Elephants

[shellaroe]

Zoos endorse animal abuse. They are businesses. They have even invented their own honor system, The AZA, American Zoological Association. Self governed, thus, biased. Zoo animals are usually kept in unnatural surroundings, & a severe lack of space, No privacy and really, never procreate. Could you procreate under supervision and misery albeat? Well, animals in zoos (same with the ones eaten) are "artificially inseminated," a.k. "raped." Our relationship with other beings, Beautiful, Jesus?

[serverdown2]

This is bullshit, Anychance Ringling Bros has a share in this zoo..Why wasnt the local news doing their part in relocating these girls to TES before their death?Or at least showing the public of how they are mistreated.Oh and countrygirl 67 your a idiot.

[lasafty]

I thought shoes were good - TES was having some made for one of the elephants there but unfortunately the ele died unexpectedly - nothing to do with its feet

[episteuo]

I can't take it!  I could only watch 1/3 of the video. It's horrifying.

[YuujirouKai]

a zoo? [my diffinition of a zoo] A place where animals are taken in from being mistreated or can no longer survive in there natural habitat

AND WTF IS HAPPENING AT THIS ZOO!!!

[clyyyydddde]

Many zoos do not acquire animals from mistreatment. Many elephants are taken from Africa after their mothers are killed in culls, tigers and other felines are purchesed through brokers or they are purchased from breeding facilities, many other animals are purchased at exotic animal auctions with horrid conditions.

[Okcountrygirl67]

None of that is true in this day and age. Zoos trade among themselves, usually for breeding purposes. Animals are not taken from the wild except in extremely rare cases, and there are no wild animal brokers dealing with zoos anymore, at least not in America. The same goes for auctions. Most zoos have very strigent requirements for the aquisition, shipment, and care of animals.

[NOELSON341]

untrue - you need to educate yourself. 7 elephants came from Africa just a few years back. San Diego took 4 I believe. They transferred their resident elephants (to make room for the new ones) to Lincoln Park Zoo where all 3 elephants died within a year and a 1/2. Australia just imported 8 asian elephants in 2007 I believe as well.

[Okcountrygirl67]

Chances are those elephants were being culled and zoos were an alternative to killing them. Culling is very common in Africa at least, where elephants can be rare in some areas and over populated in others. In any case,I did say that aquisition from the wild does happen in rare cases. It is NOT the usual means of aquiring zoo animals nowdays.

[lavender880]

OKcountrygirl67-- Where do you get your information? I am a law student studying Animal Protection Law and animals are being brokered all over the US and abroad. Exotic animals are being treated like freekin used cars and being bought and sold and left in horrendous conditions because the people that bought them don't want to spend anymore money to care for them. The elephant in this video probably had to stand on concrete for most of her life, thus the feet problems.

[Okcountrygirl67]

I have been in the zoo business for over 16 years. Animal treament is highly regulated by State and Federal regulations as well as zoo industry rules. The majority of aquisitions are BETWEEN zoos, often regulated by the Species Survival Plan ( SSP) which tries to find the best place for endangered animals. It would make no sense to capture a wild animal when what you need is right in your own country! The animal rights fringe is playing with emotions rather than facts.

[lavender880]

OKcountrygirl67---if that is true why are we finding PROOF that animals are still being abused in captivity? If these animals were in the wild, this would not happen. Why do some humans feel that they can jack these animals around at their own whims? Financial gain is most likely the reason. If animal treatment is " highly regulated " then why are these animals still suffering? The USDA is the main regulator, and lots of times they ignore the abuse. That is a well known fact!

[youlikame]

Unfortunately, many people who go to zoos don't realize how cruel they are. If you look at the video of "dancing elephant", you can hear a woman tell a child that the pathetic, obsessive, back & forth movements that the elephant is making is "dancing". I hate to see these videos, but someone needs to speak for animals that have no voice.

[NOELSON341]

This is St. Louis Zoo. Clara has been euthanized, thank Goodness, she is no longer in pain. However there are other elephants still at that zoo. I can't post a URL but google "Clarasvoice" and hopefull you will get to the website dedicated to helping the other elephants and read about Clara.

[bmagcorrado]

That is so sad

[TexarkanaBraveheart]

I feel that very soon.we humans will be paid back in full for mistreating animals.you know the animals of this world.must deep down,want us humans to kill each other off.well it looks with all the wars we seem to wanna wage each other,they may get there wish.and we'd deserve to become extinct

[TheHolyGrasshopper]

What Fucken Zoos are they in ? thats fucken bull shit, there needs to be a lot people in jail over this, inless there in some county where they got the "dont give a shit law", wich dont protect animals and that case needs just be a lot people hangen from a tree or something ...them poor elephants....thats bull shit..=(

[anulay]

I think the people doing this to elephants should be forced into that treatment as punishment. Make them stand on their feet all day and all night, and with nosandles as an aid; it's a joke of a help anyhow. Then they can be forced to stay locked up in a cell for a month. Then after that they can spend the rest of their miserable days in a pin amusing other pathetic humans that pay for this ridiculous, hideous entertainment we call zoos.

[spawp]

in which zoo is this elephant? - Thany - Peter

[sunnedee]

Zoos are incapable of providing the acreage necessary to maintain elephants' physical and psychological health. Elephants living in zoos are only living out half of their life span, which usually is 70 years. Also, elephants can walk up to 30 miles a day.

Circuses are another story and should be boycotted completly.

[kurbangul]

Shame on those who argue without ever trying to get their facts straight. As anyone can clearly see from this video, not all zoos are so wonderful.

[thescienceguyjohn]

Wow. You should all be ashamed of yourselves for your comments. Zoos are excellent animal care facilities and without them we wouldn't have much wildlife left to protect. I'm not about to hit my mother over the head with a frying pan just because she's old and has arthritis and a walker. Shame on you all.

[skitty770]

you are wrng thescienceguyjohn, when animals are kept in zoos, they are not technically " wild" anymore, not essentially meaning that the zoos dont take care of them, i am sure that alot of zoos are great but the one in this video is not.that is why scientists prefer to study animals in their natural habitat.

[anulay]

What the hell is your pathetic point? I'm ashamed of people like you who think that this is perfectly acceptable. Go. Fuck. Yourself.

Cheers! =)

[JMYJACT]

st louis, hummmm. not that long of a trip. hmmmm,greed is an ugly thing.ok i know people who know a thing or 2 about a thing or 2 and they don't live anywhere near st. louis

[clarasfriend]

st. louis zoo claims that Clara just has a little arthritis.They won't end her misery.

[Eabhathekiwi]

As much as I love zoo owners and people who support the zoo by paying admission, there is a time when they should be put out of their misery. Like now.

[jpp13]

Poor poor girl. That's what captivity does to elephants. See www.elephants.com

[VeronicaMills]

As much as I love animals, especially elephants, there is a time when they should be put out of there misery. If she were to lay down for a long period of time it would crush her internal organs. If there is nothing else that can be done for her then she should be put down and then the pain and suffering would end.

[xamberxleahx]

Poor Sri - She looks so depressed, and sad and in pain. That's so fucked up. Whatever zoo that is - It's a joke. As if elephant sandals really work. Looks like it's cutting off circulation - Which doesn't help. People are so fucking cruel.

[anulay]

Indeed.

[xamberxleahx]

Why hasn't anyone done something for her? This is totally jacked up. Poor girl. I bet she doesn't even want to lay down because it hurts so bad trying to get back up. I think this Zoo should be looked into, treating her pain with sandals certainly doesn't seem to be doing the job. If you're going to have an animal, take CARE OF IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ASSHOLES.