by Anai Rhoads

Judge John D. Bates, with the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, announced Friday ruling in favour of the importation of eleven elephants from an Swaziland preserve to the Lowry Park Zoo and San Diego Wild Animal Park.

Animal activists fought to stop America from obtaining import licences but lost as Bates gave full permission to the American Zoo and Aquarium Association for relocation.

The AZA, albeit having published thirty-seven journals, books, and articles relating to elephants, has neglected to point out the psychological trauma elephants experience once they are separated and removed from their herd.

A newborn elephant is born into a family led by an older female elephant. The groups mostly consist of females and young males. Adult males leave the herd at around 14 years of age, and either roam reclusively or join what it is known as bachelor herd. They make their way back duing breeding season.

Much like a human family, the babies and toddlers are raised within a family unit. The older females (teens) serve as babysitters. When any of the children are at risk, all join in to save or help the elephant in need.

Although it is illegal to kill an elephant in Africa, some continue to taunt and murder them for their ivory. One could say capturing the elephants may spare them of such a fate. But truth be told, at least seventy-nine elephants captured in the wild have met their death in North American facilities since 1990. Not one died of natural causes. The average lifespan of an elephant is 70 years of age, and the wild elephants placed in zoos and forced to perform in circus' live no more than 40 years of age.

The singer and songwriter, Dave Matthews, from the popular Western group that carries his name, confronted Swaziland's King Mswati III earlier this year. In a plea against the capture of eleven elephants, he stated that the elephants currently live freely amongst their herd in the Swaziland Hlane Royal National Park and should not be taken away.

The elephants are due to arrive by May 2004, as they will be taken from their 74,130-acre habitat. Among animal lovers and activists, this action casts yet another blemish on the United States' slavery record.

Contact Jane Ballentine of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association at (301) 332-1742 to express your thoughts on this senseless capture.

Further Reading on this Topic:

ElephantTrust.org (PDF file)

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