tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77199116933771700222024-03-13T02:38:56.608+01:00Dan Koehl's BlogSwedish elephant trainer, consultant and manager of elephant related websitesDanKoehlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245638586616063380noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7719911693377170022.post-80310796682460830722021-11-16T19:06:00.033+01:002021-11-16T21:21:14.100+01:00Sumunabanda, chief mahout at Pinnawala elephant orphanage in Sri Lanka.<span class="st">Mr K.G. </span><span class="st">Sumanabanda is a four generation Sri Lankan mahout, who was chief mahout at the Pinnawala elephant orphanage (පින්නවල අලි අනාථාගාරය) since he was transfered there from Colombo Zoo in Dehivela Gardens in 1981 until 2010.</span><br />
<br />I met Sumanabanda first time back in 1977, when I, as 17 year old teenager spend four months "studying" working with elephants on Sri Lanka.
I only remember a few smaller ones from that time, but I didnt stay long, I was on the way back from Kandy to Udugama, (north of the town Galle) where the Director Nelson Wickramaratne was generously letting me stay for free, so I could see the Playwood Corporation elephants in work every day..<div><br /></div><div>We met again at the end of January 2012, when I during some weeks assisted Prague Zoo selecting two new elephants for import from Pinnawala, <span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">Now both females are mothers in Prague Zoo.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>I spent two days with him, chattiing about elephants in his house in Hasthiraja Niwasa, Kotagama, Rambukkana, which is near the Pinnawala Sanctuary. He was cheerful and inspired by the visit, and showed a lot of old photos, but also hiding his greeve over not working in Pinnawala anymore</div><div><br /></div><div>Its always so sad to see previous heroes being pulled down, after serving many years, Ive seen it several zoos in Europe. And his wife was also suffering from breast cancer. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="350" loading="lazy" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d29882.640294235032!2d80.38038354775513!3d7.303872355002697!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x3ae315af1fb5d8b1%3A0x62b1e713e0e8da89!2sKotagama%2C%20Rambukkana%2C%20Sri%20Lanka!5e0!3m2!1sen!2skh!4v1637090758195!5m2!1sen!2skh" style="border: 0;" width="400"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>We also went to see a young bull he was training in the neighbour village.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.elephant.se/images/KG_Sumanabanda_2010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="600" height="373" src="https://www.elephant.se/images/KG_Sumanabanda_2010.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">Ex Chief Mahout at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka, Mr </span><a href="https://www.elephant.se/person.php?id=432" style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">K. G. Sumanabanda</a><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">, (He now also are represented on <a href="https://www.elephant.se/person.php" target="_blank">elephant people</a> in the Elephant Database) and myself in Kegalle, Sri Lanka 2012</span></div><div><br /></div><div>It came out as an interview, I had many questions and Sumanabanda very politelly gave me insight in his life, assisted by his daughter Chandani Sumanabanda, famous from the film by Arne Birkenstock:, <i><a href="https://german-documentaries.de/en_EN/films/chandani-the-daughter-of-the-elephant-whis.6218" target="_blank">Chandani: The Daughter of the Elephant Whisperer</a></i> (88 mins, 2010). </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://imgtoolkit.culturebase.org/?color=EEEEEE&quality=8&ar_method=rescaleIn&ar_ratio=1.3&min_length=285&format=jpg&file=http%3A%2F%2Fdata.heimat.de%2Fpics%2F7%2F1%2F3%2Fd%2Fa%2Fpic_1387807270_713daa07f96db411a51625f028758efa.jpeg&do=cropOut&width=1250&height=561" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="800" height="180" src="https://imgtoolkit.culturebase.org/?color=EEEEEE&quality=8&ar_method=rescaleIn&ar_ratio=1.3&min_length=285&format=jpg&file=http%3A%2F%2Fdata.heimat.de%2Fpics%2F7%2F1%2F3%2Fd%2Fa%2Fpic_1387807270_713daa07f96db411a51625f028758efa.jpeg&do=cropOut&width=1250&height=561" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Picture from the film <i><a href="https://german-documentaries.de/en_EN/films/chandani-the-daughter-of-the-elephant-whis.6218" target="_blank">Chandani: The Daughter of the Elephant Whisperer</a> </i>by Arne Birkenstock</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Almost 10 years later, here are some notes from our meeting.</span></b><br /><br />
<span class="st">Sumanabanda was born 1958, son of wellknown Sri Lankan mahout </span><a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location=Punchi%20Apuhami&type=private&country=">Punchi Apuhami</a>, and twelve years old, he started to help his father tend the families three elephants, <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=7707" title="elephant Raja Punchi Apuhami">Raja</a>, <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=7706">Mudiyansee</a>, and <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=7705" title="elephant Menika Punchi Apuhami">Menika</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.elephant.se/images/Mudiyanse001.10.84.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="540" height="800" src="https://www.elephant.se/images/Mudiyanse001.10.84.jpg" width="540" /></a></div><br /><div><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.3333px;">The bull Mudiyanse, K.G. Samunabanda left, and his father Punchi Apuhami, 1984. Photo © Wayne Jackson, Canada.</span></div><div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yyWGEv2XXfw/TyoaPSTgaTI/AAAAAAAABsU/o_F-nYamG4Y/s1600/Mudiyanse002.10.84.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yyWGEv2XXfw/TyoaPSTgaTI/AAAAAAAABsU/o_F-nYamG4Y/w400-h275/Mudiyanse002.10.84.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bull Mudiyanse, Samunabanda left, and his grandmothers brother Rambanda, 1984. Photo Wayne Jackson, Canada.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In 1978 Samunabanda started to work as mahout at <a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=37">Sri Lanka National Zoological Gardens (Dehiwela Zoo)</a> in Colombo, under the late director Lyn de Alwis. <br />
<br />
In 1981 Samunabanda was transfered from Dehivela Gardens to <a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=43">Pinnawela elephant orphanage</a> where he, together with two assistants, became responsible for their 13 elephants.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GMeXkhWEul4/TyohTcu4QgI/AAAAAAAABsc/Mw06DNbm5Vg/s1600/pinnawala_1981.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GMeXkhWEul4/TyohTcu4QgI/AAAAAAAABsc/Mw06DNbm5Vg/w400-h312/pinnawala_1981.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div>(Photo from the book les animaux sauvages ; l'éléphant) The Pinnawela herd and chief mahout K.G. Sumanabanda in 1981. Not one single hotel, and only palm trees along the river. The elephants on the picture are 13; <a href="https://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=1823">Vijaya</a>, <a href="https://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=1826">Neela</a>, <a href="https://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=7699">Hema</a>, <a href="https://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=1839">Mathalee</a>, <a href="https://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=10948">Randivi</a>, <a href="https://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=1840">Mahaweli</a>, <a href="https://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=1832">Kumari</a>, <a href="https://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=10964">Diula</a>, <a href="https://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=1829">Anuscha</a>, <a href="https://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=7698">Kadira</a>, <a href="https://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=1824">Komali</a>, <a href="https://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=7693">Weera</a> (later Kandula I at the army camp), and <a href="database2.php?elephant_id=7690">Jadura</a>. On the picture above is not one single hotel, and only palm trees along the river Maha Oya.</div>DanKoehlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245638586616063380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7719911693377170022.post-65040724172829598022021-10-03T05:22:00.084+02:002021-10-03T13:18:46.642+02:00Is there any risks when Zoos have public Facebook pages?<p>Lately, I have noticed that Zoos Facebook Pages slowly more and more are taking over Zoos educational role. While Zoos in the past would be fairly restricted to which information they passed on to public, the Zoos Facebook pages is on its way of becoming a separate world, often with women in charge, and where different feministic attitudes are dominating almost every story, advocating feminism, without officially declaring this.</p><p>Zoos were in the past regarded as scientific institutions, and supposed to deliver unbiased information, with a scientific approach. This is slowly changing when the zoos adapt to the main stream, and create their Facebook pages. It seems often with a female editor, and probably with a journalist background, rather than being a zookeeper or biologist. </p><p>Meanwhile, zookeepers are not so often men anymore, as they were in the past, when they were silent cleaners of cages and feeders of animals, Today, we see the new zookeeper taking parts of films, where they speak, almost professionally, about their animals. And it seems some 95% of them are women. </p><p>They tell stories for other women, and become role models, and getting famous. You dont see them carry faeces, bales of hay, or tons of fish from a lorry into a freezer any longer. They have become movie stars. And the animals they care for, has become more and more <a href="Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human traits, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities.[1] It is considered to be an innate tendency of human psychology.[2] Personification is the related attribution of human form and characteristics to abstract concepts such as nations, emotions, and natural forces, such as seasons and weather. Both have ancient roots as storytelling and artistic devices, and most cultures have traditional fables with anthropomorphized animals as characters. People have also routinely attributed human emotions and behavioral traits to wild as well as domesticated animals" target="_blank">antropomorfistic</a>.</p><p>Wikipedia describes <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropomorphism" target="_blank">Anthropomorphism</a> as: </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><i>The attribution of human traits, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities. It is considered to be an innate tendency of human psychology.</i></p><p><i>Personification is the related attribution of human form and characteristics to abstract concepts such as nations, emotions, and natural forces, such as seasons and weather. </i> </p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><i>Both have ancient roots as storytelling and artistic devices, and most cultures have traditional fables with anthropomorphized animals as characters. People have also routinely attributed human emotions and behavioral traits to wild as well as domesticated animals</i></p></blockquote><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://z-p3-scontent.fpnh5-3.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/p600x600/243525407_1019797888811942_8185475038524595409_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_eui2=AeG8tWgGLmGfmR8rZV1JfXjMHuAtNiCMxdke4C02IIzF2dr7u270Oo-qgQIdiuw_w8M&_nc_ohc=cDDb0EpXA_UAX8rjguV&_nc_ht=z-p3-scontent.fpnh5-3.fna&oh=4367b62b18ca711416ece3de40c681d6&oe=617D33B4" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="400" src="https://z-p3-scontent.fpnh5-3.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/p600x600/243525407_1019797888811942_8185475038524595409_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_eui2=AeG8tWgGLmGfmR8rZV1JfXjMHuAtNiCMxdke4C02IIzF2dr7u270Oo-qgQIdiuw_w8M&_nc_ohc=cDDb0EpXA_UAX8rjguV&_nc_ht=z-p3-scontent.fpnh5-3.fna&oh=4367b62b18ca711416ece3de40c681d6&oe=617D33B4" width="266" /></a></div>The latest example is about <a href="https://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=500" target="_blank">the elephant Mala in Parc Paradisio</a>. Mala is a female Asian elephant, 57 years old, living in <a href="https://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=500" target="_blank">Parc Paradisio</a> in Belgium. Mala was born 1964, probably in India, because she was imported in 1966 to Europe by animal trader George Munro, who bought his elephants India, mostly on the <a href="https://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=1499" target="_blank">Sonepur Cattle Fair,</a> or in Assam, and shipped them to Europe out from the Port of Calcutta.<p></p><p>Munro sold the elephant to <a href="https://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=26" target="_blank">Carl Hagenbecks Tierpark in Stellingen</a> outside Hamburg in Germany, and somewhere along the road she got the name "Mala" which is Singhalese for "flower", but as far as I know, she has zero connection to Sri Lanka, called Ceylon in 1966.</p><p>In March/April 1984 she became one of the last victims of the disease <a href="https://www.elephant.se/elephant_smallpox.php" target="_blank">Elephant Smallpox</a>, but luckily survived, under veterinarian supervision of Hagenbecks co-owner and director Claus Hagenbeck from the sixth generation of the private owners of the zoo, established in 1907.</p><p>Mala lived most of her life in Hamburg, and I met Mala already in 1985 during my practise in Hagenbecks Tierpark. Mala was very stabile, an excellent elephant in regard of training, and she was one of the best during the afternoons, when some 5-6 elephants were brought out from enclosure to the ramps, where children could ride on Mala in saddles.</p><p>Mala was sold in July 2012 to <a href="https://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=500" target="_blank">Parc Paradisio</a> in Belgium , where she has spent her last nine years under the nickname <i>Brugelette</i>.</p><p>Mala was succesfully integrated in Paradisio, and it seems that she took the leading position in the herd </p><p><a href="https://media1.tenor.com/images/3ef626ac0ebe62883ff9d0502410584b/tenor.gif" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="640" height="146" src="https://media1.tenor.com/images/3ef626ac0ebe62883ff9d0502410584b/tenor.gif" width="200" /></a>Yesterday was reported on <a href="https://web.facebook.com/pairidaizanl/posts/1019799795478418" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook article about Mala in Zoo Pairi Daiza (Parc Paradisio)</a> that Mala has colic, and hundreds of comments on the zoos Facebook has put the attention to Mala. People upload pictures with candles, pray for her recover etc, as if she was a human relative or a person they had a close social connection to.</p><p><br /></p><p>No shadow over the <a href="https://web.facebook.com/pairidaizanl/posts/1019799795478418" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Parc Paradisio</a> Zoo, its an excellent Zoo and just an example I choose to take when analyzing when a Zoos information becomes public on Facebook, and anyone can make comments.</p><p>What struck me was that theres less focus on <a href="https://www.elephant.se/elephant_colic.php" target="_blank">Elephant colic</a> medical remedies, pathology and more individual focus on Mala as a symbol of something, which is difficult to describe.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://media1.tenor.com/images/4d8e10227d8fc12f5e01f070538dd7d1/tenor.gif" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="200" src="https://media1.tenor.com/images/4d8e10227d8fc12f5e01f070538dd7d1/tenor.gif" width="200" /></a></div>The comments made by the public, with added graphics, like ballons, candles, etc, show a somewhat juvenile pattern, and poor Malas situation, becomes an emotional tragedy where the Facebook visitors express their love and care for Mala, although most of them never met her. And most peoples reference nowadays are from cats and dogs kept in human homes, actually cared for and treated as babies, and viewed as semi-members of the human family by their owners. <div>For some reason the public often apply the same view on animals in zoo or at farm, as if they were personals in a human social environment. </div><div><br /></div><div>This gone so far, that a a team of lawyers requested <a href="https://theconversation.com/happy-the-elephant-was-denied-rights-designed-for-humans-but-the-legal-definition-of-person-is-still-evolving-152410" target="_blank">a writ of habeas corpus – a claim of unlawful detention</a> on the <a href="https://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=2446" target="_blank">elephant Happys</a> behalf<a href="https://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=2446" target="_blank"> </a>in an effort to have her rehomed. But on December 17 2020, <a href="https://www.nonhumanrights.org/content/uploads/2020_02581_The_Nonhuman_Rights_Pr_v_The_Nonhuman_Rights_Pr_DECISION_AND_ORDER_21.pdf" target="_blank">an appeals court in New York denied the claim</a>. Their reasoning was simple – Happy cannot claim legally enforceable rights under existing law. This is because <b>Happy is an elephant.</b><br /><div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://media1.tenor.com/images/9dc4074dd911bbbe537c2b3f84a1aea0/tenor.gif" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="220" height="200" src="https://media1.tenor.com/images/9dc4074dd911bbbe537c2b3f84a1aea0/tenor.gif" width="200" /></a><a href="https://media1.tenor.com/images/9dc4074dd911bbbe537c2b3f84a1aea0/tenor.gif" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>Of course its sad if Mala has colic. But colic is seldom lethal for elephants. Therefore the Facebook article about her colic made me focus more on peoples reactions, and after seeing all "get well soon" and "Mala we love you" graphics, as well as funeral candles, I became a bit puzzled. And I dont think anyone who express their love and care for Mala, ever met her. A fast analyze gives an indication that 95% of comments were written by women.<p></p><p>Somehow, I get the feeling that her condition becomes commercialized, and that persons profit on her destiny in a way, where they express emotions and send her their greetings.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://media1.tenor.com/images/d280c801bab194ba8b15c617be8aa621/tenor.gif" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="354" height="200" src="https://media1.tenor.com/images/d280c801bab194ba8b15c617be8aa621/tenor.gif" width="142" /></a></div><br />But Mala will never see or read those greetings, or watch all ballons and candles. Shes got pain in her stomach, thats all she knows. And she dont know all those people that "love" her, and pray for her. She probably wouldn't care less, if she saw pictures of balloons and candles.<p></p><p>The entire Facebook article about Mala reflects very much how Zoos informational role is rapidly undergoing changes, and where the Zoos educational websites becomes a secondary thing, which few people read, while their Facebook section takes over. In a very different way. Theres indications that Zoos Facebook pages can become a pseudo-world, where the public may take over, and the Zoos may loose control over how their information is received, spread and politically transformed, and where their animals become "victims" of over-emotional reactions, Anthropomorphism and subjects of ignorance, rather as parts of a zoos biology education program. I cant stop thinking that its a high risk of those Zoo Facebook Pages gets changed into what is nwdays referred to as "emotional porn"</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51FiOSP2HxL._SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_FMwebp_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="204" height="293" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51FiOSP2HxL._SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_FMwebp_.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>Mala is not alone, for every week and month during the last year, Zoos Facebook sections are starting to move in a new direction, which is new to me, where the journalistic approach replace science and unbiased biology information. "Likes" seem to be the factor that rule how and what the Zoo should write on Facebook.<p></p><p>I see this as a part of development that started in the 60s, and became more formalized in the 70s, it has a history, it started to become more extreme with the film Solo, by Baron Hugo van Lawick and his then pretty young wife, Jane Godal. Hugo van Lawicks film about Solo called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FNRA86Q/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_til?tag=elephantconsulta&linkCode=w00&linkId=ef54afdfa94bbe5f2800d35828c92973&creativeASIN=B0719DKZLT" target="_blank">"Wild Dogs Tale - The story of a lonely African wild dog.</a> (Or, the story of Solo, a lonely African wild dog that has befriended a number of jackals and hyenas in the Okavango Delta. Solo has helped the jackals raise their pups as if they were her own...)</p><p>Until then most nature films were more like documentations, with the exemption of Disney productions, where Disney nature films would create "stories" where some animals were challenged with problems, where the viewers became sad and cried and the public were supposed to identify with them and the story. Most Disney nature films had a happy ending, and in the end the poor animals always survived so the viewers could feel happy again. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8CwAMdpyFPw/TUNUxAv9AiI/AAAAAAAAADM/D-VwQJTy3ak/s400/sad-puppy.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="400" height="304" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8CwAMdpyFPw/TUNUxAv9AiI/AAAAAAAAADM/D-VwQJTy3ak/w320-h304/sad-puppy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Many Europeans in the 60s and 70s liked American films, but it was also also laughed at the weeping point when some would make coffee, and indulge in discussions about the film,until the "weeping" section was over. In fact, some in Europe actually felt embarrrassed, and although absorbed by a film until this point, then being brought to reality when the emotion-porn took its crescendo, often half ways or 2/3:rds in the film. It became to much, for most of them, if they were not teeaager girls. The weeping sections could be referred to as "creamy" or "butter" and pathetic and made elderly men shake their heads while half the family was crying. But even more interestingly, women back in 50s and 60s, who often had grown up on farms, and experienced war, were more living in reality while they would even criticize the teenager women of being childish and melodramatic.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://miro.medium.com/max/489/0*o-vh5HHlVx1zzbSn.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="391" height="320" src="https://miro.medium.com/max/489/0*o-vh5HHlVx1zzbSn.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>This was back in the time when many Europeans regarded a lot of American films as over-emotional, and we never understood how people could enjoy watching suffering, weeping people om film, or suffering animals wit their heads hanging down. It was a bit of the painting of the weeping child, or "The crying Boy" by Spanish artist Giovanni Bragolin. that some people decorated the wall in their living rooms with. Those different pictures is the subject of the article <a href="It all began in the 1950s. A Spanish artist named Giovanni Bragolini made a series of paintings that depicted a young child crying. He sold those paintings to tourists as a reminder of the orphans of World War II. Oddly enough, people in England, especially young couples, grew fond of these paintings. Mass prints of the paintings were sold across the country." target="_blank">The Curse of the Crying Boy</a><p></p><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><i>It all began in the 1950s. A Spanish artist named Giovanni Bragolini made a series of paintings that depicted a young child crying. He sold those paintings to tourists as a reminder of the orphans of World War II. Oddly enough, people in England, especially young couples, grew fond of these paintings. Mass prints of the paintings were sold across the country.</i></p></blockquote><p>Anyhow, except for some Disney Nature films most nature films I saw until middle 70s were kind of educational, transfer the beauty and reality of Nature.</p><p>The film about Solo would change this, although the film became criticized by biologists and zoologists. It was the obvious that a hunt on a sebra detailed VERY close, was performed by a chemical sedation, probably with Xylazine (commonly known as Rompune) of a sebra, so the hunt could be filmed very close, and the sebra could not escape, since it was obviously drugged. </p><p>In the film, the camera man seem to sit on a Landrover, which follows the hunt only on meters distance, while the sebra with a light sedation, is fleeing from a pride of hunting lions, but the sebra just runs stupidly straight forward, and doesnt perform a natural fleeing behaviour, why Baron van Lawick could film the kill by the lions, which of course made a strong emotional impact on the viewer, </p><p>MAYBE some semi-tame lions that would accept a running Landrover meters from their hunt were actually used in the film, since its hard to believe that a totally wild pride of Lions would perform a hunt, with a running LR in high speed some meters away, with a filming photographer...</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/Jane-goodall.jpg/330px-Jane-goodall.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="330" height="200" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/Jane-goodall.jpg/330px-Jane-goodall.