IN THE NEWS
New Massachusetts law bars circuses from using elephants, lions, giraffes and other animals
Associated Press, August 12, 2024
Human-elephant conflicts down nearly 90% in Tsavo community thanks to fencing
IFAW, July 30, 2024
Elephants have names for each other like people do, new study shows
Colorado State University, June 10, 2024
Ruth is a thinker; Emily snores. Meet the longtime elephant ‘roommates’ at New Bedford zoo.
The Boston Globe, June 3, 2024
Response sent from Ann Cox, Member of the Board
Dear Mr. Grossfeld,
I am writing in response to your recent article, "Ruth and Emily are the Odd Couple: two old ladies who have been living together for 38 years at the Buttonwood Park Zoo." While I appreciate the focus on these beloved elephants' lives, several points require clarification and context to present a more balanced perspective.
Ruth and Emily's relationship was described as complicated, with the zoo's director acknowledging they act more like roommates than companions. This aligns with the concerns of many animal welfare advocates who argue that elephants, as highly social animals, need more than just physical proximity to thrive; they require deep, meaningful social bonds that are not adequately provided in their current environment. Elephants are herd animals, and In the wild, they remain in their familial group their entire lives. Captive elephants are not allowed to make connections with or choose their preferred companions and often suffer emotionally from that deprivation.
The article details Ruth's tragic past and current health issues, including a partially paralyzed trunk, osteoarthritis, and chronic inflammation. While the zoo claims to treat her daily with multiple regimens, it raises the question of whether her needs can be met in a confined space of only almost half an acre. In comparison, sanctuaries offer vast, natural habitats that better emulate an elephant's natural environment, allowing for more natural behaviors and interactions. Elephant sanctuaries offer opportunities for elephants to meet and bond with other elephants with similar dispositions and personalities, friendships most captive elephants are forced to live without.
Furthermore, the article quotes the assistant zoo director stating that the elephants are not incompatible but describes Emily as a "ditsy blonde" and Ruth as a "thinker." Such anthropomorphizing does little to address the serious issues and risks trivializing these intelligent animals' complex needs and behaviors.
It's also important to address the concern about Ruth potentially not surviving a trip to a sanctuary. While this is a valid concern, it should be noted that sanctuaries often have specialized facilities and staff trained to handle such transitions.
The mention of students from Mass College of Art bringing toys for the elephants is a positive note, showing community involvement and enrichment efforts. However, enrichment activities, while beneficial, are separate from the space and social dynamics that sanctuaries can offer and that elephants need.
The statement by Dr. Susan Mikota that the zoo staff takes good care of the elephants is encouraging. Still, we need to consider what is best for the overall care of these big and complex animals. The average life expectancy of Asian elephants in captivity is about 45 years. Ruth and Emily's ages, 65 and 59, speak to their resilience but also highlight the need for environments catering to their advanced age and health challenges.
In conclusion, while the Buttonwood Park Zoo staff may be dedicated and caring, the issue remains whether a zoo environment, even with the best intentions, can truly meet the complex needs of aging, social, and highly intelligent animals like Ruth and Emily.
Thank you for your time,
Ann Cox
A new handbook recommends how to avoid elephant deaths on roads, rail tracks
Mongabay, May 9, 2024
A vehicle backfiring startled a circus elephant into a Montana street. She still performed Tuesday
Associated Press, April 17, 2024
Bangladesh court takes a stand against elephant cruelty, banning wild adoptions
The Optimist Daily, March 4, 2024
A Massive Elephant Could Be More Empathetic Than a Human
Discover Magazine, February 9, 2024
Lawmakers Call For Ban On Intrastate Ivory Sales Amid Illicit Retail Activity Across CT
CT News Junkie, January 25, 2024
Undercover investigation reveals Connecticut’s thriving ivory market
The Humane Society of the United States, January 24, 2024
‘A War on Nature’: Rangers Build Mountain Out of Wildlife Traps Found in Ugandan Park
The Guardian, June 29, 2023
Climate change is killing more elephants than poaching, Kenyan officials say
The Washington Post, July 28, 2022
For orphaned elephants, friends may be key to stress relief
National Geographic, July 14, 2022
Thawing Arctic will reveal more mummified creatures and bring new risks for those still living
CBC, July 13, 2022
40 years after Texas flood trauma, Sissy the Gainesville Elephant takes to water again
Fort Worth Star Telegram, June 25, 2022
A blast-stressed elephant and an abandoned lemur: The war within Kyiv’s zoo
The Washington Post, March 6, 2022
Tracing DNA Of Related Elephants Reveals Illegal Ivory Trafficking Networks
CNN, February 14, 2022
Undocumented elephant ivory trade 'thriving' in Massachusetts: Humane Society
ABC News, September 9, 2019
Wildlife Poaching and Trafficking: Combating a Source of Terrorist Funding
United States Institute of Peace, July 17, 2018
Photojournalist Follows Siberia’s Risky New Gold Rush by Shadowing Mammoth Tusk Hunters
My Modern Met, June 23, 2017
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