In a charming moment captured at a Thai elephant sanctuary, a young elephant enthusiastically approached a visitor for a cuddle, offering a playful interaction that delighted everyone watching The video shows a woman seated on the muddy ground when, unexpectedly, a baby elephant bounds over, eager to make her acquaintance. The audience can’t help but laugh as the calf cozily settles on her lap. A bystander comments that the woman seems to be enjoying the unusual encounter. However, the calf’s boundless energy keeps it moving around, occasionally shifting in ways that look a little uncomfortable for the woman. She smiles and strokes the baby elephant as it readjusts onto her thighs, embracing the affectionate moment. But when the calf rolls backward onto her shins, she lets out a soft “ow,” prompting a nearby person to step in and lend a hand. Unperturbed, the little elephant soon rolls f...
Milwaukee (AP) – Ruth the elephant enjoys her popcorn at the Milwaukee Couty Zoo —but only after working for it. Using her trunk, she blows air through a pipe to push the popcorn out of a barrel placed overhead.
This enrichment activity and others are part of the zoo’s newly upgraded
elephant exhibit that opened this spring.
The $16.6 million renovation was designed to improve the standard of care for the zoo’s elephants, Ruth and Brittany, in response to ongoing debates about the treatment of elephants in captivity.
While some animal welfare advocates argue that elephants should not be confined to enclosures, Zoo Director Chuck Wikenhauser stresses that the animals are cared for with scientific rigor and compassion.
“Circuses and zoos serve completely different purposes,” Wikenhauser explained. “Ours is focused on education, conservation, and scientific progress.”
The community of Milwaukee showed strong support for the project, with the Zoological Society of Milwaukee raising half the funds for the exhibit.
Jodi Gibson, president of the Society, highlighted the community’s dedication to keeping elephants in the city. “They asked, ‘What’s a zoo without elephants?’ and worked hard to ensure they could remain here,” she said.
However, housing elephants in zoos is becoming less common. Of the 236 U.S. zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), only 62 still have elephants, down from 77 fifteen years ago.
This decline is partly due to the AZA’s stricter guidelines introduced in 2011. These guidelines require zoos to maintain at least three elephants for their social well-being, among other care standards. Additionally, safety measures now require barriers between elephants and caretakers.
Despite the high cost of meeting these standards, the focus remains on the overall quality of care, as AZA spokesperson Rob Vernon emphasized. “The adequacy of a facility is determined by the quality of care, not just the size of the space.”
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The newly expanded outdoor area in Milwaukee is now 1.6 acres—four times larger than the previous enclosure.
The exhibit also features high-hanging devices that allow elephants to exercise their trunks and a wall with openings where they can access food rewards. The facility includes sand and padded floors, a watering hole, and a self-activating shower.
Though these improvements are welcome, some believe zoos will never fully meet the needs of elephants.
Ed Stewart, who operates wildlife sanctuaries in California, argues that elephants don’t belong in captivity. “No matter how hard we try, captivity can never truly replicate the natural environment for elephants,” he said.
Visitors like Stephanie Goldstein, however, appreciate the chance to see elephants in person. While visiting Milwaukee from Kingston, New York, she was impressed by the exhibit’s size. “I don’t want my son to only see elephants in books,” she shared.
The Milwaukee Zoo’s efforts reflect the broader movement to improve the lives of elephants in captivity, balancing the challenge of keeping these majestic creatures with the desire to offer educational and conservation opportunities for future generations.
Read more Elephant News.
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