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Shortly after, the couple divorced, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Goodall" target="_blank">Jane Godall</a> became world famous as primate researcher. In her late life, she has become an animal rights activists, She is the former president of Advocates for Animals, and was involved in the termination of elephant keeping in Toronto Zoo, when she, regarded as "elephant specialist" reccommended sending their elephants to the <a href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.com/2012/01/tuberculosis-in-two-elephant.html" target="_blank">Tuberculosis infected Elephant Sanctuary</a> known as <a href="https://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=1425" target="_blank">PAWS ARK 2000</a> in California <p></p><p>This was of course not the best option, from a professional point of view, sending healthy elephants to a place where it was highly possible they they would be infected with a lethal infection disease.</p><p>But Animal Activists wrote:</p><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><i>Some of the most renowned and respected scientists — Cynthia Moss, Joyce Poole, Winnie Kiiru, Keith Lindsay and Dr. Jane Goodall — have recommended the PAWS ARK 2000 sanctuary to Toronto Zoo as a retirement home for the three African elephants, Thika, Toka and Iringa. Why does AZA consider their years of experience as unimportant, and continue to threaten Toronto Zoo with the horrors of lack of accreditation?</i></p></blockquote><p>I described the Sanctuarys TB situation in my 2012 blog <a href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.com/2012/01/tuberculosis-in-two-elephant.html" target="_blank">Tuberculosis in two U.S. elephant sanctuaries</a>, after which PAWS threatened to sue me, see<a href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.com/2012/10/paws-threatens-to-sue-me-heres-laywers.html" target="_blank"> PAWS threatens to sue me? Heres the laywers letter.</a>) </p><p><b>Back to Solo:</b></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://africantravelcanvas.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Solo-A-Wild-Dog%E2%80%99s-Tale-Wildlife-Documentaries-from-Africa-African-Travel-Canvas.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="352" data-original-width="800" height="282" src="https://africantravelcanvas.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Solo-A-Wild-Dog%E2%80%99s-Tale-Wildlife-Documentaries-from-Africa-African-Travel-Canvas.jpg" title="Solo as an alternative to The Crying Boy" width="640" /></a></div><b><div><b><br /></b></div></b></div><div> Solos story was probably a totally fictional story, when poor little Solo gets cast out by his pack, and even his mother doesnt care for him, and he almost died. The story was probably not true, but its rather likely the production of very much analyzed by the authors, what women and children would like.So, the starving Solo, whos mother rejecting him, became an animal "crying Boy" as the synopsis for the film.</div><div><p>In those days, such a way of manipulating animals for film making with chemical sedation, was a big NoNo, which was one of the reasons why the film was criticized. A second issue was that it didnt tell a true story, but was a created and fabricated story made to attract emotional people who didnt ask too many questions.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YZw_XemggYA/TI9lKuopI5I/AAAAAAAADD4/e5Pt5RqUEZQ/s480/execution[3].jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="445" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YZw_XemggYA/TI9lKuopI5I/AAAAAAAADD4/e5Pt5RqUEZQ/w186-h200/execution[3].jpg" width="186" /></a></div><br />I remember when my teacher on Zookeepers school Mr Helmut Pinter, would criticize the sedation of an animal for a film production, and the young girls in the class would aggressively attack his arguments, and defend poor little Solo, and if I during later discussions claimed that Solo was probably 5-9 different African Wild Dog puppies filmed on different places, and all of them well cared by their mothers, the girls would get totally frustrated aggressive and tell me how stupid I was.<p></p><p>Back n 1974-1976 when I saw the film, we were two boys and sixteen girls in the zookeepers class. and when I came in discussions with my teenage female classmates about the film, was the first time, wen I became attacked for being "primitive", emotionally disturbed, perverted, extreme, stupid etc, and the young women would try to expel me from the social group, as "punishment" for my "bad behaviour". And I would be criticized for not "loving animals". </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YjZgMzTH8sU/UYbCE8mJRII/AAAAAAAAE_c/y5WvA09CKhk/s480/pat_derby_paws.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YjZgMzTH8sU/UYbCE8mJRII/AAAAAAAAE_c/y5WvA09CKhk/s320/pat_derby_paws.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />But at least they didnt threat to sue me, like <a href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.com/2012/10/pat-derby-1942-2013-cofounder-of.html" target="_blank">Pat Derby,</a> owner of PAWS would later do, when the truth I wrote in <a href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.com/2012/10/pat-derby-1942-2013-cofounder-of.html">Pat Derby (1942-2013) cofounder of Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)</a> disturbed her.<p></p><p>I would later see this even more extreme when the ARAS became more and more dominant in the 90s, and they share the general things, they are over emotional, anti reality, and believe that in every sitiuation that there is a "right" and "wrong" and the people who think "right" belong to a cultural elite. </p><p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O_h5eDAAVOg/TvHWiUEWA5I/AAAAAAAABg0/acDEK_R7h8Q/s600/hand.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O_h5eDAAVOg/TvHWiUEWA5I/AAAAAAAABg0/acDEK_R7h8Q/w320-h213/hand.jpg" width="320" /></a>It seems today, rather many western women, too many, has become pretty infantile, naive, and over emotional AND they are dominating the social climate on many media sites with this, and the more distance they have to nature and animals, the more extreme they get. This development had a break through in late 70s and early nineties, when whales, dolphins, and elephants during the "new-age" era became more popuar and filled with Anthropomorphism and in the book "Elephant Memories" the author Cynthia Moss would label elephants as living in matriarchy. Soon dolphins were also considered matriarchal, and super intelligent.</p><p>Many, especially women, would during the "New Age" identify with the New Age Animals. Tattos with dolphins, and investing money in "swimming with dolphins" trips, and when they returned home, telling most exciting stories, for their female friends, how they experienced bonding with the dolphins, or when they during the three minutes they put their hand on an elephants head think they became a friend of this elephant. </p><p>Also, all bullshit of course, and if you told the women how male dolphins would rape female dolphins, OR younger males, they would go mad with hate. Or that "their friend" the elephant would probably try to kill them, if they would go close, without its Mahout nearby. I earlier described my point of view regarding all this in an earlier blog: <a href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.com/2011/12/elephants-suffers-in-sanctuaries-effect.html" target="_blank">Can elephants suffer in elephant sanctuaries, as an effect of volonteers exploit and opinions?</a> </p><p>But in this world its legal to create your own reality, if you dont appreciate the real one, and you can share this "pseudo-reality" with your friends, and create consensus that "its all true" why a "consenus" is more and more often regarded as an evidence. Regardless if a scientific publications speaks othervise. And since they belong to a culture Elite, they are entitled to downgrade other human beings.</p><p>So, since the 90s farmers, hunters, Circus people are "bad people" :</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Hunters performing legal hunts are hated. Even if they contribute to species conservation</li><li>Educated Wildlife officers especially if performing culling of animals, are hated.</li><li>Circus, and Circus people are hated</li><li>Because as "everyone" knows, hey dont "love" animals, regardless if they spent all their life with them, fed them, washed them, helped them when they were sick, etc.</li></ul><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT7Md_mrmRTGn9PpjoaHEMwNIkDUgZRQgjYlDFwoKVyZXbUI5gliQ" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="342" height="138" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT7Md_mrmRTGn9PpjoaHEMwNIkDUgZRQgjYlDFwoKVyZXbUI5gliQ" width="320" /></a></div>But even if you never even met an elephant physically, you can today become an elephant expert just by reading Internet Forums. And there you get confirmation, that you belong to the culture Elite, who understands what elephants "love" and you can become an "elephant lover", who understands elephants much better than those who lived with them for generations.<div><br /></div><div>We can see how this has more and more taken over on Facebook now, and if Mala will die she will not really die, she will "walk over the rainbow", "rejoin her family in the other world", etc. and All bullshit, and illogical concepts in a feministic dominated environment, because a dead elephant is a dead elephant. A dead elephant doesnt walk over rainbows and it doesnt have any social life at all, The remains may get stored in a scientific institution, and get an Accession Catalog number., and most parts of the body will go to destruction. No rainbow. Just a dead elephant.<div><br /></div><div>When I started to work in the Stockholm Zoo in 1977, there were only one woman zookeeper employed, the rest, about twenty zookeepers were all men. Today, in the same Zoo, theres one man working as zookeeper, all the others are women. </div><div><br /></div><div>And I get the feeling that, most employees in charge of the information section in Zoos, and the zoos new Social Media and "Facebook-section" are women, and after all the sweet cat pictures on Facebook, by this, nature and animals, has become extremely commercial, but not the real nature and real animals, only the fictional many animal related Facebook sections became partly taken over, and controlled by women. On Facebook in general, they often dictate right and wrong. political correctness etc. Wrong ideas and opinions are being punished, and the Facebook account closed for a week or so, so the person understands which rules are applied. Irs like in the old DDR, where people with wrong ideas were sent to "training camps", and returned brainwashed. When a pseudo reality is created, everyone must believe in this reality, and it is "forbidden" to question the pseudo-reality.</div><div><br /></div><div>The same is applied to pseudoscience, and contrary to real science, its also "forbidden" to be questioned. A consensus made b a few is enough as "evidence". This fascinating new concept of describing the world, may eventually find its way into scientific publications, and general Information Flow. futurewise.</div><div><br /></div><div>Regardless if everything is totally wrong, and can easily be debunked as fraud, it doesnt matter, if enough women writing on their favourite Network have agreed on their alternative truth and reality.</div><div><br /></div><div>The African wild dog "Solo" who probably never existed in reality, has become "a new truth" together with all the other "beloved" animals with exception fur ugly and creepy things like ticks, mosquitos, bugs and other ugly creeps that doesnt look like a baby with large ears and large eyes, looking sad. </div><div><br /></div><div>Or male sex of different species, like elephants. All wild elephants only have mothers, their fathers seldom described. And all wild elephants live in herds "led by a female" because the existence of the 50% of the species, the males, are neglected, or minimized to "sons" of the mother elephant in books, articles and essays about elephants, written by women, for women. Lately, "news" about that the Y-chromosome is dying and will disappear, is spread on internet as "science" and it seems that many people actually really believe this. If a reader favors an opinion, they want ask if its really true. </div><div><br /></div><div>So most New Age animals are "Solo". and all of them are of course victims of the worst and most hated organism on earth: --White, adult Men. Because white adult men have wrong opinions and ideas, and they treat animals bad, they dont "love" them like women does. White adult men are only destroying the environment, they pollute the air, and created anthroposophic climate change. As animal trainers they use whips and dominance, instead of whistle pipes and targets. </div><div><br /></div><div>Lately also Asian Mahouts has become "bad people". In a semi post-missionairy and post-colonizing way, Mahouts basically suffer from one major error: they dont "love" animals. They probably hate them, and they abuse them and hit them, and doent let them drink water or feed properly. </div><div><br /></div><div>Therefore: Asian Mahouts, should be equally be hated as hunters, farmers, circus people, and old white Men, belonging to a lost generation, who isnt political correct and brainswshed by feminism.</div><div><br /></div><div>Therefore, elephant camps, especially where tourist riding is aloud, are hated. It doesnt matter that they contribute to species conservation, they are "wrong" anyway, regrdless if Thailand in 2014, during the last six years , had a birth rate (62.67±10.69) which was higher than the dead rate (23.83±8.01) (p<0.0001). (Weerasak Pintawongs), all due to ridings with elephants, financing the Kui people breeding them so succesfully, so captive elephants in Thailand became sustainable.</div><div><br /></div><div>-While sanctuaries are "right". but only 80% right if managed by a woman, and only 100% correct if managed by a white woman, because many Asian women, are also referred to as "bad" if they are elephant owners, unless their name is <a href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.com/2016/03/my-visit-to-sangduen-lek-chailert-and.html" target="_blank">Lek Chailert</a>, or if <a href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.com/2016/03/my-visit-to-sangduen-lek-chailert-and.html" target="_blank">Lek Chailert</a> support them. <a href="https://dankoehl.blogspot.com/2016/?view=classic" target="_blank">Lek Chailert also threatened to sue me</a> and she claims that the Kui peoples elephant breeding is based on "rapes" and therefore "unethical". 30 years ago most people would had shared the joy and happiness of a new born elephant, today, it is regarded questionable if it was bred in an "ethical" way, or not.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>This may all sound somewhat extreme reflections I share with you, but they are the result of spending huge amounts of time on Internet, studying how <b>Feminism and Animal Rights Movement</b> take over the Public view of animals, shaping a new brainwashed generation, judging all generations before them as stupid and unmodern. Today a zookeeper who worked 2,5 years as assistant in one Zoo, sharing the correct ideas and being favored by a headkeeper, is regarded as a better Zookeeper than a person who worked 40 years in 10 Zoos under various conditions.</div><div><br /></div><div>The World has gone insane. But, its OK and legal to be insane.</div><div><br /></div><div>But under those circumstances, one would expect Zoos would choose to make neutral informational a priority, and focus on issues of science, but NO, on Social Media, more and more Zoos hang on and follow the "main-stream", as long as they get many "likes" on their FB page.</div><div><br /></div><div>Some 5-10 years ago, a Zoo would be careful to tell the public, if an elephant baby had Herpes virus.</div><div><br /></div><div>The staff was informed not to tell public, Today, elephants with Herpes has become "Solo" on Facebook and the Zoos Media Sector profit on the suffering animal, creating emotional stories, and where zookeepers of course weep a lot, and suffer with the animals. So everyone can suffer together and enjoy the Emotional Porn.</div><div><br /></div><div>But may there be a risk with all this? Is every media attention positive for a Zoo, even if it gets uncontrolled, and filled with emotional comments from the Public? I think its a relevant question.</div><div><br /></div><div>If Zoos dont take precautions, they may end up having to take orders from all those misinformed, emotional women, and then we can forget about science, and that Zoos deliver scientific information.</div><div><br /></div><div>Regarding Mala, yes its sad. </div><div><br /></div><div>Especially since colic is a very uncomfortable condition, and painful. But mostly elephant who suffer from colic get painkillers, and become supervised 24/7 by caring keepers and veterinarians. </div><div><br /></div><div>Still of course, an old elephant with colic, may die. No elephant lives forever. </div><div><br /></div><div>But no balloons, candle lights, or love poems can help Mala, who during the years were taken good care of by caring and competent care takers in the Zoos where she lived. </div><div><br /></div><div>And she had a pretty long life;</div><div><br /></div><div>Especially compared to the <b>over 9 000 elephants that died of starvation in Tsavo National park during only two years drought in 1971-1972</b>, </div><div><br /></div><div>And in <a href="https://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=48" target="_blank">Amboseli National Park</a> in Kenya, according to Cynthia Moss:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The rains failed in 1976 and as a result there was a terrible drought in Amboseli. Many elephants died that year particularly young ones [...] Of the 29 calves that were born to the whole population in 1976, 14 died before they were a year old. [...] More than half the calves born that year died.[...] Only two calves had been born to the Amboseli population between January 1977 and November 1978. During the drought the females had stopped reproductive cycling altogether. </li><li>In 1984 there was another serious drought and again many elephants died: 11 adult females, 13 adult males, three juveniles, 13 weanlings, five second-year calves, and 22 first-year calves.</li><li>2009 everything changed dramatically for Amboseli including for the elephants, other wildlife, people and livestock. The area and much of Kenya experienced the worst drought in living memory. [...] Nearly 400 elephants died during 2009 including 250 calves. [...] 83% of the wildebeests, 71% of the zebras, 61% of the buffaloes, and 25% of Amboseli’s elephants died.</li></ul><div>It has to be remembered, that information has sometimes a tendency to be biased, and although presented as scientific material, it may not give a neutral point of view. And it may be taken out of context, and not logically analyzed.</div><div><br /></div><div>But it is the Zoos responsibility to handle information as correct and precise as possible, and although Social Media has become an important marketing factor, there is a risk that it may become a tool for biased opinions and politics, while the Zoos website gets less attention. </div><div><br /></div><div>It is important that those two information platforms are integrated with each other, and a result of the Zoos Information policy. Every tendency that a Zoos Facebook page or likewise starts to get a "life on its own" or gets highjacked by Animal Rights Activists or simply naive "dreamers" who claim that animals dont die but walk over rainbows, has to be reduced to a minimum.</div><div><br /></div><div>The scientific value has to be safely monitored. Any kind of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropomorphism" target="_blank">Anthropomorphism</a> should be removed from Zoos Social Media since its the first step towards the more extreme development described above.</div><div><br /></div><div>As Zoopersons we must respect and tolerate different views the Public may share, although some may be totally wicked. But we shall not let them take control over our information system and concepts.</div><div><br /></div><div>Because soon may also Zookeepers become as hated as farners, hunters and circus people. </div><div><br /></div><div>Even if they are women... because in the new beatiful world created by the "make-a-change-generation" there is no mercy. All sinners will be dragged to the shame pole where they will become judged and punished by the Culture Elite, who think they are the only one who know what "love" means..</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div></div></div></div></div>DanKoehlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245638586616063380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7719911693377170022.post-29031510445063396042020-10-13T07:38:00.007+02:002021-10-03T14:07:00.384+02:00Happy Birthday! Pregolja in Kaliningrad Zoo is 50 years old. An older elephant with a mixed life.<p>I will never become or accept extreme animal rights activists. But if theres one elephant, which used to come in my mind, which I thought could have had a better life, it is Pregolja, who gets 50 years today. </p><p>We dont know if she will get any presents from abroad, but her zoo gave her sweet things to eat.</p><p>On the pictures she looks in good health, and alltogether a surprisingly example of a well cared for elephant, in spite of mass criticism from abroad. It would have been easy for the zoo to capitulate for animal rights activists, and send away their elephant to an unknown destiny, but the zoo was brave, and saw to Pregolja in the first hand, even with the risk of loosing credit from foreign countries. </p><p>This is true love for an animal, and I think Kaliningrad Zoo earns a price for their courage and dedication to take a life long responsibility for their elephant, regardless the price.</p><p>I believe that there must be some dedicated elephant keepers there, who will try to make her happier today, than usually. I also believe that those keepers try to do do a descent work every day, and the fact that Pregolja is still living, and getting 50 years old, is an indication that at least she is taken good care of. Her life could certainly be better, but also worse. Shes spared the destiny of the 9 000 elephants that during three years, starved to death between 1971 and 1974 in Tsavo East, often referred to as some sort of paradise, and "where elephants belong". Life in the wild is not always that great. Please try 48 hours, without a tent and a lot of protection, in the nearest forest, and I think you will get my point, after your return to your favourite coffee table. </p><p>Nature is not a Disney film. And life in the wild nature is not for losers, and even the winners will face many challenges. However, I think poor old Pregolja could have had a better life. What is her story?</p><p>The female Asian elephant Pregolja was born 1970-10-12, 50 years ago today, in present Kaliningrad Zoo, which was, before world-war II, called Königsberger Tiergarten, when the city of Kaliningrad was called Königsberg, until 1946. Today Kaliningrad is a city in the Russian enclave Kaliningrad Oblast, part of the present Russian Federation, located on the coast of the Baltic Sea.</p><iframe allowfullscreen="" aria-hidden="false" frameborder="0" height="450" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d142307.8961910798!2d20.35375869319584!3d54.704319075053135!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x46e33dfbebc1d441%3A0xe4e1f128ba1f1497!2sKaliningradskiy%20Zoopark!5e0!3m2!1sen!2skh!4v1602564931128!5m2!1sen!2skh" style="border: 0;" tabindex="0" width="600"></iframe><p>(Some of the historical parts below, are cited from from Wikipedia) </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><i>During the Middle Ages, the territory of what is now the Kaliningrad Oblast was inhabited by tribes of Old Prussians (Sambians) in the western part and by Lithuanians in the eastern part. The tribes were divided by the rivers Pregolya and Łyna. The Teutonic Knights conquered the region and established a monastic state, and the region became Germanised, and later part of East Prussia, until world war II, and in August 29, 1944, Königsberg became Russian. Over two million people fled before the Red Army and were evacuated by sea, while:</i></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><i>The President of the United States and the British Prime Minister have declared that they will support the proposal of the Conference at the forthcoming peace settlement.</i></p></blockquote><p><i> Königsberg was renamed Kaliningrad in 1946 in memory of Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR Mikhail Kalinin. The remaining German population was forcibly expelled between 1947 and 1948. The conquered territory was populated with citizens of the Soviet Union, mostly ethnic Russians but to a lesser extent also Ukrainians and Belarusians.</i></p><p><i>The German language was replaced with the Russian language. In 1950, there were 1,165,000 inhabitants, which was only half the number of the pre-war population. </i></p></blockquote><p> Where were the others? Maybe we will never know, where one and a half million ended up. OR, if they even survived? With force, expelled from their homes, their country, and their society...</p><p>Enough about human history, although it has had a large impact on Pregoljas life destiny. She was born, and has spend all her life , in Kaliningrad Zoo (former Königsberger Tiergarten) .</p><p>Königsberger Tiergarten, today Kaliningrad Zoo, was founded in 1896. 125 years ago. It is one of the oldest zoological gardens in Russia, and one of the largest., and it comprises 315 species with a total of 2264 individual animals (as of 2005),, in an area which extends over 16.5 ha.</p><p>From the zoo's opening to 1945, five female Asian elephants resided at this location. Several names and most dates are unknown, though it is known, regardless of how many were owned at the time, noone survived World War II.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kKoURvSuG_U/X4UB_8xR4vI/AAAAAAAAKFc/NSzdEIq7DUgdp75hr85ldf0y5-kxX_bOwCLcBGAsYHQ/s252/Koenigsberg_zoo_Jenny_1911.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="164" data-original-width="252" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kKoURvSuG_U/X4UB_8xR4vI/AAAAAAAAKFc/NSzdEIq7DUgdp75hr85ldf0y5-kxX_bOwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Koenigsberg_zoo_Jenny_1911.jpg" /></a></div><p>Pictures from 1911 show the elephant Jenny giving a ride to children in the Königsberg zoo. her keeper looks pretty relaxed on the photo. Together, they had their routines, every day, and developed together. </p><p>Jenny, from my professional eyes, looks pretty healthy and strong, and may have had a pretty good life, compared to starving elephants in Africa, where during years of draught, 50% of the babies dies out of starvation. I havnt found any records for Jennys death. At least another three elephants lived in the zoo, until the war. But at least one elephant were actually shipped to Germany in 1939, when the war started. Her name is Tuzinka, and she was born in Warsaw Zoo 1937-04-16, daughter of Jas and Kaska II (Kasia, Katschi), elephants who have their stories, which is not the subject of this article.