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8 years ago
Yes! Buffalo Zoo, Ranked 6th Worst in the U.S., to Shut Down Elephant Exhibit
After making it to the list of the 10 Worst Zoos for Elephants five times within the last ten years, Buffalo Zoo at last shut down its elephant exhibit. The announcement came barely two weeks after In Defense of Animals (IDA) submitted requests for the elephants’ most recent medical records to the zoo and the City of Buffalo. Jothi and Supara, two Asian elephants who had until now lived their lives in the miserable conditions at the zoo, will be transferred to a zoo in New Orleans this fall, and the effort to place them in a sanctuary instead of a commercial zoo will continue.
The Buffalo Zoo appeared on IDA’s 10 Worst Zoos list in 2016 as the sixth worst zoo in North America for elephants. The conditions Supara and Jothi were forced to live in were a source of daily struggle for the animals. They were kept in a small enclosure with hard surfaces that harmed their feet and joints.
The elephants exhibited repetitive behaviors known as zoochosis, which is an indicator of severe stress. The persistent swaying of the animals was caught on camera and published online.
At Audubon Zoo in New Orleans, the elephants will live in a more suitable climate and will no longer have to endure the long and challenging Buffalo winters. As the organization emphasizes, in recent years, temperatures around Buffalo have dropped to -11 degrees Fahrenheit, which is almost impossible to compare with the tropical and sub-tropical climate of elephants’ natural habitat.
“We are delighted that Buffalo Zoo will let Jothi and Supara thaw out in a more suitable climate,” said Elephant Scientist Dr. Toni Frohoff. “In Defense of Animals has actively and arduously worked to free these elephants from their decrepit, unsuitable zoo conditions for over a decade. This is a positive move for Jothi and Supara, but we will continue our work to get them to an accredited elephant sanctuary where they can live as elephants instead of as exhibits. One less miserably freezing zoo exhibit for tropical elephants is a cause for great celebration.”
“Buffalo Zoo has made a positive move for these animals and brought New York a step closer to being free of elephant abuse,” said Dr. Marilyn Kroplick, President of In Defense of Animals. “Three other Asian elephants are still suffering in New York’s freezing winter climate at the Bronx Zoo, especially Happy the elephant who is kept in torturous solitary confinement. We call on the Bronx Zoo to have compassion and release the elephants to a sanctuary where they can retire in peace.”
Once the pair is relocated, the Bronx Zoo in New York will be the last zoo that keeps Asian elephants in New York. For many, zoos still seem like innocent places or even ones that benefit animals in need. In reality, zoos are heavily profit-oriented and rarely put the animals first. Finally, keeping wild animals in captivity when there is no need for it is never beneficial or justifiable – especially since it comes at such a high cost when it comes to their physical and mental health.
To learn more about In Defense of Animals, click here.
All image source: In Defense of Animals
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LET\’S GIVE THIS BLOODY BUFFALO ZOO and ALL OTHER DEATH HOLES ALL THE PUBLICITY THEY DESERVES………..
Buffalo Zoo, Ranked 6th Worst in the U.S., FIVE TIMES IN THE LAST TEN YEARS.
People at large: TAKING CHILDREN TO DEATH HOLES LIKE THE BUFFALO ZOO IS TEACHING CHILDREN IT IS O.K. TO WATCH CRUELTY AND ABUSE TO ANIMALS IN THE MAKING. BOYCOTT and let\’s watch those ……. "entertaining" animal prisons go under.
ELEPHANTS are stressed and kept in a small enclosure in all kinds of weather with hard surfaces that harmed their feet and joints.
Finally, the Buffalo Zoo “big decision makers” woke up and have decided to shut down its elephant exhibit. The are letting 2 of their elephants – Supara and Jothi – go to Audubon Zoo in New Orleans which is a less stressful zoo then the bloody Buffalo Zoo. Thank you for that.
WHEN WILL SUPARA and JOTHI BE RELOCATED???????????????????????
"In reality, zoos are HEAVILY PROFIT-ORIENTED heavily and rarely put the animals first."
1. Zoos exist for profit.
2. The best way to learn about animals is in their natural habitat.
3. There is nothing “normal” about zoos. Wild animals belong in the wild, not captive in cities.
4. Living in captivity has been found to lead some animals to neurosis and depression.
5. Zoos care about money, not the welfare of animals.
Finally, the Buffalo Zoo "big decision makers" woke up and have decided to shut down its elephant exhibit. They are letting 2 of their elephants – Supara and Jothi – go to Audubon Zoo in New Orleans which is a less stressful zoo then the bloody Buffalo Zoo. Thank you for that.
WHEN WILL SUPARA and JOTHI BE RELOCATED??????????????????????? NEXT WEEK??????????? 2 YEARS??????????? WHEN??????????????????
People at large: TAKING CHILDREN TO DEATH HOLES LIKE THE BUFFALO ZOO IS TEACHING CHILDREN IT IS O.K. TO WATCH CRUELTY AND ABUSE TO ANIMALS IN THE MAKING. BOYCOTT and let\’s watch those ……. “entertaining” animal prisons go under.
I understand your frustration and even your point being that zoo\’s are sad depressing places. But lets face it you probably loved the zoo as a kid. I bring my child to the Buffalo Zoo because I want him to learn that these animals are real and not just a story book or something on TV. Its unfortunate that zoos are in our society, but they aren\’t going any where any time soon. If any thing as we grow as a human population these will be the only places to breed and see these types of animals. The Buffalo Zoo takes in animals that could not be cared for by private individuals that thought they could have them as pets or otherwise. I mean in reality going to New Orleans albeit a larger space is still hell/prison for any elephant. Yes our zoo is old but lets be real, no matter the size or square footage of an animals pen its still a prison. All zoos are sad, but what is more sad is that wild animal populations all over the world are dying off. Say what you will but we as humans are bigger problems than the Buffalo Zoo.