U.S. to import baby elephants from Zimbabwe despite uproar

[sandensea]

U.S. zoos now plan to import baby elephants from Zimbabwe, undeterred by the international furor over their 2016 import of 18 wild elephants from Swaziland.

This import is despite ongoing international campaigns against Zimbabwe’s wild-caught elephant trade and international condemnation for the 2016 US purchase of 18 wild elephants from eSwatini (Swaziland) by AZA accredited zoos.

Of the “Swazi 18” sold to Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, Wichita’s Sedgwick County Zoo and Dallas Zoo, two have died (one during preparation for the export) and two were re-sold - despite promises to keep families together, which is vital to their physical and emotional welfare.

Adding to this, in violation to CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) regulations and International Air Transport Association (IATA) transport guidelines, one of the exported elephants was pregnant.

At: https://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/us-to-import-baby-elephants-from-zimbabwe-despite-uproar-30494742

Tourists and elephants enjoy themselves at Zimbabwe's Nehimba Lodge.

The U.S. Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) confirmed possible elephant import by AZA members and others.

Unconfirmed reports from a reputable Zimbabwean source state that San Diego Zoo is likely to be one of the importers.

[emmaverybo]

1. Tragic. Horrifying. Insensitive human beings. Makes me angry and sad. Being together so

important to them.

[sandensea]

2. Well said.

Sometimes we need animals, to remind us to be a little more human.

[emmaverybo]

3. Amazing that this beautiful connection the soul-mates still have after 25 years could be captured.

Oh, he loved her so. I am glad she had him near her. He is a truly caring being.

I think animals are like humans, but our better angels, a higher, more divine order of being.

Thank you for finding and posting, for sharing your love of animal spirit and concern for them.

[applegrove]

5. I saw this years ago. Such a good ending to a sad story.

[Arkansas Granny]

8. I cried like a baby the first time I saw that and it still brings tears to my eyes.

[Duppers]

7. +1000

[applegrove]

4. I did not know they kept african elephants in Western Zoos. Maybe only the females?

Maybe they want to breed them? I hope they have huge compounds. I saw an Asian Rhino at a zoo. He had a huge enclosure. But boy was he miffed when a dump truck drove by. Thought it was an interloper. Then i saw a huge silverback gorilla get taunted with the name Karumbe by obnoxious 13 year olds. I thought the silverback probably knows it is a taunt. My feelings on zoos has vavered ever since. I know they do good. I know they do bad. I wonder how more safe these elephants will be rather than in africa. What have we done.

[pazzyanne]

6. Support Elephant Santuaries rather than zoos.

[emmaverybo]

9. Oh yes. Zoos should not keep big wild animals. SF zoo kept an elephant in such conditions her feet

became badly affected and had they not moved her, she would have had to be put down. They could not create a healthy habitat for her at the facility.

The zoo director at the time had no relevant experience. He made hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. He kept the big animals since they brought the zoo substantial donations from the zoological
society.

Similarly, the same zoo did not build a tiger’s enclosure to safe standard. RIP beautiful Tatiana. Some drunk teens mercilessly taunted her. She escaped, killed one of them, and was shot.

If you do donate to wild animal sanctuaries, do your homework. Some are terrible.