</p><p>Tuzinka was transferred 1939 to Berlin by the order of Lutz Heck, director of Berlin Zoo. I prefer to imagine that he wanted a rare zoo born elephant, to be transferred as far as possible from a war zone, when the war broke out, although his reasons may have been others. Unfortunately Tuzinka died anyway. Only one elephant in Berlin zoo survived the war, the Asian bull Siam:</p><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p><i>Siam, together with 90 other animals (out of 3,715) survived the second world war, and the bombings of Berlin Zoo.Interestingly, most World War II "trivia" sites inaccurately repeat the myth that "The first Allied bombs to fall on Berlin killed the zoo's only elephant." The truth is that the Berlin zoo never had only one elephant, and the bombs that fell on the city in 1944 killed seven of the zoo's elephants, leaving Siam the sole surviving pachyderm. Somehow, this has been distorted over time and the myth has been turned into "amusing" trivia for war buffs. </i></p></blockquote><p></p><p>So likely, from a zoologists point of view, Lutz Heck may have wanted this specimen to be safe and far away from war. And not one elephants from my pre-war list in Königsberger Tiergarten seem to have survived the war. RIP. Maybe they were even eaten, like <a href="https://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=3506" target="_blank">Pollux</a> and <a href="https://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=3505" target="_blank">Castor</a> in <a href="https://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=957" target="_blank">Jardin d´Acclimatation</a> in Paris, France, who during new years eve in 1870, was served as dinner, during another war...</p><p>Back to the birthday child Pregolja. Her parents were Jimmi (Jimmy) and Shanda (Shandra). Both parents arrived to Kaliningrad in 1960, and according to Jana Havlová, at least the father Jimmie came from a animal trade hub called Zoo-Centrum Moskwa (Objed), arriving to a country administered by the planning committee of the Lithuanian SSR, although it had its own Communist Party committee.</p><p><a href="https://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=859" target="_blank">Shandra</a>, being born in the wild in 1953, had three babies with Jimmie, and died 1974 in hart failure. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.elephant.se/images/kaliningrad_jimmi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="161" data-original-width="262" height="287" src="https://www.elephant.se/images/kaliningrad_jimmi.jpg" width="468" /></a></div><br /><p>On the picture we can see a brave keeper of Jimmie, a person belonging to older generations, who managed to to work this bull with large tusks, for many years. I have no clue of the persons name.</p><p>EEG, the European Elephant Group, state in the book Elefanten in Zoo und Circus, (Haufellner, Kurt, Schilfarth, Schweiger) that Jimmi, born 1941 wild in Sri Lanka, arrived in Kaliningrad Zoo in 1950, while EEP claim he arrived in 1960. Jimmie sired a total of 8 babies between 1968 and 1995, of which Pregolja, born 1970, is the sole survivor today, after his daughter Marta/Candy died in Yerevan.</p><p>But from those 8 babies Jimmie sired, only three was with Shandra. The other was with his daughter Pregolija. So, Marta's/Candys father Jimmie was also her grandfather, she was the fourth calf her father sired with his daughter Pregolia. How could this be?</p><p>Of Jimmie and Shandras babies, two were stillborn or killed by the mother, and only Pregolia survived. And Shanda died in hart failure 1974, leaving her 33 year old father Jimmie, and her 4 year old daughter the only of their species in Kaliningrad Zoo. </p><p>And of course the elephant keepers let the elephants be together. Pregolja grew up with her father, and they had bred 5 babies. All of them, except one died after some days, or were killed by Pregolja after the birth. For some reason, and my guess is that a keeper saved the last baby, one baby survived;</p><p>Pregolias daughter Candy/Marta, her last baby, was born in 1995, and lived until 2008, when she died in Yerevan Zoo, to which she were deported from circus Durow, after she crushed elephant trainer Alexander Terekhov in elephant stable at Durovs Little Corner theater, in Moscow, in 2001. </p><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p><i>February 23, 2001: Russian Circus Elephant Crushes Trainer to Death - An elephant crushed its trainer to death after a performance at a Moscow theater, employees say. Two employees at Durov's Little Corner, a small animal theater named after a famous family of circus performers, said trainer Alexander Terekhov had been crushed to death in the elephant's pen after the evening performance. "We're still investigating the incident," one of the employees, who did not give his name, told Reuters Thursday. Interfax news agency said ambulance workers confirmed the incident.</i></p></blockquote><p>Something the mother Pregolja doesnt have a clue about. her father Jimmie died the same year, in 2008, 59 years old, and since then Pregolja havnt seen any elephants. her closest friends are her care takers, and possibly some daily visitors she knows since years, who may bring some sweets for her.</p><p>Since the nineties, the zoo has been criticised, and pushed to send Pregolja somewhere, which they have refused, arguing that staying in her home is the best for her.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.elephant.se/images/Kaliningrad.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://www.elephant.se/images/Kaliningrad.jpg" /></a></div><br /> The picture of Pregolja, turning her back to us, doesn't mean we have to turn our back to her. But this doesnt mean we must judge her home. And to be honest, in spite of the iron spikes and the small enclosure, the elephant Pregolja on the picture looks rather healthy and strong. Her enclosure may, or may not, have been modernized and enlarged, since this photo was taken. We may think it looks bad.<p></p><p>But this is where she was born, where she grew up, and what she is used to accept as her home.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.elephant.se/images/kaliningrad_elephant_house.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="654" src="https://www.elephant.se/images/kaliningrad_elephant_house.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>I dont know if her house has been changed, but this was her home at least some years ago. People may criticize, may think its cruel, or whatever, for Pregolja this is the environment she knows as her home since she was born. This is her safety, her personal environment. We actually dont have a clue how much she enjoys or suffer in this stable. Most probably she have no clue that some people regard happiness in the amount of meter it is to the next wall. If the next wall is far away, according to those people you should be happier. Pregolja, on the other hand, may have different measurements. </p><p>Like, if she gest bread with her evening food or not. Carrots, and how much? Is there a variation in diet? If you imagine visiting an older relative in a nursery, you may see similar needs. Older persons doesnt really discuss how large a room is, or if the responsible person is a professor or a doctor, a mailman or a vacuum cleaner. BUT they may be particular with how salty the daily soup is. Or why noone sings, or play a guitar. And why they close the lights at 8. </p><p>Today Pregolja is 50 years old, and its a bit late to start consider what social needs she may have in terms of other elephants, or wherever she could be moved. Statistically, very few elephants at this age, survive a relocation to a new place, regardless if its politically labelled as "sanctuary" or not, often they die after a short time. And far away, women will write poems that "at least she was loved her last years etc" poems from their fantasy world, where they reject the truth, that the animal which was "saved" did not survive the relocation. It died shortly afterwards, and it did not at all walk over a rainbow.</p><p>Animals like elephants are like old people, they are habituated to different environments and daily routines, which make them feel safe. They dont define their their daily quality iin square meters, or how many playmates they have. Some of them die short time after they are moved, simply because they get terrorized by the new "friend". All those consequences are hidden, forgotten, and neglected when the animal rights people hammer their keyboard, and let the world know that they are in fact elephant experts, and know better than elephant keepers, curators, veterinarians and directors, who know a specific elephant half their lives. </p><p>IF and when, we want to enrich the life for elephants as Pregolja, who at least survived well for fifty years, and didnt have to starve to death, like her sisters in Tsavo National park, I guess we should ask the people around her, how we can make things better. Instead of placing them ina corner of shame, it would make sense to ask her keeper, what makes Pregolja happy? What food or titbits does she prefer? </p><p>The worst thing that could happen is if people would demand that she should be moved, not considering her personal needs. Like what happened with Finlands last elephant Vanni, who died in Nikaloaev zoo shortly after her relocation. I worked with Vanni in 2000, and she was a rather happy and positive elephant, accepting even children going into her box. She simply loved anyone. Except the elephant in the zoo where she was moved, she stopped eating and died. She would probably have lived today, if she would still be in her home in Finland. Theres many examples like this, and always when the elephants are moved to a "sanctuary", animal rights people are happy, and if the elephant dies, they say that "she walked over the rainbow". I argue that this is not welfare, this is politics, and stupidity.</p><p>Theres numerous petition sites and forums about Pregolja, where thousands of peoples signed something they actually dont have a clue about. And if Pregolja would be moved to a "sanctuary" they would clap their hans two weeks, and if she would die after a year, they would be silent, or repeat the "walk-over-the-rainbow-mantra. But in reality, they wouldnt really care anymore.</p><p>If theres anything we want to do for Pregolja, the start would be to ask her staff and people around her, what they think could be improved, and what they think could enrich her life. Maybe she would like to have more tree branches to eat? Cutting down branches and transport to a zoo is costly, but most elephants enjoy branches a lot. Or is she fond of fruits? Does she have pain in her legs, and would enjoy expensive pain killers? Does she enjoy visitors, who feed her bananas or biscuits?</p><p><br /></p><p>As we can see on this picture from her birthday, she like fruits.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://kldzoo.ru/upload/medialibrary/d70/img_0368.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="266" src="https://kldzoo.ru/upload/medialibrary/d70/img_0368.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Today Pregolja is fifty, and she can probably become older than her father, who died at sixty. </p><p>To be the only elephant in the country can be seen as tragical. And unnatural. For Pregolja, who was born in Kaliningrad, this is all she knows. The people around her, who take care of her. The smells and sounds in the air. The rain, the temperature, the daily life. All those things she grew up with, is part of her life. Maybe, but only maybe, memories of her father, and even her mother, who died when she was four years old. But this is 46 years ago.</p><p>Id we really care for her, then I think we should send a positive message to her elephant keepers, her Vet, her Curator and Director, and tell them that we think about her. And maybe ask them if theres anything she needs? That is true welfare. </p><p>Congratulations to a long life, Pregolja! <3 And congratulations to the zoo, who didnt bend their heads for animal rights activists, but consider they have a responsibility for this animal until her death. Not every Asian elephant reach the age of fifty, so considering the conditions, and the history, the zoo has made a good job, and taken care of their elephant well. </p><p></p><p><br /></p>DanKoehlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245638586616063380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7719911693377170022.post-28339933037660398202016-05-08T12:26:00.002+02:002017-02-20T05:21:33.502+01:00<h2>
<span style="background-color: white;">Sangduen Chailert (Lek) threatens to sue me because of <a href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.se/2016/03/my-visit-to-sangduen-lek-chailert-and.html">my blog article about her and Elephant Nature Park</a>?</span></h2>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;">(like Pat Derby and PAWS wanted to do in October 2012, <a href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.se/2012/10/paws-threatens-to-sue-me-heres-laywers.html">read more about that here</a>)</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.se/2012/10/paws-threatens-to-sue-me-heres-laywers.html" style="font-stretch: normal; text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">Heres the laywers letter.</span></a></h4>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">In my mailbox today, was a mail from Nitipon Piwmow, Barrister-At-Law in Thailand, representing Sangduen Chailert, with the subject:Notice Letter. For anyone who never heard of Sangduen Chailert (Lek Chailert), she is owner of "Elephant Nature Park up in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, as well </span></span><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">as a couple of other "elephant sanctuaries"</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> in Thailand and Cambodia, and in spite of its impressing incomes, estimated to 10. 000-15. 000 $US daily, its referred to as a non-profit. Obviously some of their funding is used to pay lawyers: The mail I received from Nitipon Piwmow, contained the following text:</span></span><br />
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Dear Mr Koehl,</div>
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We write you on behalf of our client, Sangduen Chailert (Lek), on the issue of unreal information and the defamation to Ms Chailert that you are currently posting on your websites below:</div>
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12. <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=sv&q=http://dankoehl.blogspot.nl/2016/03/sangduen-lek-chailert-and-elephant.html&source=gmail&ust=1462787058735000&usg=AFQjCNEzJ3EhFK0NPR1MCrLFs4M8TzOlXg" href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.nl/2016/03/sangduen-lek-chailert-and-elephant.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Dan Koehl's Blog: Mahout killed by elephant at Elephant Nature Park (ENP), Chiang Mai, Thailand.</a></div>
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14. <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=sv&q=http://dankoehl.blogspot.be/2016/03/sangduen-lek-chailert-and-elephant.html&source=gmail&ust=1462787058736000&usg=AFQjCNFI4qh0vJYRHscDAbEtOpyf6g7CyA" href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.be/2016/03/sangduen-lek-chailert-and-elephant.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://dankoehl.blogspot.be/<wbr></wbr>2016/03/sangduen-lek-chailert-<wbr></wbr>and-elephant.html</a></div>
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We demand that you remove these posting from you websites immediately, Ms Chailert shall go to the court in order to protect herself from the irreparable damage being caused by your posting.</div>
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Sincerely,</div>
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Nitipon Piwmow,</div>
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Barrister-At-Law.</div>
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DanKoehlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245638586616063380noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7719911693377170022.post-4862175654193921352016-03-15T09:33:00.002+01:002018-04-29T01:47:46.400+02:00Sangduen "Lek" Chailert and Elephant Nature Park (ENP), Chiang Mai, Thailand<br /><br />After publishing my blog about the <a href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.com/2016/03/sangduen-lek-chailert-and-elephant.html">tragical killing of a mahout by an elephant in the Elephant Nature park" in Thailand</a>, (which was not the first, according to three independent sources, last year at least two mahouts were killed by elephants, on the grounds of ENP)<br /><br /><br /> <br /> <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tE26WaG5PqQ/VupEy-LmG4I/AAAAAAAAFn0/I06lUSlyJusDet9f8LWx9y9H6rdGOYYWQ/s1600/Wittaya_Taweeros.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tE26WaG5PqQ/VupEy-LmG4I/AAAAAAAAFn0/I06lUSlyJusDet9f8LWx9y9H6rdGOYYWQ/s320/Wittaya_Taweeros.jpg" /></a> <br /><br /><br /> Some sources state the name Mr San Tor Ni, others the name Maung Anthony, pictured at a Chiang Mai Hospital <br /><br /><br />Due to this tragic incident, I believe its time to step forward and give a balancing report to all animal rights activists glorifying of one of the largest scams I have witnessed in Asia, since there seem to be a need to highlight that this is, in no way, a paradise for elephants or the staff, although it has according to sources, an estimated annual income between $US 3. 650. 000 and $US 5. 475. 000 dollars.<br /><br /><br />The way we see it, our mahouts should be listening to the elephants, NOT the elephants listening to the mahouts.” Cite from <a href="http://www.saveelephant.org/blog/meet-the-mahout-elephant-nature-park-medo/">http://www.saveelephant.org/blog/meet-the-mahout-elephant-nature-park-medo/</a>.<br /><br />Mr San Tor Ni/Maung Anthony can't listen to Leks lies, or her personal interpretation what her elephants says anymore, may he rest in peace.<br /><br /><br /> But let us hope that he is the last death victim for Lek Chailerts experiment, and honor him, and all mahouts in Thailand, who are under constant attacks by Lek and animal rights activists, by telling the truth.<br /><br /><br /> Let the world know the truth about a smart lier, who found an easy way of getting rich and famous, by scamming tourists and naive animal friends, attacking the very people that she depend upon, while threatening species conservation in Thailand by her lies about elephant riding, and elephant training in Thailand. <br /><br /><br /> Let us make Leks all prizes and awards burn on her wall, as the testimony over all falsified stories, and her abuse of truth and elephants, and her staff. Let her millions of dollars burn her pockets. Let her supporters, the animal rights activists, feel shame over their ignorance, and neglect of truth, science and true animal welfare. <br /><br /><br /> Lets hope that official Thai Veterinarians will perform all necessary medical examnisations needed, including blood tests from each elephants, and check-up of potentially lethal Zoonoses, and at least the most suffering elephants can be transferred into the hands of professionals, to get qualified treatment.<br /><br /><br /> And lets hope that Thai authorities will perform an advanced investigation, and that justice be done. <br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eoMtp3VW2Nk/Vuu-bzCe7VI/AAAAAAAAFqc/OV7-S-ItyVkWRrdpQscoxQ-rnUzuS3uWQ/s1600/truth%2B%25281%2529.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eoMtp3VW2Nk/Vuu-bzCe7VI/AAAAAAAAFqc/OV7-S-ItyVkWRrdpQscoxQ-rnUzuS3uWQ/s320/truth%2B%25281%2529.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /> Introduction<br /><br /><br />This document is intended to tell my personal point of view about Lek Chailert and Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Thailand, as well as my later correspondence with the owners. At the end is section with Economy reports and critical voices.<br /><br /><br /><br /> Some details concerning the management of her elephants which I describe in detail below, can be seen on other places also, with origin in bad economy, low elephant competence, or just plain ignorance and greed.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />But it’s a great difference when poor people who cannot read and write do mistakes in their elephant management, compared to an educated person like Lek Chailert, who received international rewards and prices, and makes over 10 000 dollars per day. Lately, the film “Apology to elephants, lifts her to the sky, and makes a false portrait of a heroine, very similar to <a href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.com/2012/10/pat-derby-1942-2013-cofounder-of.html">Pat Derby, founder of PAWS</a> in US. (< READ THAT!)<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Lek pretends to make a paradise for elephants at her farm, and lately as a marketing of herself, criticizes almost the rest of the world’s elephant managers. She fabricate stories about abuse of young elephants, smuggle of elephant babies to Thailand from Burma etc., which in most cases are not true at all, the intention of all this is propaganda, in order to convince animal lovers on Internet, that only she knows how to take care of elephants, with the intention of getting even more money from kind people.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> The whole world of animal rights activists love Lek Chailert, but what they love is simply a lie, a fabrication of a person who has fooled kind, animal loving people for over 20 years.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />Lek normally never employs the previous mahouts who take care of her new bought elephants before, she prefer her Burmese mahouts who accept to work with the cheapest wages. Still, in the propaganda, the cheaper Karen mahouts can be used to give an extra flair to Elephant Nature Park: “Most of the mahouts – caretakers and companions to the elephants – are refugees from Burma and ENP provides them with all the required paperwork to make their employment legal in Thailand.” Or, they work illegally in the Park. Its unknown how many work there illegally, but for sure this category can be trusted never to speak (bad) about their employer, who can kick them at once, and even see that that they get punished for illegal work. But a number of those Burmese Karen mahouts have left ENP during the years, in frustration regarding the conditions. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />Still contrary to what all naive visitors think before and after their visit, the main criticism from professional elephant people, is her poor and unprofessional management of her elephants.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />Every elephant can be shown to have been abused if you tell the world that to ride an elephant is abuse - so even healthy, happy elephants can be branded as rescues. I think that sooner or later a 'whistle blower' website will be set up in the same way as they have done for the Tiger Temple - I know enough ex-staff who are extremely upset with the difference between what is said and what goes on there. A lot of elephant camp owners have to explain to journalists, donors and potential guests that what they heard from someone who had been to ENP was wrong - or ignoring death threats from her 'fans'.” - (Anon)<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />“The big elephant issues at ENP (forgetting the business ethics and mistreatment of mahouts) are the number of dead elephants that died for no reason other than ignorance. I have heard so many obviously true stories over the years.” (cite: Anon) <br /><br /><br />"The advanced degree of the decay seen in the majority of feet trimmed is harmful to the elephants, causing pain and lameness. Left untreated, the foot infections can become systemic and even life threatening. Allow the elephants to spend more time off chains to allow for natural posturing and movement. The elephants should be given the freedom to wander where they wish and when they wish, and not be forced to adhere to a show schedule to accommodate the public and volunteers. Mahouts should shadow the elephant but not dictate their movements". (<a href="http://www.elephantaidinternational.org/pdf/ENP_Report2011.pdf">Carol Buckley</a>) <br /> Economy<br /> On numerous places can be read: Elephant Nature Foundation is a non-profit organization which advocates and acts on behalf of the rights of Asian elephants in Thailand, as well as Elephant Nature Park is a Thailand elephant conservation project. <br /><br />From ENPs website 2013:<br /><br /><br />Save Elephant Foundation is a Thai registered non-profit organization. We are required by law to provide annual reports to the government providing transparency regarding our funding, our spending and our progress. Claims regarding any sort of profit are false. Our registration with the Thai government can be found on our Web site, <a href="http://www.saveelephant.org/">www.saveelephant.org</a> and our annual report can be accessed via request.<br /> Sounds good? In reality, Lek seems to have numerous accounts, and beside the foundation a company and no one can get a real insight in her economy, which is far from transparent. <br /> A visitor wrote in 2013: <br /><br /><br />"We were also told that the place costs $250,000 US dollars to operate every year. If you multiply the 2,500 baht cost of admission by how many people come per day, the place could easily pull in 2-4 million US dollars per year! So I have no idea how the money is spent...we not only got ripped off but we wasted one of our few days in Chiang Mai!"<br /> It is estimated, that she makes around 10 000 – 15 000 US $ per day- A LOT OF MONEY:<br /><br /><br /><br />Lek and sincerity: I have no doubt whatsoever that she really loves elephants, but I disbelieve her pleas of poverty. ENP makes at least $10,000 a day all year around. It is a huge profit maker. It is a private business.<br /><br /><br />If she loves the elephants so much, why doesn't she change from being a business to become a legally registered Thai non-profit foundation, where all the elephants and land are property of the foundation -- a foundation with a proper board of directors, two annual meetings, and open account books. The need for a foundation is also because she takes so much donated money from overseas.