Will Elephants soon be rare to non-existant in Zoo's?

[scottkuzminski]

If Elephants ran the world, could it honestly be any worse than it is now?

[catdad7x]

Originally Posted by scottkuzminski

If Elephants ran the world, could it honestly be any worse than it is now?

You have a point.
There weren't bloody wars or environmental destruction/pollution until humans came along. There are many of us who genuinely care about the animals and the planet....but unfortunately not enough.

[scottkuzminski]

Thank you, Ringo1

[cephalopede]

Originally Posted by catdad7x

You have a point.
There weren't bloody wars or environmental destruction/pollution until humans came along. There are many of us who genuinely care about the animals and the planet....but unfortunately not enough.

Humans are pretty bad at global scale destruction, but let's not pretend that elephants are anything other than what they are. They are smart, they form complex family groups, they mourn their dead.

They're also perfectly capable of plenty of violence and destruction. If they were at the top of the chain instead of us, society would be different but probably no more peaceful.

I like well-run zoos, and I believe there is a place for elephants in a select few of them. But they are difficult to care for properly. The amount of both space and enrichment they need is very hard to maintain.

I'm against a blanket "no elephants in zoos", but I believe we need a generous universal standard for their care, so the ones who are kept in captivity have the best lives possible.

[Dd714]

Originally Posted by cephalopede

Humans are pretty bad at global scale destruction, but let's not pretend that elephants are anything other than what they are. They are smart, they form complex family groups, they mourn their dead.

They're also perfectly capable of plenty of violence and destruction. If they were at the top of the chain instead of us, society would be different but probably no more peaceful.

Very true, it's easy to dismiss most animals as non-harmful creatures. But they can be very brutal, and they do kill each other - actually for the same reasons that humans do - territory, power, and possessions (i.e. mates).

Elephants are regal creatures, but if one would ever see an Elephant in a mating pandemonium one would think twice about having elephants rule the world. Those tusks are put to use.