It’s cruel to keep majestic elephants in zoos
THE photos of the baby elephants at Chester Zoo playing piggyback and rolling in the dust were beautiful (Mail), but the time has come to discontinue exhibiting and breeding these animals in captivity. Studies over the past 20 years have shown that these supremely intelligent, sentient animals do not thrive in captivity, where even the best zoos cannot begin to provide for their needs. They invariably suffer from ailments such as arthritis and foot disease, rarely seen in the wild, have reduced lifespans and do not breed well. artificial insemination is often the method of choice, but it is unpleasant for the cow and the bull. Babies are often rejected as mothers deprived of their matriarchal herd simply don’t know what to do. Chester Zoo may be one of the better ones, but it still can’t give these elephants what they need, which is the chance to roam for miles every day, make their own choices and be what they were meant to be, wild and free. Money spent on captive breeding will do nothing to conserve this species and should instead be spent on helping preserve elephants in the wild. another issue is the malign effect of the tourist industry, which uses and abuses them and threatens their survival.
JANE WILSON, Huntingdon, Cambs.