<br /><br /><br /><br />If she were to get die or get killed -- say a head-on crash driving to CM -- I think her elephants would get scattered far and wide. (Anon)<br /><br /><br /> The only account, where one can get insight, is her UK charity.<br /> UK Charity<br /><br />Elephant Nature Foundation UK is a registered UK charity (#1117758) that supports the work of <a href="http://www.elephantnaturefoundation.org/go/foundation">Elephant Nature Foundation</a> registered on MS LEK CHAILERT and MRS PHYLLIS KIRKLAND, HILLTOP, WINDMILL HILL, SHERE ROAD, WEST HORSLEY, LEATHERHE,<br /><br /><br />Tel: +44 (0) 1483 284421<br /><br />Email: enfuk@elephantnaturefoundation.org<br /><br />Website: <a href="http://www.elephantnaturefoundation.org/">www.elephantnaturefoundation.org</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />On <a href="http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/CharityWithoutPartB.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=1117758&SubsidiaryNumber=0">http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/CharityWithoutPartB.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=1117758&SubsidiaryNumber=0</a> you can see the balance and some graphs.<br /><br /><br />During eight years, 2008-2016, a total income of £359. 668 (US$ 519.80 US Dollars), while £267. 553 were spent. Where are the missing £92. 115?<br /><br />And this just the income from the UK charity, the only single one account, that is transparent?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />...still she thinks she has not enough money to buy proper food for the animals? Something that could be included in the Charitable objects:<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />TO ADVANCE PUBLIC EDUCATION IN PARTICULAR BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES THAT RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS BOTH NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY, OF THE PROBLEMS FACING BOTH WILD AND DOMESTICATED ASIAN ELEPHANTS AND BY SUPPORTING AND CONDUCTING RESEARCH INITIATIVES THAT INVESTIGATE THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF ASIAN ELEPHANT, AND THE ENVIRONMENT (AND WHERE POSSIBLE, PUBLISHING THE USEFUL RESULTS OF SUCH RESEARCH).<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />TO FURTHER SUCH CHARITABLE PURPOSES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE INDIGENOUS LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN PARTICULAR BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY IN ASIA BY ESTABLISHING PROJECTS THAT PROMOTE AND ENCHANCE THEIR WELL BEING AND WITH THE AIM OF HELPING TO REDUCE HUMAN-ELEPHANT CONFLICTS.''<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />ENP charity in United Kingdom<br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />Financial year end (FYE)<br /><br />Income<br /><br />Spending<br /><br />Accounts received<br /><br />Annual Return/Annual Update received<br /><br />View <br /><br /><br />31 Mar 2015 <br /><br />£31,149 <br /><br />£2,144 <br /><br />08 Jan 2016 <br /><br />27 Oct 2015 <br /><br /><a href="http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends58/0001117758_AC_20150331_E_C.pdf">Accounts</a> <br /><br /><br />31 Mar 2014 <br /><br />£41,419 <br /><br />£1,144 <br /><br />19 Dec 2014 <br /><br />22 Jan 2015 <br /><br /><a href="http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends58/0001117758_AC_20140331_E_C.pdf">Accounts</a> <br /><br /><br />31 Mar 2013 <br /><br />£30,792 <br /><br />£38,327 <br /><br />07 Mar 2014 (35 days late) <br /><br />11 Jan 2014 <br /><br /><a href="http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends58/0001117758_AC_20130331_E_C.pdf">Accounts</a> <br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />View <br /><br /><br />31 Mar 2012 <br /><br />£51,302 <br /><br />£75,384 <br /><br />13 Apr 2013 (72 days late) <br /><br />13 Apr 2013 (72 days late) <br /><br /><a href="http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends58%5C0001117758_AC_20120331_E_C.pdf">Accounts</a> <br /><br /><br />31 Mar 2011 <br /><br />£92,056 <br /><br />£64,669 <br /><br />05 Mar 2012 (34 days late) <br /><br />05 Mar 2012 (34 days late) <br /><br /><a href="http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends58%5C0001117758_ac_20110331_e_c.pdf">Accounts</a> <br /><br /><br />31 Mar 2010 <br /><br />£52,593 <br /><br />£41,348 <br /><br />15 Jan 2011 <br /><br />15 Jan 2011 <br /><br /><a href="http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends58%5C0001117758_AC_20100331_E_C.PDF">Accounts</a> <br /><br /><br />31 Mar 2009 <br /><br />£31,234 <br /><br />£28,919 <br /><br />27 Jan 2010 <br /><br />27 Jan 2010 <br /><br /><a href="http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends58%5C0001117758_AC_20090331_E_C.PDF">Accounts</a> <br /><br /><br />31 Mar 2008 <br /><br />£29,183 <br /><br />£15,618 <br /><br />22 Jan 2009 <br /><br />16 Feb 2009 (16 days late) <br /><br /><a href="http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends58%5C0001117758_AC_20080331_E_C.PDF">Accounts</a> <br /> <br /> <br /><br /> <br /> My visit in 2011<br /><br />First I want to share some notes from my visit five years ago, to the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, in 11th of March 2011.<br /><br /><br /> During winters in 2010 and 2011 I travelled in Asia from camp to camp to document elephants in Cambodia, Laos and Thailand, and I e-mailed Sangduen "Lek" Chailert, founder of the Elephant Nature Park upon my arrival in Chiang Mai.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I have had correspondence with Lek Chailert since 2007, and although elephant “sanctuaries” seldom has something interesting to see in terms of scientific values, since they are mostly founded on emotional base by young post-missionary white people who want to became famous by enlighten the "less educated tribespeoples" and become heroes in the eyes of animal rights activists in their home countries, <br /><br /><br /> But I was interested to visit ENP. Lek was known to run an interesting project, but also to have initiated a lot of problems for other camps and elephant owners in Thailand, and initiating campaigns towards the Thai elephant community and business. Locals state she started like every one else with elephant rides, and then made a shortcut, with less work, and more money in her pocket. Still, I was still neutral regarding her location, when I wrote her, once I arrived in Chiang Mai from northern Thailand, and asked if I could come for a visit.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Lek Chailert generously invited me to Elephant Nature Park during my visit to Chiang Mai in November 2011. My visit extended afternoon, overnight, and one days stay when I was walking around, witnessing the absolutely worst case of elephant management I have ever experienced, during almost 40 years as professional elephant manager and consultant. For me, on a criminal level.<br /> <br /><br /> Training standard and management<br /><br />Watching the elephants at ENP during my visit first filled me with an amusing feeling which was soon changed to anger. I was prepared to see invalid elephants; since Lek are collecting those, and disobedient elephants, since hooks are officially prohibited, but I was surprised to see the poor shape most of the elephants were in due to the unprofessional, poor management. Elephants were walking around, pretty apathy, while some mahouts were trying to make them to move, with endless commands, or trying to lure them with fruits etc.<br /><br /><br /><br /> Obviously they didn't roam free like they do in a Zoo, but were supposed to walk on some "streets" on the previous potatoes-field, in order not to destroy the grass, as can be seen on this picture below.<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ww89burwtqo/VufYyIOsdVI/AAAAAAAAFmQ/ISj5vVjeAboyZiZGJ_T3J3rh3ufDSDYhg/s1600/enp.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ww89burwtqo/VufYyIOsdVI/AAAAAAAAFmQ/ISj5vVjeAboyZiZGJ_T3J3rh3ufDSDYhg/s320/enp.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />Compared to riding camps where the elephants during the tourist rides, leave the grounds and are ridden out in the forest, Leks elephants are confined to her "park", since they are more or less uncontrollable. They have the freedom to be chained 14 hours, and the rest move around like a prisoner, not like in a Zoo where the elephants are allowed to walk free in the enclosure..<br /><br /><br /><br /> It seemed each and every elephants walked single with the mahouts, and there was a lot of pathetic pulling in ears, bribing with bananas etc, and still the mahouts had to use an enormous amount of time, just to make an elephant to come down to the river for a bath.<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--thSzTPUrtM/Vuk5jEobBeI/AAAAAAAAFnA/tYSj9tq5GCssRGNtYGNsP0U4ELCpwaH4g/s1600/mahout_pulling_ear.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--thSzTPUrtM/Vuk5jEobBeI/AAAAAAAAFnA/tYSj9tq5GCssRGNtYGNsP0U4ELCpwaH4g/s320/mahout_pulling_ear.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="https://img1.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" /><br /><br /><br /> But... what is in the hands of the mahout at minute 5.37, when the mahout is running after an elephant attacking a volunteer?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />If the mahout is not allowed to use hooks, still it sees they have some sharp objects, hidden in their pockets? Which of course Lek Chailert knows, but she prefer not to tell the truth about that.<br /><br />Also the language bridge between the Burmese mahouts, who doesn't speak English, and the public, creates safety risks.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here is some witness reports:<br /><br /><br /> “For some perverse gentlemanly reason I'd never mention that place by name when criticizing but I am happy to support criticism of practices that look good to the uneducated but hurt elephants in the long run, or the hypocrisy like telling people that your elephants can be trained by love - only to see them chained 24 hours a day or sent elsewhere for 'traditional' training when they break the owner's ribs, or that you don't need hooks when the mahouts all carry nails or slingshots." <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />”I dont have evidence myself, but another guest told me that she saw mahouts used spikes which they touched the elephants with in different situations”<br /><br /><br />"The elephants seemed crammed in too - they were fighting with each other and guys hitting them with big sticks - I asked our guide why they were being hit and she told us it is normal...."<br /><br /><br />"They do not use elephant hooks but employ other less obvious means to inflict pain to control the elephants. The use of nails, slingshots, sticks and other weapons should be banned. Allow the elephants to spend more time off chains to allow for natural posturing and movement, which has a direct impact on the wear pattern on their pads and nails. The majority of the mahouts speak Burmese and do not understand Thai or English. The language barrier makes working with them difficult. It also creates a safety hazard for them when working elephants in close contact with the public because the mahouts are unable to communicate with the public.". (<a href="http://www.elephantaidinternational.org/pdf/ENP_Report2011.pdf">Carol Buckley</a>) <br /><br /><br />Hope was sent because he was out of control and it was probably after he attacked Lek. By the way, that's the story on how she broke her ribs. (Anon)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />But without a normal free contact training system, where elephant hooks are allowed, both peoples and elephants safety is something which the poor mahouts can't not control as a visitors write on Tripadvisor:<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />"The elephants were wonderful and there were some good highlights watching them play but there were too many in a small space and lots of pushing and fighting between them. I was told by one course volunteer that the previous week one elephant had attacked and killed another which suggests there are too many animals in a small space. If an elephant can be killed there must be a risk to people when there are so many there."<br /><br />Elephants killed by other elephants? A paradise? <br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />The older elephants are often pushed over by the younger elephants and I know this has happened at ENP and a couple of elephants have died from injuries sustained. Bull elephants have also been kept on chains and are apparently in musth (all year) because there is no one with experience to look after them. (Anon)<br /><br /><br /> The safety issues at ENP are a very important issue, that should be researched by officials.<br /><br /><br /> Last I heard Hope and another young male, Jungle Boy, were so dangerous that they could not be handled. Lek was saying she was going to let them go free in the jungle, etc., but that is clearly impossibly without the royal reintroduction program, which will have nothing to do with here. Yet another instance of why tough but fair training is best for the elephant in the long run. (Anon)<br /><br />Apart from this, it seems only a minority of the elephants are showcased daily, while the others stay chained the entire day, or are caged. The visitors doesn't see that it's the same elephants being walked around on the grounds, or bathed in the river, and they don't ask why the caged elephants are not allowed to come ot from the cages. Only for extreme reasons, a normal Zoo would confine their elephants to a cage for longer periods.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And why doesn't the visotors reflect on the fact, that the elephants are not let free to use the area as they wish, like they do in a Zoo? Still those visitors actually believe that the ENP elephants are more "free"<br /><br /><br />In the majority of cases, the nails and pads of the “family group” and two adolescent male elephants were healthier than that of the other elephants who spend less time engaged in the natural behaviors of grazing and moving throughout the habitat. Allow the elephants to spend more time off chains to allow for natural posturing and movement, which has a direct impact on the wear pattern on their pads and nails. (Carol Buckley)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />One person I met that day at ENP was Karl Cullen, a long term volounteer at the park, and we had some correspondence later, and I gave him pictures I have taken, which are to be seen on <a href="https://elephantdreaming.wordpress.com/">his blog</a>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Z4P6v6KucY/Vu6O2wRz7-I/AAAAAAAAFrc/wN4wZ4vtKtgjw3kxVnsD2VnH2th0FNpew/s1600/karl_cullen.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Z4P6v6KucY/Vu6O2wRz7-I/AAAAAAAAFrc/wN4wZ4vtKtgjw3kxVnsD2VnH2th0FNpew/s320/karl_cullen.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Karl Cullen writes on his blog <a href="http://elephantdreaming.wordpress.com/2012/08/29/a-growing-stream-of-kids-and-dogs-pt-1/">http://elephantdreaming.wordpress.com/2012/08/29/a-growing-stream-of-kids-and-dogs-pt-1/</a> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />To your question as to whether the elephants at ENP are captive – of course they are. I don’t think anyone would say otherwise. The elephants at ENP spend at least 14 hours a day in their shelters on chains, and when off chains are restricted by the boundaries of the park and the proximity of other elephants, all of which is regulated by the mahouts. I often described my job as a prison guard, as that was often the role that had to be played. Any elephant not in the wild is a captive elephant. Simple as that, and I don’t think there is any other way to look at it. And this is not a criticism of anyone, or of ENP it should be clearly understood – but in all my time involved at the park it always surprised and sometimes frustrated me that people used words such as “freedom” and living a “natural life” in relation to the elephants at the park. The chains are hardly hidden and anyone can see the elephants chained up there by 5 in the afternoon and watch them get released before 8 in the morning, and yet there were many volunteers who sometimes stated that it wasn’t until later in the week that they even realized the elephants were chained. There is a strange inability in all of us to sometimes see what is right in front of us, once an idea has been planted in our minds. Particularly if it’s an idea that we dearly want to hold onto. This is a big stumbling block to elephant welfare – and many other issues of course – so I would say that one of the most important things we can do, which don’t take any time or money – is to simply allow ourselves to see what is actually right in front of us. To let go of any pre-conceived notions that act as a filter, and just see what is!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I wrote him in again in May 2013, but never had a reply, and later found out that tragically he had died, 38 years old, and his family dont want to have questions what happened<br /> Medical and health issues<br /><br />Apart from that it is obvious, with the present lack of professionalism and animal welfare in the parks management methods applied, to perform professional medical examination, foot care etc, I was asking myself, what the reason was for the extreme dry skin and foot problems were, and I think I have the answer; The mudpool.<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eQkCLaizEhc/VufSu6aufNI/AAAAAAAAFlo/czHyBQ4dsAEWAZJJViOgxTcgMsVVEVAsA/s1600/enp_lodge_mudpool.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eQkCLaizEhc/VufSu6aufNI/AAAAAAAAFlo/czHyBQ4dsAEWAZJJViOgxTcgMsVVEVAsA/s320/enp_lodge_mudpool.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Mud pools has been a popular component in elephant zoo enclosures lately. I also thought they were good until I learned about the skin problems they may cause sometimes: The mud acts like a sponge, when wet it can give moisture to the elephants skin, but when dry, it TAKES moisture from the elephants skin.<br /><br /><br />In the shadow in a rainforest, with a high relative air moisture, this is no issue, but an open, sun exposed and dry desert like area like the Elephant Nature Park, the mud dries in short time, and starts to dry out the skin.<br /><br /><br /> This can easily be seen at elephants at ENP, especially since they don’t follow wild elephants routines for bathing; early morning, and late evening, in order to give adventure for the visitors and volunteers, the elephants are taken several times to the river in bright sunlight, so the visitors can have something back from all the dollars they paid, and have their memory for life, when they were communicating and playing with an elephant.<br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /> <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fMvol2zZ4yQ/VufTDO0UPlI/AAAAAAAAFls/wUcnLgAHBOEitjVBgKZyRAvBjuv2lyJEQ/s1600/enp_river3.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fMvol2zZ4yQ/VufTDO0UPlI/AAAAAAAAFls/wUcnLgAHBOEitjVBgKZyRAvBjuv2lyJEQ/s320/enp_river3.jpg" /></a> <br /><br /><br />The green area on the other side of the river, and the mountains frame the elephants well, and make this look like a beautiful place for elephants, but the other , greener, side of the river doesn't belong to LEK, or ENP, the elephants are not aloud to that area, they remain the semi desert area, and its unknown if seeing those areas on distance really make them happier. But for the human eye, it may look like a paradise, since we enjoy a beautiful view, and sometimes we can enjoy mediocre art because it has a beautiful golden frame. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qpDbr5E8VHY/VufTIOMuAgI/AAAAAAAAFlw/6BHRxcRlrn8qJceMVaIMlI6hZuRgEBkkw/s1600/enp_river4.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qpDbr5E8VHY/VufTIOMuAgI/AAAAAAAAFlw/6BHRxcRlrn8qJceMVaIMlI6hZuRgEBkkw/s320/enp_river4.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yNplxBX3AFM/VufTNZKI8hI/AAAAAAAAFl0/enOs5xjixD0HloHgpp4XUwybR2vROLkEA/s1600/enp_river5.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yNplxBX3AFM/VufTNZKI8hI/AAAAAAAAFl0/enOs5xjixD0HloHgpp4XUwybR2vROLkEA/s320/enp_river5.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /> Many volunteers want to place their hands on the trunk and experience "understanding" of elephants,and feel the "love" from the exploited animal, after stuffing them full with tons of sugar rich fruits like bananas, pineapples oranges, melons etc. Many of those elephants seldom see a twig or branches, suffering from tooth problems and similar problems related to the false diet. On average, some 20% of Asian elephants may carry Tuberculosis, which may be the elephants gift back to the volonteers and their boyfriends, children and their families, after their loving abuse of "hang-around-elephants/mahout-for-a-week/make a change: stuff kilos of pineapples into elephants.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And after the bath some of the elephants are taken to the mud pool.<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W__1WL5Dvzk/VufYGIEYm_I/AAAAAAAAFmI/CMTpkNM0XUUQWrNjB0gfXb4p4F7bNLUFQ/s1600/enp_lek.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W__1WL5Dvzk/VufYGIEYm_I/AAAAAAAAFmI/CMTpkNM0XUUQWrNjB0gfXb4p4F7bNLUFQ/s320/enp_lek.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /> <br /> The elephants are following their instincts, and play in the mud, and apply it on their skin, where it dries up fast in the sunlight, resulting in dried up skin, which can be seen easier and clearer on tails, areas above the nails, and temporal areas. The picture of the tail below, illustrates this, it’s completely dried out.<br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RhVzrDWFWAo/VufZkFY3-nI/AAAAAAAAFmc/ytAMxcQlvIYyk0NNFQE09onAehbEzbRJQ/s1600/_DSC0011.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RhVzrDWFWAo/VufZkFY3-nI/AAAAAAAAFmc/ytAMxcQlvIYyk0NNFQE09onAehbEzbRJQ/s320/_DSC0011.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />In western zoos, tails like this most often get treatment; on the next picture I apply vegetable oil on a tail in order to help the skin. <br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eHNf5HqiB0o/VvHKOiT_uNI/AAAAAAAAFrw/uZNO40KQtJ0VREBLj2XqSxPAGJ9pVNieQ/s1600/elephant_tail.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eHNf5HqiB0o/VvHKOiT_uNI/AAAAAAAAFrw/uZNO40KQtJ0VREBLj2XqSxPAGJ9pVNieQ/s320/elephant_tail.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /> <br /> It may also be food related, and later I will discuss issues I experienced at ENP regarding the elephant’s diet.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The visitors and volunteers pay large sums to stay at ENP, and of course there’s a demand from them to have their memory for life, feeding, washing and picture elephants. Therefore, the elephants are washed several times daily, even if it dries out their skin.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The intensive bathing, and mud bathing after each bath, has an opposite effect on elephant’s skin than what laymen expect; it dries out the skin in a dry desert like environment as Elephant Nature Park.<br /><br /><br />Below is picture of pretty bad kept feet: Overgrown nails totally dried out skin on the feet, probably also fungus. This elephant was not a newcomer, and there’s no reason for an elephant to look like this, in a location that gets more than 10. 000 dollars a day, and tells the world that all other places are bad?<br /><br /><br /> <br /> <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yOngQTMa_ZA/VufK37fNbQI/AAAAAAAAFk0/tpa9VbIcDqEvmICc4L6p-MGZgRbQGmkFA/s1600/nails.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yOngQTMa_ZA/VufK37fNbQI/AAAAAAAAFk0/tpa9VbIcDqEvmICc4L6p-MGZgRbQGmkFA/s320/nails.jpg" /></a> <br /><br /><br />Click on the picture to enlarge <br /><br /><br />The picture shows extremely dry skin, and dry areas above the nails. The nails are extremely overgrown, so much so they are beginning to get deformed in shape, and most probably have abscess. The area above the nails is very sensitive, filled with sweat glands, if they get to dried up, and stop work; the result will often become an abscess, which later moves down in the foot and create large problems for the elephant.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here is an ENP elephant with fat untreated abscesses in ALL 4 feet:<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--aq69ttAfqA/VufLJHkTuVI/AAAAAAAAFk4/p8HcRRXRJC4hFpU2m6GW2cNsC4qOGFN4A/s1600/abcess3.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--aq69ttAfqA/VufLJHkTuVI/AAAAAAAAFk4/p8HcRRXRJC4hFpU2m6GW2cNsC4qOGFN4A/s320/abcess3.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-68_MCBSH06o/VufLLmX7VKI/AAAAAAAAFk8/RmCWquuG-gM9OCxgz17zMtPY8k1SjIJOA/s1600/abcess.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-68_MCBSH06o/VufLLmX7VKI/AAAAAAAAFk8/RmCWquuG-gM9OCxgz17zMtPY8k1SjIJOA/s320/abcess.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8n-XgbRkuNk/VufLNKh7sRI/AAAAAAAAFlA/BSuZYQgPrDIimZJUcBXkFZidPzi70osMQ/s1600/abcess2.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8n-XgbRkuNk/VufLNKh7sRI/AAAAAAAAFlA/BSuZYQgPrDIimZJUcBXkFZidPzi70osMQ/s320/abcess2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This elephant, I was told later, died within two years after my visit. If she would have been brought to the Elephant hospital in Lampang, Im sure they would have been able to cure her within six months.<br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8CP1X3OSnNQ/VupdW-FHiGI/AAAAAAAAFoU/biiOyTtYJH4ZwlZnFBRr3sUMwQoWSx5qQ/s1600/Boonmee_Antiseptic_2010_09_13-440x330.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8CP1X3OSnNQ/VupdW-FHiGI/AAAAAAAAFoU/biiOyTtYJH4ZwlZnFBRr3sUMwQoWSx5qQ/s320/Boonmee_Antiseptic_2010_09_13-440x330.jpg" /></a> <br /><br /><br />An elephant at the hospital in Lampang gets professional treatment for foot problems, by Thailands most famous elephant Veterinary, Dr Preecha Poungkam, who I know since my visit to the government elephant training center in Ngao, back in 1988, and visited him again in 2011, taking this picture in the Elephant hospital in Lampang. I was also happy to initiate the support of Mrs Soraida Salwala, Dr Preecha, and the elephant hospital in Lampang, during my years as chairman for the Swedish organisation "Defend the elephants". I have no idea why Lek Chailert don't "trust" this place...<br /><br />But one reason may be, that no elephant experts in Thailand, orThai veterinar or Thai officials, support the ENP elephant management. