Save Elephants From an Untimely Death

[Guest guest]

The highly endangered Asian elephant is one of the most majestic,

intelligent animals in the world.

 

Act now to keep baby elephants like this one in the wild where they

belong.

 

Several Australian and New Zealand zoos plan to import nine elephants

from their native Thailand in order to breed the elephants in

captivity.

 

But is placing the Asian elephant behind bars the best way to protect

it?

 

Consider:

 

In the wild Asian elephants have home ranges of between 10-800 square

kilomentres. The elephant enclosure at Taronga Zoo is smaller than

an average football field.

 

 

Only 20% of zoo females breed, compared to almost 100% of female

elephants who breed at least once in the wild.

 

 

Up to 25% of Asian elephant births in Europe and North America are

stillborn, compared to just 2.2% in the wild.

 

 

Captive born elephants have a 60% lower life expectancy than wild

elephants.

Deprived of their habitats and social family, the elephant born in

captivity is overweight, unhealthy, infertile and stressed, typically

dying at 15 instead of an average lifespan of 50.

 

You may be the last hope for these nine elephants. Help protect these

graceful creatures by letting the Australian Minister for the

Environment and Heritage know there is a better way.

 

 

Tell him the enormous sums of money being spent to imprison these

elephants would be far better served conserving their habitats and

returning rehabilitated captive elephants into the wild.

 

 

 

There's still time to keep these elephants out of zoos. Click here

 

http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/general/default.aspx?oid=474 & aid=627

 

to send your letter now.

 

 

 

For the animals,

 

 

 

Fred O'Regan

 

President and CEO

 

 

 

P.S. Please forward this message to your concerned friends. You are

the elephants' best hope.