Fifty years
enclosed on hard packed dirt;
zoo elephant
seeks retirement
to open green space.
I took my three year old to the zoo the other day to celebrate his birthday. We greatly enjoyed seeing the elephants. I realized I have been visiting these elephants most of my life and admiring them. When I looked up the zoo website to read more about them I discovered that they are scheduled to move to another zoo this spring because their present home is inadequate for their needs. There is a group advocating sending them to a sanctuary where they can live on open land in a herd of like-minded elephants. I am sad to think of these lovely animals living in a small, hard packed dirt enclosure all their lives simple for the benefit of my viewing.
Links to elephant sanctuaries:
Tennessee
California
6 comments:
We are getting better though, aren't we? Realizing that we have to give these animals what they need... I love your tanka! TY for sharing!
Cloudscome,
It is sad for elephants and other animals to live in captivity. It's also sad when they're killed for tusks or horns or fur.
I hate the way some domesticated animals are treated by large corporations.
I like your tanka.
Andi, I *love* your tanka!
VERY nice.
I've always had a love/hate relationship with the National Zoo myself. I love seeing the animals and educating my children. I hate that the animals are in captivity. I do love that they were on the forefront of making better zoos. I hate that they are now far behind, limited particularly by space. In the end, I've come to a point of belief that if kids don't actually see the animals, that it's harder for them to relate to protecting them and preserving their environment in the future. A perfect solution? No, but it's the best I've got.
You are so right MoReader. I feel the same way. I think we have to do all we can to introduce wild life to our kids while talking about all the issues involved. Noticing the bugs and the difficulties of the animal cages is part of it. Just the other day another zoo parent told me they were planning to build a bigger and better place for the elephants. I think being a zoo member and being active can make a difference.
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