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3grJmzgAq0o/Vupt2ScRfvI/AAAAAAAAFok/x8pQT2FVslImAw10bx-u6GpWLIO2wQJLA/s1600/Sri_Prae_navann.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3grJmzgAq0o/Vupt2ScRfvI/AAAAAAAAFok/x8pQT2FVslImAw10bx-u6GpWLIO2wQJLA/s400/Sri_Prae_navann.jpg" /></a> <br /><br /><br /><br />This is a picture of the elephant Sri Prae and her newborn daughter Navann, born 2012-10-28.<br /><br /><br />Sri Prae arrived at ENP <a href="http://www.elephant.se/elephant_transfers.php?year=2010-11-03">2010-11-03</a> and there is no excuse whatsoever for the bad nails on the right font foot. Regarding the left frontfoot, as a previous mine accident elephant, she should have been provided not only normal foot care, but also intensive medical treatment, preferably at the Lampang elephant hospitals <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here I have filmed an elephant with foot abcess in Elephant Nature Park (ENP) in Thailand. Unsuccesful attempt to treat foot abcesses in all four feet on an elephant in an "Elephant sanctuary" in Thailand. Elephant hooks are officially prohibited, why the control of the elephants by the mahouts is radically reduced, resulting in almost no existing medical care of this, and other suffering elephants in the sanctuary.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="https://img1.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="https://img1.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The film 1 and 2 shows an unsuccessful attempt by a veterinarian to treat foot abscesses in all four feet on an elephant in the park. The mahout could help the vet in one second, but the mahout is not allowed to use an elephant hook…<br /><br /><br />Elephant hooks are officially prohibited in ENP, why the control of the elephants by the mahouts is radically reduced, resulting in almost no existing medical care of this, and other kind suffering elephants in the sanctuary.<br /><br /><br />On the film number 3 you can see how ignorant the elephant is of Lek's presence. This is not love, but simply disrespect<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><img src="https://www.blogger.com/video-thumbnail.g?contentId=4fa55ef00c5e7837&zx=ee19udqslly9" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />ENP elephants poor foot condition has also been discussed by Carol Buckley at http://www.elephantaidinternational.org/pdf/ENP_Report2011.pdf:<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />"The majority of the elephants had severely overgrown nails and pads. In some cases the pads were deeply decayed and nails had chronic splits. Most had deep decayed crevices between and under their toenails. The overgrowth is a result of lack of sufficient exercise to wear pads and nails." and "Elephants who spend all day standing in one area with little activity except for short trips to the river for the visitor bath interaction, have seriously overgrown and decaying nails and pads. <br /><br /><br />Due to a lack of basic foot care, the elephants share common conditions. With few exceptions, this group of elephants has serious foot health issues including: <br /> <br />grossly overgrown and decayed nails and pads <br />chronic nail splits severely overgrown, cracked and dry cuticles bacteria growth in the pads and nails and between the toes foot and nail <br />abscesses deep pitted and rotting pad cracks stones, <br />pieces of wood and metal objects embedded in the nails and pads <br />The advanced degree of the decay seen in the majority of feet trimmed is harmful to the elephants, causing pain and lameness. Left untreated, the foot infections can become systemic and even life threatening. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Source: <a href="http://www.elephantaidinternational.org/pdf/ENP_Report2011.pdf">Carol Buckley</a> <br /> Records and numbers of elephants<br /><br />On the positive side, Lek did let me get an insight in the records of elephants, which I went through, assisted by the American guide Jodie. But I started to feel alarmed, when I learned that the total turnover, as told to me, was over 70 elephants, that had lived on EEP .<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Contrary to other institutions who provide me records, for my website <a href="http://www.elephant.se/">www.elephant.se</a>, where I keep <a href="http://www.elephant.se/elephant_database.php">the largest elephant database in the world</a>, there was also, for some reason, reluctance to let me know where the elephants came from, when transferred to ENP, a lot of them were bought "from a camp further along the river", but Jodie didn't want me to know which?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Elephants were also transferred hence and forth between ENP and the neighbor camp, owned by Leks family, as well as with other camps around, and (cite):<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The Park has different means in helping elephants and one of them includes allowing owners to bring their elephant to the Park for free food and healthcare. <br /><br /><br /> This means that the exposure all the present elephants have had with other elephants dramatically increases risk of transfer of infections and diseases like Tuberculosis.<br /><br /><br /> <br /> Tuberculosis<br /><br />Theres an extreme physical interaction between ENPS elephants and the visitors and volunteers in the camp. A google search for: "elephant nature park" elephant kiss gets 53,600 results…<br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mz81eqJk-ew/VupXUcXLyPI/AAAAAAAAFoE/mb0jRPtYbF4hREEIVkFMkFCG28HYFBlWQ/s1600/ENP_elephant_kiss.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mz81eqJk-ew/VupXUcXLyPI/AAAAAAAAFoE/mb0jRPtYbF4hREEIVkFMkFCG28HYFBlWQ/s320/ENP_elephant_kiss.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /> <br /> <br /><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-65lFJRql0jk/Vuk9xeZOfgI/AAAAAAAAFnM/hU086ucnuK0Wa5AAmd6lHxEUvutaV7GcA/s1600/ENP_elephant_kissing.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-65lFJRql0jk/Vuk9xeZOfgI/AAAAAAAAFnM/hU086ucnuK0Wa5AAmd6lHxEUvutaV7GcA/s320/ENP_elephant_kissing.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i56Ep5kJScs/Vuk90bsiWQI/AAAAAAAAFnQ/b_rgyx-wayYdKYt9JOImD_3MJpIsGEoXw/s1600/ENP_elephant_kissing2.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i56Ep5kJScs/Vuk90bsiWQI/AAAAAAAAFnQ/b_rgyx-wayYdKYt9JOImD_3MJpIsGEoXw/s320/ENP_elephant_kissing2.jpg" /></a> <br /><br /><br /><br />The best trick was a sweet elephant that gave kisses. <br /><br /><br />She would press her trunk up against your cheek and give you a big wet smooch, complete with the kissing sound... (<a href="http://www.kellypurkey.com/its_me_kp/2011/07/thailand-elephant-nature-park.html">Source</a>) <br /><br /><br />Unfortunately many women wants to kiss what they like, and often try to make their children do the same. But this human behavior can be very unhealthy and risky.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />No information or warnings whatsoever is provided for the guests in regard to that many elephants suffer from lethal diseases, transferable to humans, of which TB or Tuberculosis is the most common.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />TB is airborne and spreads through tiny droplets in the air. Symptoms of TB: chronic weight loss, diminished appetite, chronic nasal discharge, coughing, and intolerance to exercise, and abnormal volumes of drinking water.<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />It is not known if ENPs elephants have been tested (by anyone) for Tuberculosis, but no official records state they were tested by officials. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />No official record of TB-testing<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />One of Thailand’s most well-known specialists on TB, Taweepoke Angkawanish, wrote me 20th of May 2013: “They used to ask me the possibility to do the test, but after that I have heard nothing.”<br /><br /><br />It is totally irresponsible to let foreign tourists play around with the elephants as they are allowed to do now at ENP, especially when the Camp owner has received an honorary degrees PhD in Sustainability and Conservation in 2002, and a PhD in Veterinary Science Rajabaht Chiang Mai University in 2006.<br /><br /><br /> How easily is TB spread between humans and elephants?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />From <a href="http://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/2011/03/articles/animals/other-animals/elephanthuman-transmission-of-tuberculosis/">http://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/2011/03/articles/animals/other-animals/elephanthuman-transmission-of-tuberculosis/</a><br /><br /><br />“At the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, USA, they took in two elephants that were known to be infected with TB in 2004. They were handled as per <a href="http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/publications_and_reports.shtml">USDA Guidelines for the Control of Tuberculosis in Elephants</a> (yes, such a document exists). One died of TB and the other was later released from isolation after treatment, according to the guidelines. In 2006, they took in eight more elephants from the same facility. All were considered high-risk for TB and were tested annually.<br /><br /><br />After being notified of the 2009 human TB test results, Public Health personnel launched an investigation. They eventually determined that 9/46 people whom they were able to contact had positive TB skin tests during the 2006-2009 periods, despite having negative tests before then (confirming that they were truly exposed during this period). The strange thing was that it wasn't only the people with prolonged, close contact who were infected. People who worked in the quarantined area in 2009 were significantly more likely to be positive, but of the 13 people that worked in the quarantine area, only one had close contact with any elephant. Furthermore, three of the people who were infected were administrators, working in a distance office building.”<br /><br /><br /> An elephant at Elephant Nature Park with eye conjunctivitis.<br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZcCC3cwvrg/VufO3CEluUI/AAAAAAAAFlc/WZDAy4aXcnM-I42PFHkyMIBzB90c1lgzQ/s1600/_DSC0012.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZcCC3cwvrg/VufO3CEluUI/AAAAAAAAFlc/WZDAy4aXcnM-I42PFHkyMIBzB90c1lgzQ/s320/_DSC0012.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Compared to an elephant trekking camp where the tourists sit in a saddle far away from the trunk, the interaction between tourists and elephants at Elephant Nature Park is much more intensive, and with large risks of transfer of Tuberculosis from elephants respiratory organs and trunk the tourists.<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sgIxgUW8z8A/Vuk-w5z8ioI/AAAAAAAAFnc/86BHSK7sQCMIShSA4_X9VZ0TdBaOEPpYQ/s1600/ENP_elephant_trunk.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sgIxgUW8z8A/Vuk-w5z8ioI/AAAAAAAAFnc/86BHSK7sQCMIShSA4_X9VZ0TdBaOEPpYQ/s320/ENP_elephant_trunk.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Since there is no tourist riding operations with the elephants at ENP, the hand feeding of the elephants is much more intensive in other places, with increased risks for transfer of diseases like Tuberculosis. Meanwhile, the veterinary treatment seem to be very poor, or almost absent.<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GOp_JrF_h6o/Vuk_JoiwWbI/AAAAAAAAFng/ZzwlDHDSuLE3SzL8WGTHSI76GVfNwV5ug/s1600/ENP_hand_feeding.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GOp_JrF_h6o/Vuk_JoiwWbI/AAAAAAAAFng/ZzwlDHDSuLE3SzL8WGTHSI76GVfNwV5ug/s320/ENP_hand_feeding.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br />Often they are served all fruits by a bar, by the westerners, standing on a ramp, having pictures taken. Not having an idea which various bacteria's the elephant may have in their trunk.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This was called elephant public feeding in Zoos, and was mostly prohibited during the seventies, of medical and behavior reasons.<br /><br /><br /> Elephant public feeding is a lot of fun for the feeders, but also creates wrong behavior patterns, for the elephants that in the wild search for food 16 hours/day. Elephants know how to eat themselves, they dont need to be hand fed. Both humans and elephants can carry diseases which are effectively spread by contact between the hands and the trunk, and the naive tourists.<br /><br /><br /> Again, Carol Buckley seem to agree with me on this point:<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />Recommendations: Mahouts and the public should be taught a healthy respect for elephants and visitors should not have direct contact with the elephants (<a href="http://www.elephantaidinternational.org/pdf/ENP_Report2011.pdf">Source</a>)<br /><br /><br /> "Love" instead of a medical program, and a doctor<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />When I was listening to a heavily tattooed american woman, acting as guide, an unusually clever visitor asked if one of the most invalid elephant was suffering, she said, <br /><br /><br />"Oh no, not anymore, she knows we love her", <br /><br />That elephant, on the picture below, belongs in a hospital, or even should even maybe be euthanized. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fy9MKgVUQDg/VufNUHHVXLI/AAAAAAAAFlQ/xbTWHfeC2c0zO1D0k2yM-8LCq-gy2aQZA/s1600/enp_jodi.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fy9MKgVUQDg/VufNUHHVXLI/AAAAAAAAFlQ/xbTWHfeC2c0zO1D0k2yM-8LCq-gy2aQZA/s320/enp_jodi.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br />Pain and suffering, but no hospital doctor<br /><br /><br /> I ask myself if any of the elephants gets any traditional pain-killing treatment? Elephants with broken legs and hips, not getting qualified veterinary treatment, should at least get the comfort of pain-killers, which are not too expensive... But the guide didn't mention anything about this, only "love". Whatever an old, suffering elephant understands from that, being exhibited for thousands of people every week, in order to bring an income to the owner...<br /><br /><br /> Handicapped, malnutritioned, suffering elephants that had different kind of accidents, are more valuable, since the visitor "feel" more when then they look at them. An angry, healthy elephant that doesn't want to be kissed is not as attractive as a suffering one, that maybe would have been euthanized in a zoo. People enjoy looking on suffering animals especially if they can "help" those animals. To strengthen their identity, they want to believe that they are helping.<br /><br /><br /> <br /> Trade in disabled elephants<br /><br /><br /> Most populair sanctuaries buy or rent their handicapped elephants, but the term "buy" is not used, those elephants are always referred to as "rescued". (Political labels again...)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Such elephants are perfect for sanctuaries, often handicapped, weak, in terrible shape, they dont display a normal healthy elephant behavior.<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br />Often being more or less powerless, they are seldom aggressive, so just about anyone can approach them without a hook and have an experience of looking into their mind, understanding them, and other bullshit people think they are experiencing when they look deep into the eye of a suffering elephant, whos pain could be released with euthanasia. Such an elephant is a good investment<br /><br /><br /> In any case, elephants with extreme medical problems, should be taken care of by qualified professionals with access to modern medical clinic, with all needed tools to help the suffering elephants, who are in fact, patients. Not by amateurs, who trade, exploit and exhibit them in order to fill their own bank account from oversee paying visitors. <br /><br /><br /> <br /> Diet and food issues<br /><br /><br /> Apart from this, elephants are not really fruit-eaters, and all those amounts of sugar, is not healthy, what they need is branches, that's why they have so large molars. Most Zoos feed plenty of branches today, while some circuses may still ignore the elephants need for wood with cellulose, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tannin">Tannin</a> and other essential elements elephants need from branches.<br /><br /><br /> I asked Lek why she didn't supply the basic food for her elephants, since I didn't see one single branch during my stay, and her answer was that it was too expensive for her to get. This could have been the answer you would expect from a small, poor European circus, but an organisation that has a daily income of over 10. 000 dollars, should be able to spend some on the food for the animals generating this income? <br /><br /><br /> When I went though the records of elephants with guide, she said that the latest death, an older female, died because of tooth replacement problems, something that is directly linked to when captive elephants doesn't get enough branches.<br /><br /><br /> <br /> <br /><br /><br />Molar<br /><br />Molar Appearance<br /><br />Molar Loss <br /><br /><br />I <br /><br />birth <br /><br />2 years <br /><br /><br />II <br /><br />birth <br /><br />6 years <br /><br /><br />III <br /><br />1 year <br /><br />13-15 years <br /><br /><br />IV <br /><br />6 years <br /><br />28 years <br /><br /><br />V <br /><br />18 years <br /><br />43 years <br /><br /><br />VI <br /><br />30 years <br /><br />65+ years <br /><br /><br /><br />Elephants normally change their molars six times during their lifetime, when older molar gets worn-out, they get replaced horizontally from new ones. When the last supplement gets worn-out, they die out of starvation. (The "natural" dead-cause of almost all herbivoures, which doesnt fall prey to predators.) In some cases, the replacement is difficult, and the molar has to be removed. Increased daily supplement of branches over several months may solve the problem, othervise the molar has to be removed by a Vet. The removal of an elephant's molar tooth is always a difficult surgical undertaking, although it has been performed successfully on numerous occasions - From <a href="http://www.elephant.se/molar.php">my website www.elephant.se</a><br /><br /><br /> So, although at least one elephant had already died because of tooth problems related to eating a lot of soft fruits, but not chewing any strong branches, still the park couldn't "afford" branches...<br /><br /><br /> Leks response<br /><br /><br /> As for the treatment of the elephant with abscesses, she seemed concerned, but not too much. She explained that she can't use hooks because if she would, her funding's would rapidly decrease. Which means that elephant had to suffer, in order to make her richer. Not OK to me...<br /><br /><br /> On my question why she didn't send the most severe suffering elephants to an elephant hospital (there are several high-standard elephant hospitals, with very qualified veterinarians, in Lampang in Thailand) she replied that she didn't trust them. She also said that she had been thinking of establishing her own hospital on the grounds, on distance from the visitors, where mahouts could work with hooks. But I got the feeling this was not an immediate next step. <br /><br /><br /> Probably she will spend more of her money on buying more elephants instead, which will bring more income, rather than invest in some quarters where the elephants could get adequate, professional, medical aid. <br /><br /><br /> And concentrate her energy on making life more difficult for other elephant camps in Thailand.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A that time, I was still not so critical, but frustrated, and felt bad about some of her elephants.<br /><br />Our conversation ended at a point when she accepted to buy a power washer, and let me show her mahouts how to use it for daily shower of the elephants, in order to improve hygiene and skin condition. (No, its not enough for them to stand in the river some ten minutes while volunteers throw buckets of water on them, a power washer is used in almost all Zoos today, in order to wash the elephants and rub their skin, a modern way of doing the classical mahout work, rubbing the skin with coconut shells for half an hour.)<br /><br /><br /> She told me she would call me, once it was bought, and I was waiting three days in Chiang Mai, but in the end she never bought one. She let me waste three days, making me believe her lies.<br /><br /><br /> That was the breaking point when I realized that she was not a stupid, ignorant and naive person, she's smart, and she can lie anyone in the eyes without concern, and make them believe that her elephants live some sort of paradise. And she obviously doesn't spend one penny if she don't have too, and if the visitors doesn't see that the elephants are poorly managed, she don't care if the elephants are suffering, or if she is hazarding their physical health, or her visitors safety . <br /><br /><br /> She may actually be one of the worst example of the industry she's criticizing so much. <br /><br /><br /> Something to keep in mind for the newcomers, young western people who copy her concept and establish their own elephant sanctuaries, reaching fame in short time, and getting donations from all over the world.<br /><br /><br /> Lately, smuggle of baby elephants from Burma has been an issue in Thailand. Lek accuses many other camps from buying those elephants, according to Lek, kidnapped from their mothers and tortured with something she calls Phajaan. Visitors to the park must see this film before they visit the elephants, and they are told how all elephants are trained with this method. Afterwards, some 50% sign a sponsorship, and by this, she increases her income every day, by showing this film.<br /><br /><br />Read what Belynda Zolotto has found out about this "documentation" film.<br /><br /><br /><br />DON'T BE FOOLED BY EMOTIVE ANTI-ELEPHANT TOURISM PROPAGANDA - PHAJAAN OR CRUSH <br /><br /><br />There are organisations and people out there that want you to believe and think there are 100's of crush phajaan torture training videos representing the cruel way in which ALL #elephants are trained in Thailand (wild and domesticated). I spent 3 days actually viewing them (it was difficult) and what I found was the SAME footage used in ALL those different videos. <br /><br /><br />The footage is filmed in the remote highlands of northern Thailand, west of the village Mae Jaem. Journos, photographers, PeTA and other interested parties were invited to witness this brutal centuries old ritual called 'crush' or 'phajaan'. This was organised by ENP (named Elephant Heaven at the time) in 2002. <br /><br /><br />How this was organised and planned in the first place should make one wonder. <br /><br /><br />A young female and a young male captured from the wild were put through this inhumane practice on separate days while the Westerners looked on documenting, photographing, and filming it - ENP & PeTA's emotive campaign to stop the traditional breaking of the wild elephant's spirit begins. You watch this video that looks disgustingly sickening and so blatantly cruel and downright torturous and you cant believe what you are viewing. Your heart aches (as did mine) for the poor wild young elephants that are and have gone through this. It has to stop! I 100% agree. <br /><br /><br />The video is going viral - our human emotion plays a big part, your emotions are outraged. The feeling one got from seeing this disgusting video, becomes a need to ensure your friends see it and feel what you felt. Everyone has to know about this cruelty that is inflicted on these young wild elephants, so you share and they share this new found knowledge about #crush/phajaan and ALL those wild elephants now working in tourism. <br /><br /><br />People write about it, people are talking about it, more videos are created using the footage, more photos are released, screenshots are taken from the videos to create posters etc all from that couple of days in 2002. <br /><br /><br />Now the Chinese whispers have set in - emotive headlines and photos, and general lack of peoples willingness to actually read detail or double check facts, because what they see and feel for some reason doesn't need any further investigation. The original information, all of a sudden is placed/branded on ALL and EVERY elephant in Thailand because in order to train an elephant it has been through this. <br /><br /><br />WRONG! So now from what began in 2002 about the phajaan/crush ritual for breaking the spirits of wild captured elephants to become submissive to humans in order for them to be trained has now been morphed into ALL and EVERY single elephant you see in Thailand. Especially if they are used for riding and painting and doing shows. This phajaan/crush technique is not necessary for domesticated elephants. <br /><br /><br />I have also noticed in the last 6 months some of the ppl who once used the words ALL and EVERY are now using the word "MOST". Lots of people realize if you see ALL and EVERY its a red flag and people are calling them out on it. <br /><br /><br />Not one person on this planet can use those words about training of Thai elephants, not an expert and certainly not a keyboard warrior. <br /><br /><br />The misinformed are misinforming others and now this morphed information has morphed into a campaign about anti elephant tourism. <br /><br /><br />Those involved in the beginning when it was about stopping the ancient cruel practice of breaking a wild elephants spirit will NEVER admit or try to clarify this because it has overtaken and helped their 2002 original campaign. <br /><br /><br />The Thai wild population depends on the Thai domesticated population to keep this species from becoming extinct - destroy elephant tourism, then one is fast tracking them into extinction. <br /><br /><br />Break it down and its as simple as that! <br /><br /><br />Again, I state, this crush/phajaan technique is not necessary for domesticated elephants. <br /><br /><br />So for those who say I need to do "research" about what really goes on with domesticated elephants in Thailand, and that Im ignorant or blinded by brainwashing and or that I choose not to see the truth; and that I should watch ALL those videos about phajaan/crush - think again and further your own research, but you will need to dig deep and sift through ALL that propaganda. <br /><br /><br />I challenge you to research the timeline of how the word spread about the "training" of Thailand's domesticated elephants and show me ALL those videos of different incidences of the breaking of young elephant's spirits that makes it "evidence" that this happens to ALL or even MOST.