Philadelphia Zoo Elephants - Trainers with Bullhooks

[godblesselephants]

The elephants seem very calm and peaceful around the keepers, which means that the keepers have never been abusive towards their elephants.

[awesomeH2O]

I am sure that elephant keepers do not have evil intentions or are ignorant in the care of elephants, but I think that the training the keepers went through to handle these animals has led them to believe elephants need to be managed through such harsh and inhumane methods. The keepers may have wanted to do the best for the elephants, but wanting to was different than actually doing so. Elephants do much better when handled in passive control.

[gowildlife]

@awesomeH2O I agree. On several visits, I observed keepers that were poking the elephants with the sharp end of the bullhooks. It was wrong and inhumane. The keepers did love the elephants, there's no doubt about that. But the truth is, they can't be kept in zoos or circuses and live good lives. Zoos provide food and medical care, but not the enrichment or stimulation needs.

[awesomeH2O]

I do not believe that elephants should be handled with bullhooks, which are the objects the keepers are using. It is an inhumane practice to use bullhooks. You cannot just give a keeper a steel bullhook and assume that the keeper will use it wisely.

[131yazzie]

rake or bullhook, the elephant definitely backed away from it....

[ZooVisitorMM]

You might want to hold that camera a little more steadily - Especially if you are trying to make a point.

I believe the keepers at the Philadelphia Zoo have always provided the best quality care to all the animals, including the elephants.

You can tell by the elephants' calm and peaceful behavior around their keepers that the keepers have never used bullhooks in an abusive way.

[ixH4L0xi]

yea definately a rake...you're an idiot

[pipsqueak614]

actually thats a rake not a bullhook... they were cleaning up the poop and if u look close enough u can tell its a rake