballs]

@QCG513 Andenough with the insults. Just like MlleCantonVaud, you're making the assumption that I'm some "tree hugger". Make your points and arguments 4yur case, but don't be nasty about it. Even if I don't agree with your points, I don't go around calling you an "elephant hating imbecile". No. I am open to hearing your arguments and I'll respond back with whether I agree or not. Curious to know if you also support Barnum and Bailey and feel they contribute to "conservation of elephants" too.

[donna1948ful]

@MlleCantonVaud ..I think if you did a little research before you make comments about something you obviously know very little about, you would apologize to littlefurballs for being so rude...

[HenryDavidT]

@MlleCantonVaud Asian elephants have been working AS SLAVES for humans (in India, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, etc.) for around 1,000-2,000. But they are NEVER domesticated; they're being TORTURED for months, with chains on 4 legs, pulled in different direction, until they break; but even then, BULLS can & DO kill their "owners" all the time, even in chains. African elephants, being bigger & more aggressive, have never been successful worked on until the mid 1900s...

[MlleCantonVaud]

If you're so upset about the enclosure, open your (empty) checkbook and subsidize the construction of a larger one. Otherwise, stop your armchair whining - it falls on deaf ears.

[littlefurballs]

You make a lot of accusations without any support. How do you know whether or not my checkbook is empty or not? There's no reasoning behind any of the accusations you make to me or any of the other people I've seen you attack on here. I have and currently am supporting sanctuaries that allow the elephants to live out their lives in their natural habitat. I don't support venues that promote cruelty towards these elephants, like circuses

[porkai]

zoo like" jail 4 animal "....you want get into jail like animal,thing about it,stupid

[jimthewebguy2000]

I really feel lucky to live in ohio to enjoy this zoo and I know every time i donate money,  the zoo is soooo good about how they use it.

[rockwizclown]

i was expecting to see him eat someone.

[ccx18]

awesome! i can't wait to see him! i was just there last month and got to feed the giraffes...but sabu was busy getting a bath while i was there