Another article, this one focusing on Dallas Zoo.
Swaziland elephants en-route to Dallas Zoo | | Dallas Morning News
Swaziland elephants en-route to Dallas Zoo | | Dallas Morning News
18 Elephants to be relocated from Swaziland to the U.S
- Thread starter cmrButton5
- Start date
Well done is all I can say! Good for AZA zoos African elephant programs and good for elephants and other wildlife in the wilds of Africa!!!!
Why groups like Friends of Animals continue to be allowed to waste tax payers monies on baseless and futile court cases while ignoring the intrinsic arguments for saving elephants and other wildlife in Swaziland and allowing zoos to contribute to conservation breeding and education on African elephants is really beyond me.
Aside: FoA make no credible contributions to species conservation or wildlife management in situ …, that alone should be enough to halt any court debates.
Why groups like Friends of Animals continue to be allowed to waste tax payers monies on baseless and futile court cases while ignoring the intrinsic arguments for saving elephants and other wildlife in Swaziland and allowing zoos to contribute to conservation breeding and education on African elephants is really beyond me.
Aside: FoA make no credible contributions to species conservation or wildlife management in situ …, that alone should be enough to halt any court debates.
Welcome to the USA, where any person or group can sue any other person or group for any reason.
wensleydale
Well-Known Member
How long does the flight from Swaziland take? Also, how long might they spend tied up at customs (I know that there is all sorts of rigmarole that they will have to do with the USDA, and others), how many connecting flights, etc.
An update from Henry Doorly: Only 17 Elephants are now making the trip following the death of one individual during December. This was why they acted quickly to bring the move forward. The remaining Elephants are doing well and should be landing in Texas within the next 12 hours
ELEPHANTS EN ROUTE: Seventeen African elephants are en route from drought-stricken Swaziland to the United States as part of an ongoing rescue mission to provide safe haven and a more secure future at three accredited zoos in Dallas; Wichita, Kan.; and Omaha, Neb. Here are two of the elephants making the journey.
“The elephants are doing well, and we’ve just received word from the veterinarians with them on the flight that they are eating, drinking and resting,” said Dennis Pate, executive director and CEO of Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. “We are ready to welcome them to their new homes.”
New construction and renovation at Dallas Zoo, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium and Wichita’s Sedgwick County Zoo, informed by the latest scientific findings on elephant welfare, have created three state-of-the-art habitats to meet each elephant’s complex physical, mental and social needs in multigenerational herds. Five elephants will make their home in Dallas, and groups of six each in Wichita and Omaha.
Relocating elephants from Swaziland is an extremely complex logistical process undertaken with great care and attention to detail. No aspect of the process can be rushed. The three partner zoos and wildlife officials in Swaziland have been carefully planning for months and have been coordinating details since the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued the permit to move these animals. The intricacy of such a move has required coordination with multiple governmental agencies, all of whom have been kept apprised of plans along the way.
“There has been a lot of false, misleading information spread by activists about this rescue mission, but the permit to relocate these elephants is legal and was issued after an intense review and approval by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The zoos were legally entitled to transport the elephants, and we knew we needed to act without further delay because the situation in Swaziland is deteriorating,” said Gregg Hudson, president/CEO of the Dallas Zoo. “Here in Dallas, and in Omaha and Wichita as well, our communities can take pride in helping save these elephants from certain death and giving them a healthy future at our zoos.”
The drought is causing one of the most significant health threats to the people and wildlife in the region, and Swaziland has declared a national state of emergency. The United Nations is providing food assistance to more than 200,000 people in the country.
Swaziland’s conservation management plan called for removal of 18 elephants from the parks to ease overpopulation of elephants and provide additional space and resources for critically endangered black rhinos.
The urgency of the situation increased in December when the three zoos were notified by wildlife managers in Swaziland of the death of one of those elephants that was awaiting relocation to the U.S. The death resulted from an acute gastrointestinal medical condition, which was impossible to treat. The zoos recognized it was their duty to act promptly on behalf of the remaining 17 elephants, by relocating them quickly so they could receive the veterinary care the zoos can provide. They are now en route to the U.S.