<br /><br /><br />The word 'phajaan' means divorce/separation. The true phajaan ceremony is used to give blessing and strength to the party/parties involved. Examples would be a married couple divorcing and want a ceremony to pray for strength to get through it; or a child leaving home to go and live far away will be separated from his or her's family; or an animal being separated from its mother; or a child going off to school. - Belynda Zolotto, 2016<br /><br /><br />Phajaan does not mean 'crush' or 'training' - it's a ceremony.<br /> <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wbg0EuLmh3Q/Vupz5w75ZEI/AAAAAAAAFo4/Wf0XKSEtyH0jJRUPnvh2lC2I19f8H9jbQ/s1600/filmteam.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wbg0EuLmh3Q/Vupz5w75ZEI/AAAAAAAAFo4/Wf0XKSEtyH0jJRUPnvh2lC2I19f8H9jbQ/s320/filmteam.jpg" /></a> <br /><br /><br /><br />On the picture, is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tgorski">Tim Gorski</a>.behind Sangduen, Gorski is said to have made the film about Paajan. To the right of Lek, is the filmer Adam Bromley, who died in April 2013. Was Bromley maybe a Tuberculosis victim? Diana Edelman writes on <a href="http://www.dtravelsround.com/2013/04/18/ode-friend/">http://www.dtravelsround.com/2013/04/18/ode-friend/</a><br /><br />“Then, over the next few months, more signs.“I’ve been coughing up blood lately,” he says over a cigarette. “I need to stop smoking. My lungs hurt.”He even leaves one morning to go to the doctor, but decides to return to the office because the line is too long. “I have too much to do for work, I don’t want to wait in line for this,” he says, brushing off the urgency.“ <br /><br /><br />A film, done by Lek herself? Numerous people have told me you can hear Leks voice on the film..<br /><br />Was she present when the film was shot, not interrupting what was going on? And today claiming this is whats going on everywhere in Thailand, blaming innocent persons (the mahouts in Thailand) for something they don't even know they are accused for, and can defend themselves from?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Why is she doing that? And why did she participate in fim where mahouts are instructed to abuse an elephant? I guess there may be one possible option.<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5mUnLv4cW2s/VuvPQkR58rI/AAAAAAAAFqs/pIwaST-IBNkxYKPTxQL_O0KdEqz0h-3sg/s1600/USCurrency_Federal_Reserve.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5mUnLv4cW2s/VuvPQkR58rI/AAAAAAAAFqs/pIwaST-IBNkxYKPTxQL_O0KdEqz0h-3sg/s320/USCurrency_Federal_Reserve.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Lek Chailert and PETA were in court with the Thai government over the Phajaan video. She's not allowed to sell the DVD but can take a donation as payment or something. And some 50% of her visitors pay cash and becomes regulair donators to her business company, after seeing the film.<br /> Threat against species conservation<br /><br />Through Leks ongoing critic against elephant ridings, performed by the <a href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.com/2011/11/interview-with-veteran-mahout-mew.html">Kui mahouts</a> in <a href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.com/2011/11/ban-ta-klang-elephant-village-surin.html">Baan Ta Klang</a>, and private elephant owners from <a href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.com/2011/11/surin-in-thailand.html">Surin</a>, who supply the elephants camps all over Thailand with riding elephants, she is also a threat against species conservation. If the Kui would loose their income from their elephants, they will most probably give up the breeding of elephants in Surin.<br /><br /><br /> An animal rights activist, who dream about stopping elephant ridings in Thailand, may as well take an AK-47 and shoot one third of Thailands elephants, because the consequence would in both cases reduce the elephant population in Thailand.<br /><br /><br /> Lek has joined the WSPCAs movement to stop elephant riding in Thailand. If this succeed, we will end up with some "sanctuaries" exploiting crippled elephants that naive people stuff tons of fruits into, while cative elephant breeding will become a memory from the past, resulting in a rapid local decline of the species. <br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />18th of March 2016: "Success! Over 100 travel companies worldwide commit to stop elephant rides and shows" <a href="http://www.worldanimalprotection.org.uk/news/success-over-100-travel-companies-worldwide-commit-stop-elephant-rides-and-shows">World Animal Protection "DONATE HERE!" Company</a><br /><br /><br />I have also heard, that the "computer" at ENP has been the source of some trip advisor bad reviews for her competitors. tA has had to remove some bad reviews on their competitors, because it was source back to an ENP computer/ip address. (Anon)<br /> Smuggled elephants from Burma...<br /><br />Contrary to what Lek Chailert and her boyfriend Darrik Thomson tells about elephant babies being smuggled in from Burma, and tortured, except for a few exceptions, all elephant babies in Thailand are captive born, a result from a lot of devoted work, and professional knowledge. The Kui people has a blooming captive breeding of elephants in Surin, but only as long as they get an income from their work. Its they who provide the next generation of elephants in Thailand. If their income would be taken away, chances are large that they would reduce, or stop their breeding of elephants, which would be the opposite what nature conservation is working for, in a situation where every single new born elephants counts.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />But it seems that in reality, she is among the few that are in possession of a smuggled Burmese elephant, according to my source: “far mai or far sai . Something like that. Purchased from Surin as a baby after it was purchased from Burma by people in Surin”.<br /><br /><br /> <br /> <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I1ySu9kUXd0/VuqZUdV_pkI/AAAAAAAAFpY/2cPIFb8Zj9kyTG5CQm5UAS0mk4K2sMsbA/s1600/faa_sai_chasing_mahout.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I1ySu9kUXd0/VuqZUdV_pkI/AAAAAAAAFpY/2cPIFb8Zj9kyTG5CQm5UAS0mk4K2sMsbA/s320/faa_sai_chasing_mahout.jpg" /></a> <br /><br /><br />Faa Sai chasing a mahout on the ENP grounds. <br /><br /><br />About a week later, at the 26th of March, in Lampang, I had a meeting with three elephant experts, working in Thailand. We discussed different elephant issues in general, as well as the problems with Tuberculosis. At the end of the discussion Lek Chailert and ENP became a subject, and I was asked about mine impressions from the camp. <br /><br /><br /><br /> I was honest, and told about my anger and how disappointed I became over Leks reactons. I surprised myself with saying: <br /><br /><br />“I think some of the elephants should be confiscated from Lek. <br />In Europe, they would have been, long time ago.”<br /><br />In frustration, I wrote a blog article with the title: <a href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.com/2011/12/elephants-suffers-in-sanctuaries-effect.html">Can elephants suffer in elephant sanctuaries, as an effect of volonteers exploit and opinions?</a> This lead to some critical voices from animal rights activistst, but since I didn't point out ENP, there were no reactions from Lek & Co.<br /><br /><br /><br /> In 2012 I contacted Lek:<br /><br />The 20th of October 2012, I contacted Lek Chailert through Facebook and asked her some questions, but had no real answers:<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />Dan Albert Koehl to Lek Chailert:<br /><br /><br />I wish we would have talked more, I wish I could understand you. I wish I would feel safe that whatever you do is not for the money, but something you truly believe in.<br /><br /><br />Lek Chailert:<br /><br /><br />Dan, What I do I never good to tell and I am not good for self promote. But I believed what my heart tells me, I believed what I do. My life it for animal, that I stay for that. My heart have no limit too love them, my heart it no boundary for animal. Since I work I have so much suffer from human who attacked me for some reason, but animal never do to me. They not want much from me only they just want plenty love and care, which is not too hard for me to do at all. They are the reason I want to stay for the long life to protect them .I have no children , why I need money for , I have not even my own house to stay , Park is my house and my happiness. I don't need no more. Thanks for understanding. Much love<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />22 nd October 2012: Dan Albert Koehl to Lek Chailert:<br /><br /><br />I believe you in this. Even though I became very angry when I visited you, I had problems being angry, because you are such a nice, wonderful person. And I do know you do so many good things, more than a normal person will ever do. Still, it seems that some things regarding your elephants, and their health and well being, get subordinate to a philosophy and a trend that comes from Animal Rights People in the west. Their hearts are not pure and clean, they make money on exploiting suffering animals and people’s feelings. A lot of that money comes into your pockets. At the same time, some of your elephants may need an intensive care which cannot be combined with the dreams of animal rights activists’ philosophy. Whenever we take care of an animal we must be professionals, and give it the best care possible, regardless of the fact, that laymen may be critical. I believe you must take this responsibility, even if the price will be that some people, who don’t know anything about elephants, will be angry. Your elephants deserve also a professional care, not just love on words, and love, in terms what stupid people can understand. Your elephants ARE your children. Children cannot just grow up with ice cream and chocolate. They must be well cared for, educated, etc. You know what I mean. I can see in your eyes that you are a very intelligent woman. How can you improve the care of your elephants, so they also get a scientific level of management, and that no professional can say that your elephants have bad skin, bad feet, and get wrong food? Those are very basic components in animal care. Laymen who come to visit you, don’t see this, they only hear the word LOVE. But you have money and resources to see to that your elephants look better than they do on a bad kept, poor circus. Why not start with this? It will do your heart good. You already know things are not OK, imagine how well you will feel, if you decide to run your place like YOU always wanted to take care of animals, not how romantic, naive people from overseas want you to run it? And I know that after all years, you know what your children need? Not just LOVE, but also professional care? I hope to convince you to look in your heart, and find the answer to this. OR even better, in your brain.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />- But Lek never answered me on those questions... it’s the last time I heard from her, later she closed or Facebook friendship. <br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />Leks present partner is Darrik Thomson, from Canada, who introduced himself as an animal rights activist, during my visit to ENP in 2011.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I had several dialogues with Darrik Thomson during 2013, but he also never gave an answer on my questions and critic of ENPs elephant management, <br /><br /><br /> Once, when he made a Facebook share with an elephant baby happily laying in the sea, he made the classical animal rights activist remarks reg the elephant, mother had been killed, smuggled from Burma, went thorugh Phajaan, and now was abused in tourisms industry, the common propaganda intended to make people think they see something else than what they see on the picture, a happy, playing elephant baby.<br /><br /><br /> I made some comments that this was not true, and Darrik joined the Facebook chat, and called me an elephant abuser. I replied by posting links to pictures I had taken at ENP, with an elephant with abcesses in all four feet. Heres the dialogue:<br /><br /><br /> Dan Albert Koehl during my 40 years, that you refer to as abuse, I would never have seen this, neglected it, and let an elephant suffer like this. Never, and no collegue of mine neither.<br /><br /><br /> Darrick Thomson We see this because this is how we received them you idiot !<br /><br /><br /> Darrick Thomson We are a sanctuary, a retreat from abuse ! WE receive abused elephants ! and thank you for that..this is your work !<br /><br /><br /> Darrick Thomson Are you so proud of this ?!<br /><br /><br /> Darrick Thomson Arrogance of a highly limited species when there is no compassion !<br /><br /><br /> Darrick Thomson just googled 'dan albert kohl' n got douchebag link..funny! Must be fan of CITES corruption n so much details, soon to be published<br /><br /><br /> Darrick Thomson i am so proud to be an animal rights activist ! It is the best work that is happening in this world right now ! Everything turns on this dime ! Everything !<br /><br /><br /> Darrick Thomson I show my workers how to turn 1000 pounds on a pebble..AR people, we are this pebble, and the world is ours !<br /><br /><br /> Dan Albert Koehl at least I trained a number of elephants which the person who pretend to be expert on the topic, never did. And at least I treated and cured elephants with abcesses in their feet. Whatever I love is really not within your knowledge of reference.<br /><br /><br /> Dan Albert Koehl you are googling the wrong name. spelling...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />My last communication with anyone from ENP was in 9th of May 2013, when I asked Leks partner Darrik if they had tested their elephants, <br /><br /><br /><br />Dan Albert Koehl:<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />Im interested to hear about your Tuberculosis situation at ENP. <br /><br /><br /><br />1. Did you check all your elephants? <br /><br /><br /><br />2. With which method? <br /><br /><br /><br />3. Which veterinary or university did it? <br /><br /><br /><br />4. What was the eventual outcome? <br /><br /><br /><br />5. Can the documents be downloaded somewhere, are they publicly official? <br /><br /><br /><br />6. What measurements has been taken since the tests and the analyzed material?<br /><br /><br /><br />7. Can you guarantee your visitors health? <br /><br /><br /><br />8. What actions has been taken? <br /><br /><br /><br />9. Do you feel that it is important to inform the visitors to your camp about Tuberculosis and the risks when they have interaction with the elephants, or just stay at your camp? <br /><br /><br /><br />10. Which test have you done with your staff, mahouts and others regarding Tuberculosis?<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /> He avoided the questions, started to become rather unpolite, and blocked me from ENPs Facebook and some other places. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Thomson’s words below illustrates his replies very well:<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I smile on you and I am sorry that you can only live out if that small space of hatred in your heart for 'animal rights' people. Almost everything you say is a twist on truth. Partial truths perverted for personal gains and still I smile. I am interested in your knowledge of our 'finances’. I wish that we had such success but as it is we move forward as we can..As for Cambodia, we paid nothing for that prospect and land use..We own nothing there but are just trying to secure a 'wild space for ele's and it is actually a beautiful space. I thought you would be happy, but once a critic always a critic. Our ele's there free roam grasses and trees and everything natural to them so your problem is?? And I don't actually care what your problem is because then it would seem like I care about your opinion. Luck t ya brother.<br /><br /><br />All of a sudden the statement below was to read on ENPs website:<br /><br /><br />2013-05-22: Addressing false claims — a statement from Sangduen “Lek” Chailert on behalf of Elephant Nature Park <a href="http://www.saveelephant.org/blog/addressing-false-claims-a-statement-from-sangduen-lek-chailert-on-behalf-of-elephant-nature-park/">http://www.saveelephant.org/blog/addressing-false-claims-a-statement-from-sangduen-lek-chailert-on-behalf-of-elephant-nature-park/</a> “Tuberculosis is a concern at our park, however none of our elephants has the disease. We open our park to university and international veterinarians and the government to regularly test our elephants for TB. Should we even suspect an elephant to have TB, the elephant would immediately go into isolation. Additionally, should any cases of TB be reported, it would be made public.”<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Apart from that is doesn't really help to isolate an elephant, that most probably spread TB to the rest of the group, this gives a tragic insight in the owners limited knowledge in the lethal disease TB.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />After my unsuccessful attempt to communicate with the owners, I started to make some research about the Parks economy, and what critics had to say, and try to make a history timeline for Lek and ENP.<br /><br /><br /> <br /> Timeline<br /><br /><br />From ENP website:<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />“Sangduen "Lek" Chailert was born in 1962 in the small hill tribe village of Baan Lao, two hours north of Chiang Mai. Lek received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Chiang Mai University and from there moved into working in the elephant tourist industry.”<br /> 1992<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Lek claims that she, 30 years old, bought her first elephant, Mae Perm, in 1992. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />But where was Mae Perm housed until 1996? <br /><br /><br /> <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=1253">http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=1253</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Lek Chailert seems to have the oldest elephants in the world breaking records of all documented old elephants in the whole world, by far: “At age 89 (2013), <a href="http://www.elephantnaturepark.org/herd/maeperm.htm">Mae Perm</a> is still fully enjoying a well-deserved peaceful life at the park.” <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ksp8LuHEKKU/VuqV4UOgwMI/AAAAAAAAFpM/aDgqfCFdXM0p47-9EL09Fy1tWl43YlB0A/s1600/Mae_perm.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ksp8LuHEKKU/VuqV4UOgwMI/AAAAAAAAFpM/aDgqfCFdXM0p47-9EL09Fy1tWl43YlB0A/s320/Mae_perm.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It’s also extraordinary, that this elephant, being the oldest elephants on earth (which is of course not true!) , looks like she is in her fifties. Remarkable, but maybe there’s a fountain of youth at ENP?<br /><br /><br />Regarding Mae Perm, she doesn't look that old, she is in extremely good condition, and so would have had a pretty good life, so rescued from? (Anon)<br /> 1995-1996<br /><br /><br />One source says:<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br />“She operated the tour company at that time, Gems Travel at the night bazaar in Chiang Mai.<br /><br /><br /> On Wikipedia is written: Lek and her husband Adam founded Elephant Nature Park in 1996.<br /><br /><br /> But it seems, in reality that she founded Elephant Heaven Nature Park 1996, together with her family who was, and still is, involved in this camp, which is today known as her neighbor camp, now named Mae Teang elephant camp,<br /><br /><br /> <br /> 1997-2001<br /><br /><br /><br />Later with boyfriend Paitoon, who changed his name to Poppol and is present owner of the restaurant Huan Hoy Kaew, on the way to Doi Suthep, she owned the elephant camp Jungle Raft. She had an Irish boyfriend later, and the Irish guy helped her a lot.<br />Later, until she found her present place, she started to use the Internet. On her website she had a shop; she sold t-shirts, elephant paintings, food for elephants, first aid for elephant, and the “Million dollar Baht for ultrasound donation project”. She collected money from people, without doing the things she said she would do for the money. <br />But later she destroyed every evidence”<br /><br />Elephant riding<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />For a number of years Lek Chalert rented or bought, healthy elephants used as tourist riding elephants. But she had problems to compete with larger camps, who had been in the business longer.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-woCxKW_os/Vu53Cfi7lHI/AAAAAAAAFrM/ZUG6XXKJoPcxbbjrEPbNx-wk9Z60RZXqg/s1600/ENP_elephants_being_ridden.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-woCxKW_os/Vu53Cfi7lHI/AAAAAAAAFrM/ZUG6XXKJoPcxbbjrEPbNx-wk9Z60RZXqg/s320/ENP_elephants_being_ridden.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Charles Bagley was there at the beginning when the people rode elephants. In fact him and his wife rode some elephants from central Thailand to Leks Not sure where they started the journey but it took like 2 months or something. Cant remember the details and then they lived at the park for a while like 2 years or something and people who came always rode the elephants. <br /><br /><br />The only reason they dont have rides anymore is because the safety aspect would have become difficult and then she got involved with the ARS. (Anon)<br /> 2001<br /><br /><br />Scott Murray writes in January 2001 on http://www.scottmurray.com/maetang_elephant_park.htm<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />“The park was started five years ago by the five Chailert sisters: their aim being to stop the elephants from being used for logging and to get them off of the streets of the cities. They took a simple rice paddy and transformed it into a beautiful park, which is now home to fortythree elephants and their handlers. The mahouts sleep in bamboo huts or hammocks besides the elephants.” <br /><br /> 2003<br /><br /><br />Lek bought the new land for The Elephant Nature Park in 2003. <br /><br />On Wikipedia is written about Elephant Heaven Nature Park:<br /><br /><br />This location was closed in 2003 as the Elephant Nature Park opened.<br /> 2006<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5630/1006/400/ed%20129.0.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5630/1006/400/ed%20129.0.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Lek Chailert had no problem with tourists riding on elephants, as seen on this picture with a young woman, who is described as Thailands only female mahout, when staying on Elephant Nature Park during two weeks. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Along with some Brits, Canadians, a few too many Americans, Kate and I are spending 2 weeks building muck holes, shoving up to 60 kilos of pineapples into that trunk, and generally being holier than thou animal friendly crusaders fighting for the good of the common Asian elephant. Our biggest contribution though is money, 60 kilos is a lot of pineapple to purchase, but also we are here to spread the word and that's what I'm doing now. So rich foreigners who like to read blogs, come to Northern Thailand and visit this elephant nature park. If you can't make it this year, make sure you're all superior at the next dinner party when someone brags about riding an elephant. (Elephant woman, from the blog<br /><br /><a href="http://overlandeddy.blogspot.com/2006/02/elephant-woman.html">The opposite end of travelling</a> by <a href="http://overlandeddy.blogspot.com/2006/02/elephant-woman.html">Overland eddy from Australia</a>)<br /><br />She was also still working as Travel agent in 2006:<br /><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9mtbo4C7gVY/Vu5mwej_VeI/AAAAAAAAFq8/L7ikxIxMsecLv_6ITnBjuiqyfqfcooFnQ/s1600/lek_Chailert_Travel_agent_in_2006.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9mtbo4C7gVY/Vu5mwej_VeI/AAAAAAAAFq8/L7ikxIxMsecLv_6ITnBjuiqyfqfcooFnQ/s320/lek_Chailert_Travel_agent_in_2006.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> 2007<br /><br />Gem travel were involved till at least 2007.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />An elephant baby was separated from its mother and bought to Elephant nature Park, only some 48 hours after birth. She died after two weeks, traumatized and out of anorexia. This was exposed for some time on ENP website, and later removed.<br /> 2009<br /><br /> The death of Max<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />There are two stories of Max death, the official story told in a ENP newsletter 2009:<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><a href="http://elephantnaturefoundation.org/nl/2009-04/newsletter.htm">http://elephantnaturefoundation.org/nl/2009-04/newsletter.htm</a><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />“As was expected, Max did lay down that night. In the morning he tried valiantly to get up on his feet, but his legs just didn't have the strength to do what he wanted them to do. We just couldn't put him through the indignity of being pulled up by the crane yet again, knowing how much pain he was in when standing and knowing when he laid down again we would be back in the same predicament.”<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />This story in poetic terms, presenting the death of a beloved elephant, is challenged by a second:<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br />“I believe they (vets from TECC) anesthetized him because he had a long term infection in his tusk socket and he was down. and they went to put the retro activating agent in him (after they had treated the infection and the volunteers that were present protested as they said he should wake up naturally and the vets were intimidated and so did not dare to cross the angry visitors. He was under to long and ended up dying i guessed they used a heavy dose as he was a large bull.”<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />Tong Tae<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />From <a href="http://elephantnaturefoundation.org/go/entry1248">http://elephantnaturefoundation.org/go/entry1248</a> ENPs story regarding Tong Tae: <br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br />“But much to our surprise, a project with similar intentions sprung up in a nearby Karen village. Before our project could get up and running, Tong Taes owners decided to join with the other project which is now known as the Elephant Vet Aid Outpost (EVAO). As the months passed we received bits of information from various individuals regarding Tong Tae; he had been separated from his mother, his training had gone badly and he was now very aggressive but he was also afraid of everything. We felt so sad hearing about Tong Tae, but there wasn’t anything we could do- the owners had made their decision..