THAI ELEPHANT DEBATE

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Tusk task ahead

August 1, 2005

 

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Several Australasian zoos are under attack over their plans to import elephants

from Thailand, Ben Haywood reports.

 

1. Background

Two weeks ago Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell approved the importation

of eight Asian elephants from Thailand. But a day later, the deal was stalled

when animal welfare organisations took legal action to stop the elephants being

brought to Australia.

 

Melbourne Zoo and Sydney's Taronga Zoo want to bring in the elephants as part of

the Australasian Zoos Association Conservation Program for Asian Elephants. If

allowed, five elephants will go to Taronga Zoo and three to Melbourne. The zoos

are part of a consortium that includes Perth, Auckland and Monarto Zoo (east of

Adelaide), which has plans for a captive population of 40 elephants.

 

The zoos hope to establish a breeding program and use the exhibit to help stop

the decline in wild elephant populations in Asia. Asia's wild elephant

populations have dropped by 80 per cent in the past 60 years.

 

Melbourne Zoo recently spent $13.5 million upgrading and expanding its Asian

elephant enclosure, and Taronga Zoo spent $40 million on its new enclosure.

 

2. What do the animal welfare groups say?

The Humane Society International, the RSPCA and the International Fund for

Animal Welfare are strongly opposed to importation, and are fighting the Federal

Government's decision in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. (The hearing is

scheduled to begin on September 26.)

 

They have several concerns, including that the importation is actually illegal.

 

Under international conventions on endangered wildlife, elephants cannot be

moved in a commercial deal. The welfare groups argue the zoo plan is a

commercial deal dressed up as an animal conservation effort.

 

They argue that the zoos have shown no strong evidence that the captive breeding

program will work. They also point out that none of the elephants the zoos hope

to breed will be released into the wild.

 

They say keeping elephants in captivity is cruel, with zoo enclosures unable to

cater for the complex social structures of elephants. They argue that elephants

in captivity are known to suffer from obesity and have shorter life spans.

 

The Government and zoos are satisfied that the eight elephants earmarked for

importation were born in captivity and are used to it, but activists in Thailand

claim three of the eight were captured from the wild.

 

3. What do the zoos say?

The zoos say that having a sustainable population of Asian elephants in

Australian zoos helps protect the species overseas through community education,

research and fund-raising.

 

They say the skills and expertise that Australian zoos will develop will be used

to help domestic and wild elephant populations in South-East Asia, and that

having elephants in Australia for the public to see raises community awareness

about the dire state of Asian elephants. This results in donations to support

programs working to protect the endangered species in their native habitats.

 

Melbourne Zoo says it has already provided tens of thousands of dollars to an

elephant conservation organisation in Indonesia, and veterinary assistance to

Thai elephant camps.

 

The zoos also argue that the imported elephants will enjoy a much greater

quality of life here than they have in Thailand. They will receive constant care

from veterinarians to ensure their welfare, and will inhabit new, comfortable

enclosures.

 

The Melbourne Zoo says the new elephants will improve the social and breeding

lives of its two elephants.

 

The zoos also say the relationships they have built with Thai authorities in

negotiating the elephant importation leaves them better placed to assist

elephants in Thailand in the future.

 

4. Recent headlines

" Elephants pack their trunks for Australia "

- The Age, July 21

 

" Jumbo court battle "

- Herald Sun, July 21

 

" Zoos no place for elephants "

- The Sun-Herald, June 12

 

" Jumbo tantrums threat to zoo plan "

- The Age, May 31

 

" Jumbo row hits elephant plans "

- The Age, March 25

 

5. What people say

" I think the reality is it will be good for lawyers and bad for elephants. This

plan places the welfare of these precious animals at risk. "

- ENVIRONMENT MINISTER IAN CAMPBELL, Herald Sun, July 21

 

" We really do dispute the zoos' statement that they want to bring these

elephants in for conservation breeding purposes. We believe they are doing it

for commercial purposes. "

- DR HUGH WIRTH, RSPCA PRESIDENT, The Age, July 16, 2004

 

" The animals can be bred in captivity. It has been proven right around the

world. To say no would be to say Australia can't do it as well as other

countries. "

- ENVIRONMENT MINISTER IAN CAMPBELL, The Daily Telegraph, July 21

 

" Of course this importation is primarily for a commercial purpose. They're a big

drawcard for the zoos They get people through the gates. "

- NICOLA BEYNON, Humane Society International, The Age, July 16