It seems to me that we hear more today than ever before that elephants must have greater distances to roam.  According to the so called animal activists, animal behavioral scientists and some of the "legitimate" animal sanctuaries elephants should not be held in captivity unless we have thousands of acres for them to roam.

 I understand that recently a scientist from Africa that has been studying the African elephant for many years addressed the Chicago City Council that Lincoln Park Zoo would never be suitable to house elephants.  Did she also make a point that the wild elephant is running out of territory?  Did she point out that some African countries are considering culling their elephants due to over population of the species in specific confined areas?  What will happen when those countries' human population grows and more land is needed for them?

 It is very nice for a scientist to be out there in the jungle and veldt to observe these wild herds of elephants taking down all the statistics of what they do, how they react to different situations and how the wild herd socializes.  I find that in many cases they put their own assumptions as to what they see.  This is not the same situation of the captive elephants regardless if they are African or Asian.

Naturally the wild elephant will roam many hundreds of miles in the search of food and water.  What animal does not leave its territory when there is no more food or an extreme shortage of water?  Any animal will migrate from area to area to survive including the human animal.  Until the human animal learned to farm and produce their needs they were migratory and even today in some areas of the world there are still migrating humans.  The difference between the humans and other animals is that we have both the body appendages and the intelligence to stay in one place and produce the requirements of survival of our species and then some.

 Of course the captive elephant cannot be caged in a 10 foot X 10 foot area continuously.  It must have room to move around for exercise.  For many years I have been associated with the captive elephants where they have had acres to roam but they still stay in one place until the grasses get too short for them to pull out.  Then some of them will kick the sod, pull the plant and eat the root, then move on to another spot.  Then they lay down and nap. This type of movement is not enough exercise.  They should be doing different things that not only help the physical body but also the mental stability of the animal.

 I can remember when the captive elephant only had enough room to turn around and lay down.  They became listless and lethargic and in time a serious problem, physically and mentally, "not done today".  As far as I know today's zoos have programs that address these concerns.  Not normally done in front of the public but done in private for the welfare of the animal.

 I know the animal activists condemn the circus for all kinds of atrocities being done to their animals.  Having been a circus animal trainer for many years and I know what lengths these people go too to make sure their animals are in excellent physical and mental condition.  The animal activists knowing nothing of what they say or do will find one bad apple in the barrel and paint everyone the same.  I know of no profession that doesn't have their share of bad apples.

The feed in captivity is by far much better and healthier than what the wild elephant has to scrounge for.  This is just one area that will help the species survive.  If the captive elephant does not survive it is just a matter of time until the wild elephant will become extinct.

It has only been in the past 30 some odd years that we have learned some facts about elephants even though the elephant has been in captivity in this country for more than 200 years.  There is still much more to be learned if the species is to survive, but only done with time and sincerely interested people and organizations.

Medically, mentally and physically we have learned much in a short period of time and watching the wild elephant does not do that.  The sanctuaries that turn their elephants out in hundreds of acres and try to re-establish the wild elephant is doing nothing more than warehousing the animal just waiting for them to pass on.  We were the "first" to turn elephants loose in graze, woods and ponds.  I am not faulting them but we are not learning anything that will help sustain the species.  I respect any facility that gives an animal proper housing and conditions.

We are always interested in your input but please tell it to us not "trash" us behind our back.  We are always interested in learning more to improve the quality of life for our animals.