LA Zoo's Elephant Exhibit Goes on Trial

After winding its way through the courts for five years, a taxpayer lawsuit against the Los Angeles Zoo regarding its controversial $42 million elephant exhibit has finally gone to trial. The lawsuit, filed by attorney David Casselman, seeks to stop the display of elephants in a small, inadequate exhibit that does not meet their needs. The zoo currently holds a male elephant Billy, and females Tina and Jewel, on little more than two acres of useable space.

Billy - one of three elephants in captivity at LA Zoo

Filed in 2007, the suit alleges ongoing illegal, damaging and wasteful actions by the zoo, including construction of an exhibit that does not provide the large space and natural conditions elephants need for health and well-being. The plaintiffs charge that inadequate conditions perpetuate captivity-caused foot and joint diseases that kill elephants prematurely, and that the risk of abusive handling practices still exists.

Witnesses in the trial include world-renowned elephant researcher Dr. Joyce Poole, wildlife veterinarians Dr. Mel Richardson and Dr. Phil Ensley, Emory University neuroscientist Dr. Lori Marino, Born Free Foundation CEO Will Travers, and The Elephant Sanctuary CEO Rob Atkinson. IDA Elephant Campaign Director Catherine Doyle, who has been fighting for the elephants at the Los Angeles Zoo since 2003, was also called to testify.

Tina & Jewel at LA Zoo. With little more more than 2 acres,
LA Zoo does not provide a usable, natural space for the elephants

The trial is attracting media attention and is sure to open the eyes of the public to the outdated practice of confining elephants in unnatural zoo exhibits that lead to terrible suffering and premature death. A win in the lawsuit would set a precedent that could send shockwaves through the zoo industry. The trial is expected to last through the week.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?
In Defence of Animals (IDA) has been fighting for elephants confined in inadequate zoo displays that cause them to suffer and die prematurely as well as those who are chained and beaten in circuses. They have a Hall of Shame for zoos exploiting elephants in the USA. Sadly there are many.You can support IDA's Elephant Protection Fund here

Article thanks to IDA

The attempt to silence the truth

For most, their lives started with trauma, others suffering injury and harm from accidents or human conflict. All of the wildlife at Wildlife Friends Foundation of Thailand (WFFT) finding sanctuary and safety in the care of the full time staff and international volunteers at the rescue centre near Phetchaburi, Thailand.

The country undeniably has a checkered history - and present, when it comes to the treatment of animals. Just taking a look through facebook and tripadvisor demonstrates that for many overseas holiday makers, a ride on an elephant or a photo with a monkey dressed in dolls' clothes in the street or nightclub is a memorable highlight of their trip. The trade corridor from Thailand to China provides opportunity for collectors and natural medicine enthusiastics to procure exotic specimens at cheap prices, no questions asked.

The entertainment of our human race is a lucrative business the world over. One which sees the prevalence of NGOs in animal welfare and conservation adding their voice in an attempt to stem the tide of the mistreated, uninformed, malnourished and all out mutilation of our planet's biodiversity.

My sister and I found WFFT online a couple of years ago and have volunteered there twice now. The devastating flood of 2010 ripped apart many of the enclosures at the centre and washed out the volunteer housing. It was going to be a hard road back. In 2011 I was amazed at how much had been achieved. The animal enclosures were vastly improved, the enrichment programs advanced and all the wildlife residents were healthy and well feed. It seemed that adversity just set the resolve of WFFT to fight and work harder for those animals who relied on the care and protection of staff and volunteers.

In 2011 I spent some time with WFFT Founder Edwin Wiek looking over the new enclosures and plans for the developing areas of the centre. It was amazing how big the place was becoming. Actually sad that so much space was needed and that so many animals were in need. Edwin wandered (quickly and with purpose as he always does) pointing out plans for this space and that. All the while taking time to chat to the animals we passed. Edwin knows them all by name. All 450 of them. He can tell you when and how each one came to the centre. Some particularly hold a very dear place in his heart; Meow the tiger, rescued from chains at a petrol station, now forever tormented by a moto- neurological condition creating epileptic-like fits, or Jojo the primate with such psychological trauma that he can not control his reflexes. Jojo adores Edwin, and he Jojo, so much so that on the rare occasion Edwin gets some downtime, the two of them can be found in a hammock reading a book and grooming as primates do.