“In addition to the well-being of these elephants, we are resolute in our commitment to Swaziland’s conservation efforts, and are continuing to contribute funds for food being trucked in for the animals living in the national parks that desperately need it,” said Hudson. “We have a long-term commitment to the conservation of elephants and critically endangered rhinos in Africa that are facing extreme threats to their survival from poaching, drought, loss of habitat and human conflict. We are proud of our ongoing conservation partnership with the people of Swaziland.”
For more information about this relocation project and the drought conditions threatening Swaziland’s people and wildlife, please visit: Room for Rhinos | A Conservation Partnership.
https://www.facebook.com/OmahaZoo/posts/10153867287080851:0
ELEPHANTS EN ROUTE: Seventeen African elephants are en route from drought-stricken Swaziland to the United States as part of an ongoing rescue mission to provide safe haven and a more secure future at three accredited zoos in Dallas; Wichita, Kan.; and Omaha, Neb. Here are two of the elephants making the journey.
“The elephants are doing well, and we’ve just received word from the veterinarians with them on the flight that they are eating, drinking and resting,” said Dennis Pate, executive director and CEO of Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. “We are ready to welcome them to their new homes.”
New construction and renovation at Dallas Zoo, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium and Wichita’s Sedgwick County Zoo, informed by the latest scientific findings on elephant welfare, have created three state-of-the-art habitats to meet each elephant’s complex physical, mental and social needs in multigenerational herds. Five elephants will make their home in Dallas, and groups of six each in Wichita and Omaha.
Relocating elephants from Swaziland is an extremely complex logistical process undertaken with great care and attention to detail. No aspect of the process can be rushed. The three partner zoos and wildlife officials in Swaziland have been carefully planning for months and have been coordinating details since the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued the permit to move these animals. The intricacy of such a move has required coordination with multiple governmental agencies, all of whom have been kept apprised of plans along the way.
“There has been a lot of false, misleading information spread by activists about this rescue mission, but the permit to relocate these elephants is legal and was issued after an intense review and approval by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The zoos were legally entitled to transport the elephants, and we knew we needed to act without further delay because the situation in Swaziland is deteriorating,” said Gregg Hudson, president/CEO of the Dallas Zoo. “Here in Dallas, and in Omaha and Wichita as well, our communities can take pride in helping save these elephants from certain death and giving them a healthy future at our zoos.”
The drought is causing one of the most significant health threats to the people and wildlife in the region, and Swaziland has declared a national state of emergency. The United Nations is providing food assistance to more than 200,000 people in the country.
Swaziland’s conservation management plan called for removal of 18 elephants from the parks to ease overpopulation of elephants and provide additional space and resources for critically endangered black rhinos.
The urgency of the situation increased in December when the three zoos were notified by wildlife managers in Swaziland of the death of one of those elephants that was awaiting relocation to the U.S. The death resulted from an acute gastrointestinal medical condition, which was impossible to treat. The zoos recognized it was their duty to act promptly on behalf of the remaining 17 elephants, by relocating them quickly so they could receive the veterinary care the zoos can provide. They are now en route to the U.S.
“In addition to the well-being of these elephants, we are resolute in our commitment to Swaziland’s conservation efforts, and are continuing to contribute funds for food being trucked in for the animals living in the national parks that desperately need it,” said Hudson. “We have a long-term commitment to the conservation of elephants and critically endangered rhinos in Africa that are facing extreme threats to their survival from poaching, drought, loss of habitat and human conflict. We are proud of our ongoing conservation partnership with the people of Swaziland.”
For more information about this relocation project and the drought conditions threatening Swaziland’s people and wildlife, please visit: Room for Rhinos | A Conservation Partnership.
https://www.facebook.com/OmahaZoo/posts/10153867287080851:0
Oh my god that is awful that one of the elephants died. I am surprised they even told the public about that.
Trying to hide things only makes it worse (more ammunition for extremists). Besides it died in Swaziland, so that is no reflection on the ability of the zoos to care for them.
Yeah but even though one died in swaziland the anti zoo people would still use it against the zoos
wensleydale
Well-Known Member
I'm sure we will see the anti zoo set using the death of the Elephant in Swaziland to try and stir up all sorts of trouble, it'll just be a matter of time.
wensleydale
Well-Known Member
This is so exciting!
Well Dallas certainly doesn't need any more elephants so this was the best thing if an elephant had to die!
How are they doing at Sedgwick..anyone know?
All I can tell you is that they arrived. Sorry. Haven't heard anything else.
Thanks,their website is saying nothing so far.