Today, most of the world may only see elephants in two types of human-made environments — cooped up in zoo enclosures or performing tricks on circus stages. These environments are rarely (if ever) able to provide elephants with the enrichment they need to carry out their natural lives as they would in the wild. Circuses are particularly problematic as abuse and neglect are widespread, with elephants being trained using painful bullhooks.
Yet, as we learn more about the amazing emotional lives of elephants and take action on behalf of these magnificent beings, there is hope that one day their exploitation may come to an end so that the only place we’ll see elephants is exactly where they are meant to be — in the wild.
The baby elephant in the video below provides more proof that this is the one and only place elephants and all wild animals belong. Hit the play button to watch this adorable baby enjoy the ocean’s waves just as we do.
UPDATE (4/11/14):
Thanks to our awesome Green Monster readers, we learned that this very video is in fact a form of exploitation. Please be sure to read our follow-up post on the truth about baby elephant videos like this one right here.
Image source: Odd Stuff Magazine
Since One Green Planet itself has come to realize the reality behind these images ( http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/why-you-should-never-share-or-like-baby-elephant-videos/ )
I\’m not sure why this post is still up. It perpetuates the exact same myth that you "accurately" debunked. Very very odd.
I thought something was strange as I started watching the video. Why is the baby elephant near the ocean. Why is it so close to people and acting like there aren\’t strange humans too close to it? Where is its family?
I paused the video to see if OGP would explain the back story after the embedded video. They didn\’t so I kept scrolling and found my answers in the comments.
My question is: Why didn\’t One Green Planet ask itself these same questions before posting this video? I\’m concerned about animal welfare and do what I can, but it\’s certainly not like it\’s my *profession.* I really expected OGP to know better than I did…
It\’s strange that all of my contractions have been edited with a "\\."
It\’s stranger (and sadder) that I came back this morning to see this article still posted on this site. I hope OGP takes the weekend off or something. I ope they\’ll take care of this on Monday.