The Skinny Elephant

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Bates, L. A., J. H. Poole, and R. W. Byrne. “Elephant Cognition.” Current Biology 18, no. 13 (2008): R545. Thongtip, N., S. Mahasawangkul, C. Thitaram, P. Pongsopavijtr, K. Kornkaewrat, A. Pinyopummin, T. Angkawanish, et al. “Successful Artificial Insemination in the Asian Elephant ( Elephas maximus) Using Chilled and Frozen-Thawed Semen.” Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 7 (2009): 75. doi: 10.1186/1477-7827-7-75. Elephant ownership has long been a symbol of prestige and status among Sri Lanka’s wealthy, and a traditional feature of religious ceremonies in this predominantly Buddhist country. Although it is illegal to own elephants without a government permit, at least 40 elephants have been abducted from the island’s national parks in the last decade, according to the Sri Lankan authorities.** While a 2011 census report showed an increase in Sri Lanka’s elephant population, wildlife conservationists remain concerned that deforestation due to urbanization, the use of wild animals as gifts for VIPs, and ownership of elephants as a status symbol could harm the island’s population of wild elephants. BEC representatives were not available to answer Al Jazeera’s questions about the elephants, and its telephone numbers were disconnected. After a visit to Tasta Wildlife Park in September, all 11 elephants had been successfully rehabilitated and regained their natural form.

Varner, G. E., and M. C. Monroe. “Ethical Perspectives on Captive Breeding: Is It for the Birds?” Endangered Species UPDATE 8, no. 1 (1990): 27–29. In the second week of December, following complaints by PETA India and local activists, the forest department registered a preliminary offence report under Section 42 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, against Lakshmi’s custodian for illegally keeping her and abusing her for begging. And upon hearing from PETA India, the Animal Welfare Board of India and the Project Elephant Division of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change asked the forest department to take immediate steps to rehabilitate the elephant. The court issued a direction to send her to the ECCC based on Wildlife SOS’ willingness to care for her. Three other elephant parks in Bali – Mason, Bali Zoo and the Bali Safari and Marine Park are also struggling financially but feeding their elephants, according to the Bali Animal Welfare Association. Sri Lankan Elephant expert Jayantha Jayewardene confirmed that Tikiri had been mistreated: “Tikiri was severely undernourished,” he said. “It is a wonder that she lived this long.” (NDTV)Vitello, P. “Pat Derby, Champion of Animal Welfare, Dies at 69.” New York Times, February 22, 2013. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/22/us/pat-derby-crusader-for-animals-dies-at-69.html?_r=0. Haas says Bakas’s owners are also crying poor and demanding government assistance: “It’s quite easy to say we have no money to feed their elephants, so hello government, come and take care of it. But the ones who are responsible are the owners.” I am not saying these businesses should close,” the veterinarian said. “But I am hoping that after the pandemic, tourists will have a wake-up call and not ride elephants or play with them in swimming pools anymore. O’Connell-Rodwell, C. E. “Keeping an Ear to the Ground: Seismic Communication in Elephants.” Physiology 22 (2007): 287–94. doi: 10.1152/physiol.00008.2007.

AZA Standards for Elephant Management and Care.” Accessed January 12, 2014. http://www.elephanttag.org/Professional/Revised_AZA_Standards_Elephant_Management_Care_April2012.pdf. On October 7, the Indian government announced that it would start granting tourist visas again from October 15, after an 18-month hiatus. In a statement, the Ministry of Home Affairs said: “After considering various inputs, the MHA has decided to begin granting fresh Tourist Visas for foreigners coming to India through chartered flights with effect from October 15.” Clubb, R., M. Rowcliffe, P. Lee, K. U. Mar, C. Moss, and G. J. Mason. “Compromised Survivorship in Zoo Elephants.” Science 12 (2008): 1649. Beers, D. For the Prevention of Cruelty: The History and Legacy of Animal Rights Activism in the United States. Athens: Swallow Press/Ohio University Press, 2006.

Risk vs. reward

Clubb, R., and G. Mason. A Review of the Welfare of Zoo Elephants in Europe. Horsham, UK: RSPCA, 2002. Tourist elephants are often overworked and forced to work in the heat of the day with inadequate food, water or rest. They may not show overt signs of distress, and may be obediently plodding along, but constant, forced proximity to humans without choice of retreat is extremely stressful for elephants,” BAWA said. “They are deprived of the opportunity to perform natural behaviours, as they are either confined, tethered or under the bullhook. This creates anxiety and frustration.” Conde, D. A., F. Colchero, M. Gusset, P. Pearce-Kelly, O. Byers, N. Flesness, R. K. Browne, and O. R. Jones. “Zoos through the Lens of the IUCN Red List: A Global Metapopulation Approach to Support Conservation Breeding Programs.” PLoS ONE 8, no. 12 (2013): 1–9. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080311. Hedges, S., M. J. Tyson, A. F. Sitompul, and H. Hammatt. “Why Inter-Country Loans Will Not Help Sumatra’s Elephants.” Zoo Biology 25 (2006): 235–46. Greene, R. “Mammoth Proposal: An Elephant Reserve in Tehama County.” Red Bluff Daily News, December 6, 2013. http://www.redbluffdailynews.com/business/ci_24669207/mammoth-proposal-an-elephant-reserve-tehama-county.

Hass says Bakas’ owners were also crying poor and demanding government assistance: “It’s quite easy to say we have no money to feed their elephants, so hello government, come and take care of it. But the ones who are responsible are the owners.”They continuously dive, for long periods of time - 20 minutes on average and about 100 minutes at maximum - and deep - 500 meters (1,640 feet) on average and about 1,500 meters (4,920 feet) at maximum - with only a few minutes breathing at the surface," Adachi said.

Reports of underfed elephants amid Bali’s purported pivot towards sustainable tourism after the pandemic have reignited calls for a rethink of Bali’s elephant-tourism industry. Later in the foraging trip, when seals had plumped up to 35% body fat, they rested just before sunrise. Only 30% of their rest dives occurred during the high-risk daytime. Gradual shifts in body condition and behavior over the 220-day foraging trip accumulated to an impressive six–hour shift in average rest time by the end of the trip. Recognisable features:Being termed as India’s skinniest elephant, Lakshmi is extremely emaciated and thin, making her head look much larger than her body. Keep reading list of 4 items list 1 of 4 7,000-year-old Indonesian woman reshapes views on early humans list 2 of 4 Indonesia’s pandemic-fuelled problem: Mounds of medical waste list 3 of 4 Is it time to rethink Bali’s monkey forests? list 4 of 4 Indonesia police kill ISIL-linked leader in Sulawesi shoot-out end of list There are no known ethical Sanctuaries in Bali,” says Bali Elephant Paradise Hell, an advocacy group created by tourists who did not like what they say at the islands’ elephant camps. “The elephants are often kept chained for prolonged periods of time when not performing hideous shows or used for rides, living in fear of being stabbed with bullhooks and denied what is natural and important to them.”Savage-Rumbaugh, S., K. Wamba, P. Wamba, and N. Wamba. “Welfare of Apes in Captive Environments: Comments on, and by, Specific Groups of Apes.” Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 10 (2007): 7–19. Arrivals will be subject to five days’ quarantine at their own expense and the partial reopening will serve as a “trial” for Bali’s ability to once again welcome all, tourism minister Sandiaga Uno told reporters, although he did not offer a timeline for that full return.