Bradshaws book (Elephants on the edge) was a real eye opener on the world of elephants especially in captivity.
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Elephants-Edge-Animals-Teach-Humanity/dp/0300127316]Amazon.com: Elephants on the Edge: What Animals Teach Us about Humanity (9780300127317): G. A. Bradshaw: Books[/ame]
Michael Schmidt a vet for over 30yrs maintains that modern zoos are as dangerous as it has always been for elephants. Bradshaw asserts that the quality of life in zoos is also poor as the enrichment is hardly sufficient for such an intelligent animal which has evolved with nature with large variations in weather, long treks with relatives and a rich and constant social contact.
A study of 4500 elephants btwn 1960-2005 found zoo elephants die alot sooner Zoo Elephants Die Very Young | LiveScience 17yrs vs 56yrs for free ranging Kenyan elephants. Captive elephants also suffer from chronic foot injuries- 46 AZA accredited zoos holding 135 elephants had 62% of the animals suffering severe foot disease and 42 have joint disorders.
She asserts that rationales for elephant captivity is poor and the notion of conservation is belied by low fertility, infanticide, high stress levels.
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Elephants-Edge-Animals-Teach-Humanity/dp/0300127316]Amazon.com: Elephants on the Edge: What Animals Teach Us about Humanity (9780300127317): G. A. Bradshaw: Books[/ame]
Michael Schmidt a vet for over 30yrs maintains that modern zoos are as dangerous as it has always been for elephants. Bradshaw asserts that the quality of life in zoos is also poor as the enrichment is hardly sufficient for such an intelligent animal which has evolved with nature with large variations in weather, long treks with relatives and a rich and constant social contact.
A study of 4500 elephants btwn 1960-2005 found zoo elephants die alot sooner Zoo Elephants Die Very Young | LiveScience 17yrs vs 56yrs for free ranging Kenyan elephants. Captive elephants also suffer from chronic foot injuries- 46 AZA accredited zoos holding 135 elephants had 62% of the animals suffering severe foot disease and 42 have joint disorders.
She asserts that rationales for elephant captivity is poor and the notion of conservation is belied by low fertility, infanticide, high stress levels.