Elephant Dance

About the funniest thing I've seen in my life.

Me and my dad were at the Oregon Zoo in September to admire the baby elephant and my dad got 'Baby Elephant Walk' stuck in his head. So he downloaded it to his phone and started playing while we were at the Elephant Overlook.

As he's playing it Tusko, the big bull, comes out of the overhang and starts dancing...

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• baby
• elephant
• dance
• tusko
• male
• dancing
• cute
• oregon
• zoo
• funny

[CDLver]

Nothing charming about this "dance."

Clearly the creature is exhibiting physical signs of distress.

Animals belong in the wild, not caged in a zoo.

[DontUWannaKitKatBar]

@CDLver

Animals belong in the wild, not caged in a zoo. I agree with that, but he has been in captivity for many, many years. I don't agree with re-releasing animals- it's a danger to them and to the humans around them. He's huge and he associates people with food. Can you see how that'd possibly go wrong?

[lottascot]

I also agree cheater, this is not right, unless he/she's going to have more, green space later.

[DontUWannaKitKatBar]

@lottascot there's more to the exhibit up in the front, it is more scenic then the back; if I remember correctly he was in the back with two of the girls (Chendra and Shine) because Rose Tu and Sam (the baby) were inside and Packy was in the front. They don't have enough space to keep the boys in one yard so usually one is in the front/back, one's inside, and the girls and the baby are in the other yard. but they do rotate them quite frequently

[cheater123]

Somebody shoot or release the elephant already. It appears the poor little thing is seriously sad about being in captivity with all that concrete monotony and stuff.

But the song really is quite cool, though!

[DontUWannaKitKatBar]

There is a better, more scenic part to the exhibit, but one of the other boys was out there :) They DO rotate them through though so he is not in the back part all the time.

[scottwork47]

This elephant is exhibiting stereotypic behavior, bobbing and pacing are signs of distress and boredom. Elephants do not do this in the wild or in sanctuary. All zoos should release their elephants to sanctuary just like the Detroit Zoo did.

[MsPacmanBaby]

@iReallyLoveUnicorns what no i was wondering y is it the funniest thing u have ever seen? ive seen funnier

[iReallyLoveUnicorns]

@MsPacmanBaby I Agree...

[MsPacmanBaby]

wow y is this the funniest thing u have ever seen?

[SacredElephants]

BTW, the Oregon Zoo made the 2010 list for "10 Worst Zoos for Elephants" put out by the IDA (In Defense of Animals.) This is their 3 year in a row on that list. You're handy with a camera and editing. Perhaps you can remix this into a "save the elephants" campaign instead, now that you've got so many replies from people here.

[SacredElephants]

Clearly you're an animal lover. Yet, there's something you don't know. The elephant isn't "dancing." It's showing symptoms of captivity-induced dysfunction. When elephants are stressed to the point of madness, they repetitively sway and bounce their heads like that. To someone who doesn't know this, it looks like the elephant is being playful. Sadly, it's an end result of the elephant being forced to conform to inadequate living conditions.

[dfabpeck]

This is not funny. This is sad. This elephant is exhibiting stereotypic, neurotic behavior. This is what autistic children and humans exhibit when they don't have mental and social stimulation. Elephants are extremely intelligent and this what they do when they don't have space to roam, don't have a true natural, environment in which to socialize with other elephants. Captivity is killing our elephants early and making them nuts, while they are still alive. Send her to TN or CA ele sanctuary.

[ciaram535]

PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THESE ANIMALS GETTING SCARCE , LET THEM LIVE IN THEIR NATURAL HABITAT

[Rakshaming]

It's not dancing. It's severely depressed and traumatized!