Jojo with Edwin Wiek at WFFT

It was during this visit in December 2011 that the centre lost a second elephant in as many months. I had spent a couple of the few days Joan had spent at the centre after her release (for payment) from an elephant camp, trying to care for her, along with fellow volunteer Rene (O2E phlogs on Joan here and here). It wasn't any use, she was too sick and died. Given up for money after her owners realised she couldn't carry or entertain the tourists anymore. The owners told a story with half truths and promise and handed over the 60 year old to spend her remaining days in retirement. None of us were to know her days were to be so few. Joan's story is a sad one and so common in Thailand. She was a lovely lady, quite partial to bumping us females just so we knew she was there. She had her first swim, her first juicy pineapple, her first affection at WFFT. She held on for a few days revelling in this new found joy until the illness that had gripped her won.

We were devastated. Edwin particularly so. The frustration, the disgust we all felt, he gathered up around him and set himself firmly to fight. With 22 years experience in life in Thailand, Edwin knows the place and the people well. He is outspoken and is known to be so. Many quotes come to mind from famous and infamous people in history that were suited to the situation at hand. Ralph Waldo Emerson, 17th century poet and individualist said “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter”. Edwin told me that day Joan died that he had been writing about the elephant trade. It was time to release his thoughts to the media. For Joan and every other tortured living creature in Thailand and the world over.

So we buried Joan that day and life at the centre continued, set in its resolve that we would care and protect those we could and remember Joan and everything she stood for. Pragmatically aware that Joan is one of many and the list of wildlife that needed saving was growing by the day. I waited. Anxious for the day Edwin's words would be released.

I didn't have to wait long. As it happened, several events hit the news back to back. Poachers in the national park, runaway "tamed" bull elephant...it seemed Thailand was determined to place their wildlife trade issues right out there for all to see. Edwin and WFFT made comment, releasing articles and opinions on these recent, tragic events. The air is ripe for change. And as in anything in life, some don't like change.  They stamp their feet, they argue, they sabotage, they fight back.

Coinciding with this, was the international conference on tiger crime, hosted by the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC), attended by such global enterprises as CITES and INTERPOL.Bangkok was the host. All the international major stakeholders were in town for two days. By all media generated accounts, it was a huge success. The outcome - a signing of mandates and conventions detailing the parties commitment to eradicating tiger crime. It's all very high level UN type stuff; "we condemn this, we support that, we are committed..." Edwin was interviewed several times and again made comment highlighting the overarching issues of corruption and governmental restrictions.

On the 13th February 2012, the Wildlife Friends Foundation of Thailand and a northern elephant rescue park, Elephant Nature Park were raided by the Department of National Parks (DNP). Demands for ownership papers for all of the 450 animals at WFFT were made. The timeframe to produce. 2 hours. Edwin's wife Noi (Jansaeng Sangnanork) was arrested and escorted to the police station by 30 armed officers. The siege on WFFT and Edwin Wiek had begun.

The heartbreaking story is well documented through Facebook and Twitter. You can read for yourselves, if you haven't already, how those days panned out. The threats, harassment and abusive handling of animals confiscated is evident as you read and watch the images (www.wix.com/anoelle45/wffthelp is a great site by a volunteer that gathers resources and information from around the world on the raid).

After just 5 days the social media was reaching an audience of 381,200 tweeters, about 20,000 facebookers and 16,064 signatures on the petition site . The exposure was monumentuous. The support for those on the ground was overwhelming. Support from organisations such as Care for the Wild, Animals Australia, Bornfree Foundation and WWF flooded in, tapping in to their readership.

