Sumatran Elephants

Not surprisingly, elephants are known for being more emotional and empathetic animals than the rest. According the three articles, “Elephants Can Lend a Helping Trunk”, “Elephants Know When They Need a Helping Trunk in a Cooperative Task”, and “Elephants Console Each Other” elephants understand when they need each other’s assistance. All two authors describe the studies of elephant behavior differently, but with a similar purpose.

In the article entitled, “No Ethical Way to Keep Elephants in Captivity” by Ed Stewart, the reader is introduced to a progressive issue or concern that has been debated about for decades. This issue involves whether it is ethical or not to keep elephants in captivity. Mr. Stewart is very clear and concise on what his thoughts are on this issue as he describes the cruel nature and hazardous conditions that many elephants in captivity experience such as: “deadly foot disease and arthritis, infertility, obesity, and abnormal repetitive behaviors such as swaying and head bobbing” (Stewart, 2013). Mr. Stewart, who is the founder of PAWS which stands for “Performing Animal Welfare Society” goes into immense detail about his position against

In the nonfiction book Ivory, Horn, and Blood by Ronald Orenstein, the author discusses his opinions on the topic of poaching elephants and rhinos. Orenstein believes that poaching is morally wrong, unnecessary, and should be stopped. He refrains from using emotional words, instead focusing on and providing startling statistics and horrifying facts.

The author of this article, Michael D. Lemonick, discusses how some animals aren't able to be kept humanely in captivity. This article mainly focuses on elephants that are kept in captivity. Normally elephants roam up to, if not more than, 30 miles a day and they socialize with up to 20 other elephants a day. While in captivity, elephants are not experiencing their lives the way they should. If an elephant is in an exhibit that is too small for them, they can develop serious health issues such as, foot problems, arthritis, and even premature deaths. Most zoos aren't equipped to take care of elephants like they should. Lemonick discusses zoos across the country that have stopped exhibiting elephants altogether, due to severe issues seen in elephants.

In the book, The Giver by Lois Lowry, elephants are considered imaginary creatures. The main character’s younger sister has a toy elephant that she finds hard to believe was once modeled after a living animal. Since they live in a Dystopian future, they do not live with any animals. Most of the residents have never even seen a live animal. The fantasy idea of elephants going extinct is closer than you might think. This Dystopian future is a perfect example of why elephants need to be protected. Elephant poaching has become a major issue. A factor contributing to elephant extinction is the selling of ivory. Should there be a ban on all domestic sale, import, and export of elephant ivory? There are many different claims and counterclaims on

The official title of the world’s largest land dwelling animal belongs to the elephant, more specifically, the African elephant. Elephants also are some of the most deadly animals, which therefore increase the danger of human and elephant interactions. The more human interactions occur, the more deaths result, whether it is the elephant or the human who dies. These animals, surprisingly, are socially apt; their trunk is used for more than just eating and drinking- it is used for socializing. They are complex animals who live in large familial herds-females stay with their family throughout their entire lives while males only stay for approximately fifteen years (Elephant Protection, 1). Elephants possess a great memory and only forget what they learn occasionally and rarely, giving way to the “an elephant never forgets” saying (Maloiy, 178c). Despite how many people use the beloved saying, elephants may not be around much longer due to the shortened life span and increased mortality rates. Due to their incisor teeth, tusks, being extremely expensive and profitable, they are being murdered for the wealth they carry. This, coupled with the life span shortening because of malicious treatments and brutal practices reduces the life span of the African elephant from 56 to 16 years and the Asian elephant from 42 to 19 years (Elephant Protection, 1). According to what the statistics show, elephants may be following their ancestors to their death. Of the group of mammals called

Elephant poaching better or worse we can see that some people believe it was better in the past then it is in the present. For example when In the 1800’s 44,000 elephants were killed each year to meet the demands

Unfortunately, keeping these elephants captive has caused issues. The females are at least 35 years of age which isn’t very essential for reproduction so as a result the mortality rate amongst the calves and disease within the

Animals are supposed to be treated with respect. Examples of disrespect include entertainment such as Sea World and circuses. But instead of living harmoniously with them. Humans have tampered with their way of life. The deadly combination of habitat destruction and poaching has eliminated numerous species. Both parties are aware of the aftermath. However only one party is capable of making a change. Time is running out and it dosn't look good. If a change dosn't occur soon, the few remaining wild Elephants will become extinct.

