Great series in Seattle Times about Seattle Zoo and elephants (Woodland: credit, live in)

[Ira500]

There are three parts so far. This is the first. I don't want to give away the punchline here, but elephants suffer a lot in captivity. The American Zoological group which sets the standards and accredits zoos, will take the accredidation away of any zoo that gives their elephants to a sanctuary. Why? Because the zoos insist on keeping going this miserable failure of a program to breed elephants in captivity, and sanctuaries don't do that. They let the elephants live in peace.:

Elephants are dying out in America's zoos | Nation & World | The Seattle Times

[Seacove]

Thanks Ira, elephants don't belong in zoos. Neither do tigers, lions or bears; it's sad there's not a better way. We visited the Seattle Woodland Park Zoo last spring, it was packed and parking took forever so clearly people are visiting.

[Ira500]

Whenever there's a baby elephant born it's a cash cow for the zoo. That encourages them to continue cruel, inhumane treatment. Taxpayer money goes to support the zoo. I think, at the very least, they should commit to phasing out the elephant exhibit. The Zoological Association allows zoos to give their elephants to circuses, but not to sanctuaries. Just horrible. All they're thinking about is the bottom line.