After threats of 103 confiscations the 70 armed DNP officers have taken 13 animals in 6 days. They camp outside the centre at night and show their presence, always that constant threatening promise that come daylight, they will be back inside to confiscate more. That's an incredible show of force, an intriguingly massive number of manpower for the 6 day (and counting) operation. Imagine what could be achieved with that resource? The DNP official 'S' still at large, wanted in connection with elephant poaching, for example...just saying...

Whilst things are quieter at the centre the past two days, with no confiscations pending discussions between WFFT legal representation and the DNP, the officials wait and the staff and volunteers also wait. Meanwhile there are 13 scared and lonely animals somewhere in a zoo in Thailand away from their home at the centre, being traumatised all over again.

We all wonder when will they be returned? It seems that with the paperwork all in order for WFFT's legal ownership of all wildlife at the centre, the DNP have no legal grounds to continue this charade, and yet even today more threats from officials that come Monday the reprisals will continue.

For all of those who have spent time at WFFT, the centre has changed our lives. My sister and I started Oceans2Earth Foundation in 2010 after volunteering there. We only hope the impact we can make in future years will compare to that of Wildlife Friends Foundation of Thailand, Edwin Wiek, Lucy Clark (Vet), Tommy Taylor (Volunteer Co-ordinator), Laurene Heuguerot and everyone involved with WFFT.

Our voices are with yours. Our thoughts and hopes too that this will be over soon. Edwin has published a letter which raises the very questions we have all been asking as we watch the seige unfold. Please have a read.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?
You CAN make a difference. The supporters of WFFT have reached thousands of people, media and organisations and the story is out there for the international scrutiny it deserves.

Please go to http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/urgent-plea-for-rescued-thai-wildlife/ and sign the petition

Check out and follow @Edwinwiek and @Lucywildlife on Twitter (all captions in this blog are taken directly from Edwin or Lucy's twitter feed)

Join Wildlife Friends Foundation of Thailand Facebook page

Go to www.wix.com/anoelle45/wffthelp for video and pics, news stories on the raid. Click the Resources link for contact details of every organisation you can write to. There's even a letter template if you need it. Contact as many people as you can. If you know of any other organisation that might help, contact them and post their contact details on Facebook.

Day one : African Forest Elephant

African Forest Elephants (species - Loxodonta 
Cyclotis) have a body length between 3 and 4 m (9.75 - 13 ft), a tail length between 50 and 120cms (2.3 - 4 ft) and they weigh between 0.9 and 3 tonnes (0.88 - 3 tons).

They are grey in colour and they have a sparse covering of hair. Their large ears are rounded and they have straight, downward pointing, yellowish tusks. On their forefeet they have five toes and on their hind feet they have four.

They communicate with each other using low calls that can be heard by other elephants through several kilometres of dense jungle, but these sounds are too low to be detected by humans.

Forest elephants are now accepted as a unique species of elephant, distinct from their better-known cousin, the African savanna (or bush) elephant (L. africana). Forest elephants are smaller in size, with more rounded ears, and straighter, thinner tusks. Family groups may be smaller, but otherwise their social structure and life history appear to be similar to savanna elephants. DNA analysis has recently shown that African savannah and forest elephants are genetically distinct, reinforcing the very different ecology of forest elephants (more on the 'forest elephant ecology' page).

African Forest Elephants are found in the dense, lowland jungle of west and central Africa. Males are generally solitary and females live in small groups with one or two of their offspring.

Throughout their range there are networks of trails that have been created over many years and these trails link favourite feeding areas.

African Forest Elephants feed on grass, leaves, bark, fruit and other vegetation. They require an intake of water daily and can consume up to 50 gallons per day.

They gather in large groups in clearings in the forest known as "bais". At the bais they are able to obtain mineral salts by digging down into the soil.

African Forest Elephants breed at any time of the year but a female will only reproduce every 4 years. Females are only receptive for 3 - 6 days and when she is ready she will emit a low growl that can be heard for several kilometres.

After a gestation period of 22 months, a single calf will be born. The calf will eat solid foods from about 6 months old, but it will continue to feed on its mother’s milk until is it approximately 5 years old.
For volunteering projects, visit - http://oceans2earth.org/volunteer