The study and research of reproduction in elephants is increasingly critical in consideration of the quickly dwindling population numbers and estimates. The current Asian elephant population is estimated to lie between 50,000-70,000 across the world, with 15,000 of these individuals in captivity. African elephant population numbers are low as well after serious culling through hunting and poaching. These numbers make the low reproduction rates a great concern as elephants do not currently sufficiently reproduce at an adequate rate to sustain population size.12

It's a widely known fact that poaching has been detrimental to the welfare and very existence of elephants. Despite countless efforts to thwart poaching and ivory trade missions, the number of elephant deaths at the hands of poachers is still critically high. IB Times reported in 2015 that due to poaching, a staggering 35,000 African elephants are killed each year—that translates to nearly 100 elephants

Poaching has been increasing for many years. The number of poaching cases throughout the decades have been increasing. In the 1970’s and 1980’s, the ivory demand grew drastically making poaching for ivory increase throughout these years (Stiles, 309). CITES recommended to use a system called Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) in which helped monitor the illegal killing of elephants (Stiles, 312). Also, to try and qualify the number of those elephants killed by poachers (Scriber). The system has been working well that now monitors between 30 and 40 percent of the elephant population

In the old days when the nation was not occupied with wars, elephants became the use of beast of burden. With their great size, enormous power and talent, elephants were capable as best carrier for heavy matters and human’s transportation. Not long ago, elephants are used for the forest work where machines are not determined as best equipments. The labor of elephants is preferred as they would not devastate even small crops. In fact, they were required years of training start from the age of 4 and were trained by two mahouts for about twenty years, and then put to work in the timber industry. Working elephants have a career of about 50 years and then set free as their retirement at the age of 61. Their daily tasks were the extraction of heavy teak logs, haul logs, carrier and mountaineer. The working elephant is capable of lifting up 700 kilograms of log with tusks and dragging the load of 1.5 tons. Elephants have work schedule and future career just like we

Elephants are one of the worst treated animals in zoos and circuses. Their life spans are dramatically shorter than elephants who live in the wild. Out of 321 elephants that are/were being held captive, at least half of them were dead by the age of 23, while elephants living in the wild can live up to 60 years. “[T]he decades long effort by zoos to preserve and protect elephants is failing, exacerbated by substandard conditions and denial of mounting scientific evidence that most elephants do not thrive in captivity,” (Seattle Times). Dr. Bekoff, the former University of Colorado professor, found an investigation that the Seattle Times had done and found that in the last 50 years

African elephants (Loxadonta africana) and amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica), despite being classed as mammals they show a great diversity, one is a carnivore and one is a herbivore. Whether in the wild or held in captivity, African elephants and tigers (like all animals) are susceptible to certain diseases, these diseases can either be bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic. Having the knowledge when an animal is in good and poor health is vital. To ensure an animal is in good health the animal needs to be in good body condition, good appetite and is relaxed. If an elephant approaches you with almost half closed, lazy eyes and its tail is slowly swishing from side to side, it is a good sign that it is relaxed (Londolozi, 2016). For a tiger, it will squint or close its eyes; this is because loosing vision lowers defence. The animals’ eyes are to be clear and bright, skin is to be soft and resilient, healthy soles and claws. However, when animals suffer from poor health, some common clinical signs to look for are, loss of appetite and weight loss. Depending on the disease, as you get closer to the animal you will notice its eyes are very dull and the mucous membranes may have changed colour. If in pain it will be restless and it might even be groaning. Depending on the disease, the animal will scour or be constipated and the passing of urine might also cease (ACS Distance Education, 2016).