<br /><br />Finally on July 26th 2010 the owner called us and said that he would like to join our Journey to Freedom Project. We were so happy to hear this, but the happiness was short lived as on July 28th he called back to cancel. His reason for this was that he felt that if Tong Tae stayed with us he would become spoiled and uncontrollable because of the freedom that he would have. The owner felt that he would forget what he had learned (sadly, we have heard this in the past from other owners). After that we didn’t hear much about Tong Tae until our staff saw him chained on the side of the road with a banner from the EVAO, obviously trying to attract business. He looked hungry and stressed and had lost a lot of weight since we had last seen him, it was a really depressing sight. The next time a group of volunteers went to our Journey to Freedom Project and saw Tong Tae out on the road again; our staff stopped and asked the owners if it was ok to bring food for him.”<br />Finally on July 26th 2010 the owner called us and said that he would like to join our Journey to Freedom Project. We were so happy to hear this, but the happiness was short lived as on July 28th he called back to cancel. His reason for this was that he felt that if Tong Tae stayed with us he would become spoiled and uncontrollable because of the freedom that he would have. The owner felt that he would forget what he had learned (sadly, we have heard this in the past from other owners). After that we didn’t hear much about Tong Tae until our staff saw him chained on the side of the road with a banner from the EVAO, obviously trying to attract business. He looked hungry and stressed and had lost a lot of weight since we had last seen him, it was a really depressing sight. The next time a group of volunteers went to our Journey to Freedom Project and saw Tong Tae out on the road again; our staff stopped and asked the owners if it was ok to bring food for him.”<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />Another angle of this story gives different information:<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />Tong Tae stayed at ENP until December 9th 2009, when he was taken away WITH his mother. They had to be forced off the property by the mahout/owner as they didnt want to leave. It took almost two hours to get them on the truck and the screams and roars could be heard throughout the valley) and sent back to his owners village of Heuy Pak Kood. After being reunited with his mother for only a few months, Thong Tae was trained in April 2010 to live alongside humans at the village in the traditional Karen method. <br /><br /> <br /> 2011<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />Lek Chailert and ENP cause problems for other elephant camps in Thailand<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />luckyarturo wrote on March 28, 2011 http://macnchis.wordpress.com/2011/03/28/chiang-mai-thailand-part-iii-final-the-elephant-trade/<br /><br /><br />“Their curriculum at ENP is clear-cut. They show a revolting video shot of trainers trying to break an elephant’s will. I haven’t seen it, I imagine it is revolting. So powerful emotionally that the next message that follows is apparently instantly embraced.. Elephant businesses in Thailand are cruel and unethical. Now I haven’t heard her delivery myself, but it seems other operators in Thailand have, including Pat, and it burns. There are first-hand examples of this, a good friend in NY went to ENP and when relaying to me her favorite parts of her trip, made it a point to warn me to go to ENP and not to anyone else because what they’re doing is torture. Echoed by a French couple I later met in Chiang Mai, shaking their heads with disgust for operators outside of ENP – “riding elephants is cruel,” they said. Whatever Lek’s message is, she’s succeeded in making herself out to be the shining angel/savior, and all others to be greedy detestable villains. A victory sold on manipulation?<br /><br /><br />Lonely Planet is on her side, ENP is featured as the place to go for interacting with elephants – if your morals are up to Harvard standards (In fact, ENP is the only sanctuary Lonely Planet lists of all the operators here.”<br /><br /> <br /> 2012<br /><br /><br />Elephant nature Park was visited by officials, which led to major protests from animal rights activist from all over the world:<br /><br /><br />An even greater furore erupted when the Government decided to try and check the paperwork of every captive elephant in Thailand and the credentials of those who make money from them, as there is still no elephant camp licensing system this included asking for land ownership or lease documents from Phuket to Chiang Mai and, as far as I can tell, a visit by one or other relevant authority to every commercial elephant camp in Thailand.<br /><br /><br /> This lead to multiple visits to certain camps (some of whom loudly protested that the fact they lacked paperwork, had failed to follow the law, should be ignored as they are obviously on the side of the angels - ironically, having failed to follow the relatively simple laws already in place some then marched on Parliament calling for tougher laws), camps without campaigning friends had their unregistered elephants and land taken, our friends at the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre were suddenly handed, without the chance to quarantine and choose, fifty plus elephants without mahouts or extra funding; just told to care for them.<br /><br /><br /> One that had arrived with tetanus died and the furore erupted again, the owner of the elephant (despite photographic evidence to the contrary) claimed she’d handed over a healthy, fat, loved & cared for elephant, another that arrived with tetanus, others that had come with other diseases, were cared for in a Herculean effort by the TECC vets and recovered. But those who love a furore (particularly those with access to the furore creating blogs and petitions) screamed about the Government centres being nothing short of death camps for elephants. (Source: <a href="http://elephant-tails.anantara.minordev.net/The-jungle-s-not-a-peaceful-place--but-the-silence-here-is-resounding-/">Blog of John Roberts, Anantara elephant foundation</a>)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />Cambodia<br /><br /><br />Lek Chailert has managed to get land in Cambodia where she has started a new project, <br /><br /><br />"In 2012, they got 10,000 hectares (which is 25,000 acres) (2.45 acres is 1 hectare or 10kmx10km). According to sources she paid 12 million dollars for the concession. The land seems to be risky for elephants, in a zone with a lot of landmines…" (Anon)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />On the website of her “The Save Elephant Foundation” http://www.saveelephant.org/angkor_wat_wildlife_sanctuary.html <br /><br /><br />is written that she is working in collaboration with and The Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />On the website http://www.cambodiawildlifesanctuary.com I found the email of the Deputy Director, Mr David Casselman, and wrote him to ask about the details their cooperation, but the email was returned with the text: “Delivery to the following recipient failed permanently:<br /><br /><br />David@cambodiawildlifesanctuary.com Technical details of permanent failure:<br /><br /><br />Google tried to deliver your message, but it was rejected by the server for the recipient domain”.<br /><br /> <br /> 2013 <br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />Two female elephants, <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=6675">Kham Lin</a> and <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=6674">Arun Reah (Etuk) </a> were bought at Katieng waterfall in Banlung, Ratanakiri, and transported to the Seam Reap “sanctuary” in <a href="http://www.elephant.se/elephant_transfers.php?year=2013-01-16">2013-01-16</a>. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />On the website http://www.dtravelsround.com/2013/01/27/rescue-elephants/ is written: <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />“we are on a mission: to rescue two female elephants from their lives of work and deliver them to freedom at Save Elephant Foundation. Further text includes “Her previous life was in a small village which used to have 100 elephants. She is the last one. Because of inadequate (read: non-existent) veterinary care, each elephant has been chained up when they have gotten sick and left to die” <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />100 elephants died, really? Does anyone really believe that 100 elephants died in the village of Phum Kaepleng because of inadequate veterinary care? For certain, during my visit to Phum Kaepleng, no one told me that 100 elephants died there.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />No further specific explanation what those elephants were “rescued” from, or anything indicating abuse of the elephants, bad health or likewise. “On pictures taken before and at the time of the transport, they looked healthy, and with good nails and feet. <br /><br /><br /> <br /> <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_-ovPiCnJhY/VuqvdnyMhII/AAAAAAAAFpo/iGUDRmw-fEsALLpk-nkKceUnYkG_StVuA/s1600/ENP_cambodia_elephant_ratnakiri.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_-ovPiCnJhY/VuqvdnyMhII/AAAAAAAAFpo/iGUDRmw-fEsALLpk-nkKceUnYkG_StVuA/s320/ENP_cambodia_elephant_ratnakiri.jpg" /></a> <br /><br /><br />The hanging stomach on this picture may indicate ventral edema, otherwise feet and nails seems to be in good condition..No obvious skin wounds from the saddle, and skin looks OK in general sense. <br /><br /><br />One month later, the new diet already had caused a physical change, which is told on the Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary Facebook at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CambodiaWS">https://www.facebook.com/CambodiaWS</a>; <br /><br /><br /><br />“Arun Rea has plumped up since she was brought to the sanctuary by Save Elephant Foundation. She very healthy now.”<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />How will they look, one or two years from now?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I visited Katieng waterfalls and Phum Kaepleng in February 2013, and had first-hand information about the selling price: 19 000 dollars for one, and 23 000 dollars for the other. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Before this, an elephant in Cambodia could be bought for 12-15 000 dollars. Lek’ s money talks, in the future it’s probably only she who can afford to pay for the elephants for sale in Cambodia, since she has created an inflation in short time. <br /><br /><br /> There are still two riding elephants at the Katieng waterfalls, and you can see on the picture below, which I took, they have no obvious health issues, there is no need for a “rescue”. But Lek had already showed interest for those two...<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fw8JTXiOfwM/Vuqwb5paIjI/AAAAAAAAFp0/OVwemP1DOfcsHQg1CPzIanW-LFiQCSaPg/s1600/katieng_elephants.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fw8JTXiOfwM/Vuqwb5paIjI/AAAAAAAAFp0/OVwemP1DOfcsHQg1CPzIanW-LFiQCSaPg/s320/katieng_elephants.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /> Lek always avoids to say that she buys and sells elephants, she prefer, as many sanctuaries does, to use terms like “rescue” which is a political way of manipulate people that she is doing something noble, when the truth is that it is her business. For each elephant that Lek rescues, her income from donations increases, and so does the income from increased number of volunteers.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />She has also made a bid of 30 000 dollars each for two adult bulls in the Ratanakiri province. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />If she purchase that bull in Phum Kaepleng (where she stated there’s no more elephants after she bought the two females), or another bull I saw in Borkao, east of Banlung, which she also made a 30 000 dollar bud for, and she intend to manage the bulls with same methods as at ENP in Chiang Mai, I believe there will soon be a death accident with people at her place in Cambodia.. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It’s extremely important that adult bulls are managed by longtime trainer, any change of mahout will lead to unnecessary suffer for the bull, and death risks for the new mahout.<br /><br /><br /> “Here, at Elephant Nature Park, looking after an elephant is a mostly hands-off affair. There is no riding the elephants (except for Hope) and no bull hooks. The way we see it, our mahouts should be listening to the elephants, NOT the elephants listening to the mahouts.” Cite from <a href="http://www.saveelephant.org/blog/meet-the-mahout-elephant-nature-park-medo/">http://www.saveelephant.org/blog/meet-the-mahout-elephant-nature-park-medo/</a> where the chaining points can be seen.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DlEDYFflKkQ/VuqxNWbDCZI/AAAAAAAAFp8/zwNl-unRr6gMxPBC9OL4FBSz6cDwXqqiw/s1600/Phum_Kaepleng_bull.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DlEDYFflKkQ/VuqxNWbDCZI/AAAAAAAAFp8/zwNl-unRr6gMxPBC9OL4FBSz6cDwXqqiw/s320/Phum_Kaepleng_bull.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><br /><br /><br />On this picture with the bull in Phum Kaepleng, you can see the conditions where the elephants lived, a good environment for elephants along the Serepok river. If Lek wants to manage a healthy, strong bull like this bull, (who has lived with his owner in Phum Kaepleng in Ratanakiri all his life), like she manages her elephants at Elephant Nature Park, I believe that it will end very sad.<br /><br /> <br /> 2013-02-19: Help ENP with US $ 2 million<br /><br /><br />Lek wanted to expand her land to the other side of the river; I don’t know if this is her families land, she want or another neighbour?<a href="http://www.saveelephant.org/shop/index.php?route=product%2Fproduct&path=66&product_id=142"> </a> (Follow the links) <a href="http://help%20purchase%20200%20acres%21%20%20www.saveelephant.org%0Dhelp%20us%20raise%20%242%20million%20usd%20to%20purchase%20200%20acres%20so%20we%20have%20space%20to%20rescue%20more%20elephants.%0D/">Help Purchase 200 Acres! www.saveelephant.org</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://help%20purchase%20200%20acres%21%20%20www.saveelephant.org%0Dhelp%20us%20raise%20%242%20million%20usd%20to%20purchase%20200%20acres%20so%20we%20have%20space%20to%20rescue%20more%20elephants.%0D/">Help us raise $2 million USD to purchase 200 acres so we have space to rescue more elephants.</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Not bad, asking for funds to pay her own sister for land. Any risk for corruption?<br /><br /><br /> Death of Kwanjaj<br /><br /><br />The latest death of an elephant at ENP was Kwanjaj, probably dead 3nd March 2013. <br /><br /><br />http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=6468<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It seems the elephant was lying on the side in the sand for several days. No signs of slings etc to raise the elephant up. In the comments and the text is no veterinarian mentioned: <br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />2013.02.01: “Ten mahouts help to hush Kwanjai up but cannot. We will try again later”<br /><br /><br />2013-03-02: “This morning we tried again but she still cannot. She even not help us to lift her head.”<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SuOi5IBYavo/Vupzib1-GhI/AAAAAAAAFo0/rjeCF_JgkLQ4AJi7GUdpIeQZVn9O9cvfg/s1600/enp_kwanjai_dead.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SuOi5IBYavo/Vupzib1-GhI/AAAAAAAAFo0/rjeCF_JgkLQ4AJi7GUdpIeQZVn9O9cvfg/s320/enp_kwanjai_dead.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /> There seem to be no tractors in Thailand, and ENP seem to lack tools and vehicles to even be able to raise a lying elephant into standing position. But Kwanjaj later got a lot of flowers spread over her dead body.<br /> Critical voices<br /><br /><br /> Organisations that has terminated their support of Lek Chailert:<br /><br /><br />Carol Buckley describe numerous issues at ENP, including wrong diet, bad feet and medical condition etc.in the document: FROM: Carol Buckley, Founder, Elephant Aid International, USA TO: Elephant Nature Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand Elephant Foot Care and Mahout training provided by Elephant Aid International: Summary of Services Provided, Outcomes and Recommendations: http://www.elephantaidinternational.org/pdf/ENP_Report2011.pdf<br /><br /><br /><br /> “Do you know about the charities that started in support of Lek and have closed down changed because she is a liar. http://www.eleaid.com/ Although this website seems to be active they dont seem to have done anything for years. Chad Begley came to see us and told us why he suspended the charity. Because Lek was increasingly manipulative, deceptive and a liar. You could try contacting him to get the information as me giving to you is hearsay. Also did you ever contact Linda Reifschnieder? she set up a charity for Lek in the USA (eleaid is in UK) and she got fed up with Lek as she would make Nature Park a foundation so she folded the charity and made Asian elephant support foundation http://www.asianelephantsupport.org/ How much they are prepared to tell you I don’t know but it would look bad for her. And who knows how many other places have left her. Apparently she is good at alienating her supporters due to her huge ego.”<br /><br />I wrote to Rachel Begley in May 2013, and asked why they cancelled their support of ENP:<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Dear Sirs, I have been told that you hve cancelled your previous suport of Lek Chailert, is this true, and can you provide me with details? Im doing a documentation on ENP<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And she answered:<br /><br /><br />Dear Dan,<br /><br /><br />Thank you for your message. Unfortunately however it is not our policy to disclose reasons behind our decisions to support or cancel support of specific projects. However, if you have any particular issues that you wish to discuss, please get in touch.<br /><br /><br />Kindest Regards and sorry I cannot be of more help (Rachel Begley)<br /> Citations from Tripadvisor<br /><br /><br />Upon arriving there, I was disappointed in the way animals are treated, not showing the slightest interest in them, rather than as a tool to make money. Too commercial unnatural, very fake.<br /><br /><br /> Pay 75 € for watering elephants and see a horrible movie is not likely to meet us ... The concept does not correspond at all to what we can expect from a center that has undoubtedly things to show ... outside the single concept of saving money ...<br /><br />We heard about this place as a haven for elephants and we find something like a circus. The visits are organized for groups of tourists, rather than participate in the daily life of elephants, are part of the show. The price, very expensive compared to the other activities in the area. No doubt you are doing a good job with the elephants but I found all too commercial and occasional tourist oriented. No repeat or recommend it.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />http://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowTopic-g293917-i9325-k1588570-Elephant_nature_park-Chiang_Mai.html<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Re: Elephant nature park<br /><br />07 December 2007, 13:39<br /><br />Hey - I went a few weeks ago and had a bad time... I went for 2 days with my boyfriend and it was way too busy - they really packed us in. Only enjoyed the place in the evening and early morning when it was quiet.<br /><br />The elephants seemed crammed in too - they were fighting with each other and guys hitting them with big sticks - I asked our guide why they were being hit and she told us it is normal....<br /><br />Sorry to say that Sydney Girl is right. I normally only lurk on Trip Advisor but I was disturbed enough to feel that this needed posting,<br /><br />I visited the Elephant Nature Park last week also on a personal recommendation and was shocked with what I saw. <br /><br />There were about 40 people in our day group which was far too many. The platform was crowded with people and we couldnt hear the guide clearly a lot of the time. There were also at least another 20 long term people on the course and at feeding time it was chaos with people pushing each other out of the way to feed the elephants. <br /><br />The elephants were wonderful and there were some good highlights watching them play but there were too many in a small space and lots of pushing and fighting between them. I was told by one course volunteer that the previous week one elephant had attacked and killed another which suggests there are too many animals in a small space. If an elephant can be killed there must be a risk to people when there are so many there.<br /><br />My friend raved about the elephant nature park when he visited two years ago but I think he would be very disturbed at what it has become. It looked and felt every bit like a tourist trap.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Re: Elephant nature park<br /><br />13 December 2007, 11:49<br /><br />had some friends who went there last week on my recommendation. they didn't like it at all. similar comments to others such as overcrowding, too many people etc. they were also concerned about the treatment. although they didn't see any heavihandedness, they did notice a couple of elephants with large red welts on the areas where mahouts control the elephants with there steel hooked sticks. <br /><br />overall they were disappointed.<br /><br />bkk3<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Re: Elephant nature park<br /><br />15 December 2007, 14:16<br /><br />Perhaps you should come down from your high horse Emjay just because you have posted 2,500 times does not give you any more right to express an opinion.<br /><br />3 people have posted that it was overcrowded, one of which you say you trust. Since all 3 posters have visited in the last month and you appear to have been there some time ago perhaps there is a possibility that there is some truth in their comments. All 3 posters also said that they had either been recommended to go to the Elephant Nature Park or had recommended it to other people so maybe things have changed at the Park. It does happen you know. <br /><br />My motivation for posting was that if an elephant can kill another elephant at Elephant Nature Park and it is over crowded with visitors then there must be a risk to peoples safety. Surely this is something travelers have a right to know? <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Re: Elephant nature park<br /><br />18 December 2007, 12:06<br /><br />I am glad that the Elephant Nature Park has responded to this thread and that they are taking steps to resolve the problems that they face. I hope they pay attention to the public safety aspects that hahave been raised but which were not specifically addressed by the post.<br /><br />Reet, I regret that the thread has turned into an argument between us. It is quite clear that we both had very different experiences during our time at the Park. I can understand why you are so passionate in its defence and hope that you have an equally positive experience when you visit next year which I am sure you will report here. <br /><br />I would like to deal with the main point in your last post that I am being ‘alarmist for no reason at all’. I do not see it that way. I work in health and safety and as a result find myself carrying out risk assessments as a matter of routine, an occupational hazard. <br /><br />On our day at the Park the guide did give us a safety talk when we arrived but it was perfunctory and many people were not listening, as it was too big a group and they were excited by their first glimpse of the elephants. As the day wore on I began to feel that the talk had been inadequate. My uneasiness increased by the visible difficulties in controlling the large number of people, the behaviour of some of the people present and the number of elephants in a relatively small space. These were all observations I reported in my original post. The conversation I had with the course volunteer that an elephant had killed another was deeply worrying but our group as a whole was not informed by the staff even though it clearly has implications for peoples safety.<br /><br />As you point out most of the above is opinion but as a health and safety professional I feel adequately qualified to state it and the elephant death is a matter of fact and one that should raise warning flags. If I was working and carrying out an inspection the Park would certainly have been instructed to take immediate action, institute an extensive independent risk assessment and put more adequate procedures in place. <br /><br />Health and safety is based on the precautionary principle which states when we have a reasonable suspicion of harm we have a duty to take action to prevent harm whether the suspicions are empirically proven or not. I feel that this is certainly the case in this instant. I am aware that the H&S standards in Thailand are not anything like as rigorous as in the EU but when people’s safety is at a high risk they have an absolute right to be informed of the potential danger. There is nothing on the Elephant Nature Park website about risks, safety and procedures, the safety talk was, in my opinion inadequate and I feel perfectly justified in posting it here so people can make their own informed judgement<br /><br />You ask ‘why not address your concerns directly with Elephant Nature Park, rather than getting on here and spouting off something like that.’ The fact is I did try to discuss these concerns with the guide towards the end of the day but he seemed indifferent and kept saying, ‘very safe, no problem’. Perhaps it was a linguistic difficulty, but it seemed to me he was more interested in directing people to spend money in the gift shop which was one of the main things that gave rise to my comment that it ‘looked and felt like a tourist trap.’ A cheap shot on my part? Maybe so, but I had no idea this thread would prove so contentious and give rise to such strong feeling. Perhaps I should have given my comments more thought. I have tried to address this lack on my part in this post. <br /><br />It was not my original intention to post anything on Trip Advisor but on reading your instant dismissal of Sydney Girls post I wanted to reply to back her observations up. These were then given further weight by BKK. Perhaps I should have written a more thoughtful post in the first instance. I have now found myself in a debate which I never intended and it was certainly not my intention to offend merely to state an opinion which is why this forum exists. <br /><br />As to posting positive things I have has a wonderful time in northern Thailand, visited some lovely places and met some wonderful people. I would love to post about them all but it will take an age and I have to return home on tomorrow. <br /><br />I wish my visit to Elephant Nature Park had been closer to the experience others had but it wasn’t and I think I have now explained my reasons why. I hope to come back to Thailand next year and I am prepared to give the Elephant Nature Park another go if only to see whether what I experienced was an aberration or not. I certainly hope to find that from an H&S perspective there have been great improvements. If not I will have no problem in reporting it back here so that people can be warned of potential dangers to their safety. <br /><br /><br /> <br /> …And then theres 10 deleted posts by Tripadvisor admins…<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The latest from 22 October 2013 can be seen and read at http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowUserReviews-g293917-d601884-r181910641-Elephant_Nature_Park-Chiang_Mai.html<br /><br />“I booked the 1 day tour which advertises spending a day with the elephants, arriving at 9:30 and leaving at 5:00 and being taken around by an expert guide. We arrived at the park at 11:00, left at 3:30, and our guide, Bee, was by no means an expert. She gave us occasional details but nothing educational or of any real substance. Additionally, you don't spend a day with the elephants. In total we spent literally less than 15 minutes playing with them or feeding them. We walked out to watch them from a distance for about 20 minutes total, and the rest of the day you are told by your guide to explore, then left on your own. I would have been fine with that but you aren't allowed to leave the building so exploring is impossible! We sat around for hours in the midst of the other 150 or so bummed-out tourists there, hoping that an elephant would wander near the building so we could look at it. This place is not interactive AT ALL. It's closer to a zoo, but you can't go anywhere to look at the elephants you just have to hope that one wanders near the building. I agree with the mission of the place, but I don't understand why the tourists need to be there. We were also told that the place costs $250,000 US dollars to operate every year. If you multiply the 2,500 baht cost of admission by how many people come per day, the place could easily pull in 2-4 million US dollars per year! So I have no idea how the money is spent...we not only got ripped off but we wasted one of our few days in Chiang Mai! Huge disappointment.”<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />From vet123:<br /><br />Yes, i think you are right, its about how much money they can make.<br /><br />http://journeysforthesoul.wordpress.com/2012/07/07/elephant-nature-park-journey-for-the-soul-heart-and-mind/comment-page-1/#comment-152 <br /><br />“In the middle of the night, I woke up to roars and what sounded like a T-Rex (not that I know what they sound like). It was startling and realized the sound was coming from the elephants. I had no idea that elephants could make such a noise. This continued throughout the night and once the elephants made noise, all 100 dogs started barking too. It really was a jungle-like experience. I thought I was in Jurassic Park. My companion met me at the lodge for breakfast and Lek greeted our group. Eager to learn about the roars from the night before, we asked Lek. Lek explained that two weeks earlier, locals brought an elephant to the Park to be taken care of. The Park has different means in helping elephants and one of them includes allowing owners to bring their elephant to the Park for free food and healthcare. Taking care of an elephants is extremely costly and most locals cannot afford the upkeep. The ENP staff knew this elephant was pregnant but they did not know how far along she was. Elephants have a gestation period of 22 months.<br /><br />That evening, the elephant gave birth around 2:00am. The baby was stillborn. After her third miscarriage, the mother elephant sobbed throughout the night. The roars we heard were cries of pain and sadness. The other elephants tried to console her by staying by her side, but she only wanted her baby. Lek and the other park rangers removed the stillborn baby from the area and the mother continued to cry. It was heart-wrenching to listen to Lek tell the story. I couldn’t believe that the sounds we heard from the night before were cries from elephants. I’ll never forget that night.”<br /><br />But no stillbirth is reported, and no professional I know, ever heard about an elephant roaring hours and hours after a stillbirth. For laymen, this must be a fantastic story that Lek told them”.<br /><br />Sally<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I wrote to Tripadvisor in June 2013, asking them:<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I think that an advice for families to bring their children to interact with elephants at a place that had a very large turnover of elephants (over 70) throughout the years, has to be combined with a small warning, considering that an average of Asias elephants are spreading Tuberculosis. To be on the safe side, dont touch the elephants, dont feed them, and wear some sort of protection masks. <br /><br /><br />TB is an airborne lethal disease, which is classified as Zoonosis, it can be transfered from elephants to human and back.<br /><br /><br />The Elephant Nature Park of course, would like you to be believe that theres no TB risk, but they have never informed about the risk on their website, or asked veterinarys from Lampang or Chiang Mai to come and check their elephants. Learn more: <br /><br /><br />http://www.elephant.se/mycobacterium_tuberculosis.php<br /><br /><br />It is not known if any of the 16 elephants that died at ENP went through a scientific autopsy:<br /><br /><br />http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=174&show=4<br /><br /><br />USA: According to page 21 of the APHIS manual on Guidelines for controlling TB in elephants: "It is essential that a post-mortem examination be performed on all elephants that die. The examination must inc...lude a thorough search for lesions of tuberculosis regardless of exposure status. Prior to any planned euthanasia of an elephant, trunk washes, blood for serology and any other ancillary tests should be performed regardless of whether or not TB is suspected. In this way, valuable data can be gathered to evaluate the efficacy of the current testing protocol. In the event of a sudden death, collect post-mortem blood and separate serum for other tests."<br /><br /><br />Iin USA today, 2 "elephant sanctuaries" are TB infected,<br /><br /><br />http://dankoehl.blogspot.com/2012/01/tuberculosis-in-two-elephant.html<br /><br /><br /> in one 9 of the staff has tested positive for TB in one of those sanctuaries: " In this instance, TB spread to eight employees, though three of them didn't work directly with the elephant, "<br /><br /><br />http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/16/tb-elephants-in-tennessee-_n_824140.html<br /><br /><br />With all the best intentions to give families advice how to spend their vacation in Thailand, please at least inform about the medical risks.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />They replied:<br /><br /><br />Hi Dan,<br /><br /> Thanks for your replies. We are a travel research company and we aren't affiliated with any of the properties on our site. We post real traveler reviews but we remain unbiased in regards to these properties and do not recommend any of them. If you like, you can post your information in one of our forums for people to read and discuss, possibly the Thailand forum.<br /><br /> I hope this helps!<br /><br /> Kind Regards,<br /><br /> Jeanine<br />TripAdvisor Support Team<br /><br /><br /><br /> This blog article will be daily updated in the next days. On your return please press F5 or reload, so you are sure to see the last version, and not one from your computers cache memory. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MkEdbC-8U4A/VuuQVS8gRgI/AAAAAAAAFqM/zD6dRd3cn68Cmm4tWt7uWG_74S9HF71xg/s1600/support_animal_welfare_not_AR.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MkEdbC-8U4A/VuuQVS8gRgI/AAAAAAAAFqM/zD6dRd3cn68Cmm4tWt7uWG_74S9HF71xg/s320/support_animal_welfare_not_AR.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">The latest news about a mahout in Thailand, San Tor Ni, age 20 years old, refugee from Burma, and illegally working in Thailand, was killed by the elephant Mee Sook, at the Elephant Nature Park in </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Chiang Mai, Thailand. This is supposed to be Mr San Tor, pictured at a Chiang Mai Hospital:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The owner of Elephant Nature Park, </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Sangduen "Lek" </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">, writes on <a href="http://www.elephantnaturepark.org/elephant-nature-park/a-tragedy-at-the-park/">ENP´s website</a>: </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><b>A Tragedy at the Park</b></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> "</span><i>He came to someone who works at our park, asking them to help him obtain work at the park. Our staff said he would try. Earlier in the day, Pom, our manager, told our staff that we cannot have him as we have no position open and he also had no work permit .During the lunch time mahouts who stood with their elephant nearby MeeSook’s shelter heard something wrong inside her enclosure and they ran to see what happened, found the young man and helping him out, rushed him immediately to the closest hospital . Tragically, he was badly injured and he succumbed to his injuries at the hospital with our great sadness<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #eef9e9; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">.". </span></span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">And that's all Mrs Chailert has to say about the 20 year old mans death, the rest of text covers the elephant, in which poor state it was before she bought it, and how much better the elephant now is. Strange? -Yes!</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> Other sources says that he was indeed employed, and that most Mahouts working at ENP are Burmese refugees, who are very much afraid of telling anyone anything about their work, since they would easily loose their job, and maybe even worse, be punished in court. If this is true, does it almost sounds like slaves?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">As colleague mahout, being happy enough to have survived work with some 70 elephants, Im always a little suspicious, when I read about a colleague being killed by an elephant, because often, the reason is something out of the control of the worker, which restricted the persons possibility to work and act, according to his knowledge and experience. Many times, those deaths could have been avoided, if other people would not have intervened in his daily work, reducing his freedom to act, professionally, according to what he learned from his teachers, and to his best knowledge. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Mrs Chailert also seems to neglect the fact that this was not the first death victim in her park.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">According to three independent sources, at least two mahouts were killed by the elephants last year, on the grounds of Elephant Nature Park, something which is nowhere to be read on ENP's website, blogs or Facebook. "<i><b>2 mahouts were killed (at the grounds) </b></i></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><i><b>in late July/early August by the elephants moved from TECC that were purchased from Sai Yok elephant camp</b></i>". One source states that 5 mahouts were killed last year. How many were killed since the Park started? Lek Chailert will of course not tell us, since that would give bad publicity to her cash-driving business.</span><br />
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Jodi Thomas, who edits the Facebook page Elephant Nature Park & Foundation, wrote this on 14 March and her last sentence is very apt: </div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"No more words need to be said, and please do not comment on whether or not the boy, Saw Tor Ni should have not been where he was. This could have happened to anyone."</blockquote>
<br />I wrote on my Facebook that it shouldn't have happen to anyone. and the two who was killed last year, shouldn't have been killed either. How many mahouts were killed over the years?<br /><br />And I had an interesting reply:<br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">
Dan, I totally agree with you but what Jodi is admitting is that this could happen to anyone, which means that this is not a safe place to be. When I watch some of the many YouTube videos from ENP you see mahouts with very tense faces, probably because they have to be aware of any sudden moves from the elephants in their proximity to the many visitors.</blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">So who is Lek Chailert, and what is Elephant nature Park and how much money is involved?</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><br /></span></div>
Read some of my notes from <a href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.com/2016/03/my-visit-to-sangduen-lek-chailert-and.html">my visit to ENP back in 2011.</a><br />
<br />
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<![endif]-->DanKoehlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245638586616063380noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7719911693377170022.post-2693521873184090692013-05-07T04:00:00.001+02:002013-05-14T07:34:58.650+02:00Ted and Pat Derbys first elephant Neena<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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My last blog was about <a href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.com/2012/10/pat-derby-1942-2013-cofounder-of.html" target="_blank">Pat Derby, co-founder of PAWS in California</a>, and critics against <b>her poor competence as animal trainer, her
total lack of welfare for animals</b> etc during her years as "trainer".</div>
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<br /></div>
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I found an <a href="http://www.rexano.org/PAWS/Pat_Derby.pdf">interesting link</a> on <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.circusfans.org/res_det.php?res_id=348" target="_blank">Circus Fans Association of America</a></span></span> where you can read, among other things regarding Animal Rights Activists and PAWS: <i><b>"Derby
rarely mentions how in her days as a trainer and operator of a roadside
zoo in Buellton , CA, an elephant in her care died in a barn fire</b></i>." </div>
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<br /></div>
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The last line, about Neena surprised me, because for sure, it seems
really like Mrs
Derby doesnt want to speak about this elephant Neena. Searching through PAWS documents, and googling, it was like Neena hadnt existed, which is very rare, normally, an elephant owners first elephant is like the first love. But thanks to Mr Ryan Easley, who help me with lot of american elephants
records in my database, and Mr Robert Cline, a circus historian who has
generously shared with me his records, I already had <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=4619">Neena in my database</a>. </div>
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Neena arrived Big Johns circus in 1962 and was bought by Ted Derby in
1970, when Ted and Pat Derby stayed at a place refered to as Buellton
Wild Animal Park and sometimes called Andersens zoo, in Buellton.</div>
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<br /></div>
<fieldset>
<legend>Records about Neena from Bob Cline</legend><br />
NEENA # 2 <br />
Female Asian 1962 to 1969 - Big John Strong Circus <br />
1970 to 1982 - retired in Northern California <br />
Died in Feb. 1982 at the Pat Derby farm in Leggett. California </fieldset>
<fieldset>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OPHdCurQeqU/UYhVAukn0kI/AAAAAAAAFAA/Jf-Sbwba-9A/s1600/JohnStrong_Neena_2.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OPHdCurQeqU/UYhVAukn0kI/AAAAAAAAFAA/Jf-Sbwba-9A/s320/JohnStrong_Neena_2.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Probably Neena 2 at John Strong circus.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<q>John Strong had a one ring Circus on the west coast for years. Known
as the Big John Strong Show. His son still has a side show out of Texas.
Nina is spelled Neena. There have been three of them with the one on
C&B now being the last one. </q><br />
<br />
<q>All were on the Big John Strong show
thus the name was never changed and people didn't realize the elephant
had changed. The second one retired in Northern California in 1970 and
died in February 1982 at the Pat Derby farm in Leggett, California.</q><br />
<cite>Bob Cline, 01/29/2009</cite><br />
<br />
The picture to the right is probably Neena 2, at Big John Strong circus, before she was sold to Ted Derby. (Photo: Courtesy of <a href="http://www.thecircusblog.com/?attachment_id=39785" target="_blank">The Circus Blog</a>.)</fieldset>
<br />
<fieldset>
<a href="http://newspaperarchive.com/press-telegram/1971-08-04/page-66/" target="_blank">Page 26 of Daily Review , July 28, 1971:</a><br />
<h2>
Fun
at Anderson's Zoo show time has no hassles </h2>
BUELLTON California.<br />
Neena the
elephant and her 90 friends at Animal Farm have the best of table
manners but then who doesn't when a pretty waitress brings a big salad
of lettuce as apples oranges rots and Such dishes are served up daily by
three pretty young women including senior Marianne Kingsley who whips
up the 91 separate diets daily There's no snarling and clawing at meal
time as 1 suspected there might be when I first came to work Marianne
relates Why she says Brosi the tiger even likes to sit around in the
water in his cage and make little clicking sounds at her That's
something that just isn't expected from a Siberian tiger He doesn't like
baby strollers or the train thai runs through the park But he calms
down when we speak to Owners Ted and Pat Derby care for the mals some of
which gain local celebrity status as television commercial formers
Boris is the TV stand-in for another park guest Ri- gel who stars in a
com- for a gasoline company Diets provide variety and cope with health
lems As nearly as possible they duplicate the foods that each animal
would consume in its wild state That's pretty tough with anteaters Their
natural foods are ants grubs and says Mrs Derby To provide them with
the proper sub- their meals are composed of prime ground round steak
without fat two tablespoons of cottage cheese three egg yolks and a
tablespoon each of calcium and vitamin B- complex The array Includes
seale the seal Seymour the grizzly bear Nutmeg the Asian monkey and Lucy
Brown a kinkajou who likes yogurt and ba-nanas and better not skip a
day Mrs Derby says they aren't even bothered by a large wolf who
actually moves his lips and eyes in smiling response when she visits</fieldset>
<br />
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The article <a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/1988/0914/rtrain.html/%28page%29/2" target="_blank">animal stunts</a> tells about how Pat Derby rode Neena, through the ceremonial opening ribbon at
the San Diego Wild Animal Park in 1972 and later gave talks about her animals to
zoo visitors. </div>
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More traces of Neena is to be find on <a href="http://www.circushistory.org/Publications/CircusReport24Jul1978.pdf">Circus Report from 24 of July 1978</a>: which tells about Big John Strong Circus in Cincinnatti, Ohio, and "Chris Burell and Neena the elephant". This circus report also mentions: "Pat Derby, animal trainer and author of the book the lady and her tiger, has moved her animals to "Howling Wolf Lodge" at Legget, California. Later, I understood from Robert Cline, that Big John Strong Circus had three different elephants, all called Neena. Ted Derbys Neena was number 2 on Big John Strong Circus, while the mentioned Chris Burell and Neena the elephant seems to have been Neena number 3. </div>
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Obviously Neena 2 was used in the film Alabamas Ghost, released 1973.You can read the most interesting intrigue from the film <a href="http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=54857">Alabamas Ghost here</a>, and also the lines <a href="http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/SearchResult.aspx?s=&TBL=PN&Type=CA&ID=229006">Neena the Elephant </a>as well as: </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="6" style="width: 95%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td><br /></td>
<td align="left" nowrap="nowrap" width="10%"><a href="http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/SearchResult.aspx?s=&TBL=PN&Type=TP&ID=144677&pName="> Ted Derby </a>
</td>
<td align="left">(Elephant trainer)
</td>
</tr>
<tr> <td></td>
<td align="left" nowrap="nowrap" width="10%"><a href="http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/SearchResult.aspx?s=&TBL=PN&Type=TP&ID=238662&pName="> Pat Derby </a>
</td>
<td align="left">(Elephant trainer) </td><td align="left"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<a href="http://sloblogs.thetribunenews.com/slovault/files/2010/06/Elephant-breath-530x373.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://sloblogs.thetribunenews.com/slovault/files/2010/06/Elephant-breath-530x373.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The article <a href="http://sloblogs.thetribunenews.com/slovault/2010/06/open-wide-elephant-caretaker/">Open wide, elephant caretaker</a> published in August 13,
1977, shows Nina, when she was housed at Pat
Derbys famous wild animals in Earl Laursens farm, Pomeroy Road, Nipomo
Mesa, Santa Ynez Valley in Californa. and Ray Ryan, who started to
work for Pat Derby in 1976. In 1981, Ryan went to San Diego State to get
a degree in Psychology, and worked at with African elephants at
the San Diego Wild Animal Park until 1988. Since 2010 Ray Ryan work at Kerulos
center, which I emailed, asking to get in contact with Mr Ryan. I never had an answer, seems he dont want to speak about Neena. (More about <a href="http://www.kerulos.org/about_kerulos/faculty.html">Ray Ryan at Kerulos Center.)</a></div>
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<a href="http://sloblogs.thetribunenews.com/slovault/files/2010/06/1977-08-13-animals-351x530.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://sloblogs.thetribunenews.com/slovault/files/2010/06/1977-08-13-animals-351x530.jpg" width="423" /></a></div>
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After 1977 Internet does not give any more glimpses of Neena that I succeeded to find. But after Pat Derby and Ed Stewart moved to Legget, California, she seems to have been housed there, on Howling Wolf Lodge and Wild Animal Sanctuary where Neena is supposed to have died, in a barn fire, in February 1982. </div>
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At least two
persons with direct connections to Neena has confirmed that this was
the case. </div>
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<br /></div>
<b>But Pat Derby and Ed Stewart never mentioned her death anywhere,
and it seems they forgot they owned her? How can you forget that you owned an elephant 1970-1982, which died in a barn fire? </b><br />
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<span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show"><i><b> </b></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show">It seems to me that Pat Derby was rather trying to hide the facts about Neenas death. Why? It must be a terrible experience if your elephant dies in a barn fire, and t</span></span><span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show">he only page with a connection to PAWS, where I have seen Neenas name mentioned is a <a href="http://www.pawsweb.org/documents/TRIBUTES_000.pdf" target="_blank">pdf document titled tributes</a>, where</span></span> Brian Busta, ARK 2000 Sanctuary Manager/Senior Elephant Keeper mention her, together with the other Asian elephants..</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Who, or what started the barnfire where the elephant died, and why has Neenas name been hidden throughout PAWS history?</b></span></div>
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6th of May 2013 I posted a question on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pawsweb.org/posts/10151396533267076?comment_id=25890498&offset=0&total_comments=1&notif_t=share_comment" target="_blank">PAWS Facebook page</a>, asking: You write "Every elephant has a story, and we are part of that story." What is Neenas story? adding a link to the page I did about Neena in my database. Noone answered my question on PAWS Facebook page, and within 24 hours it was deleted by PAWS. <b>Please continue to ask them what happened to Neena on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pawsweb.org?fref=ts" target="_blank">PAWS Facebook</a>.</b></div>
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It seems that <a href="http://ernielb.blogspot.com/2011/04/carls-slide.html" target="_blank">Earnie Brnscomb, volunteer fireman since 1973</a> in Legget have some knowledge about the barnfire in Legget 1982, so I have written an email to him to get more details about the fire. </div>
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<span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show">Meanwhile, the traces I have found on Internet, are from people who gives indication of anger regarding the death, as if they blame Pat Derby. Is this why Derby was qiet about Neena?</span></span></div>
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<span class="userContent">Lauren Tariel, daughter to </span><span class="userContent">Larry Tariel who worked with Neena on John Strongs circus, writes on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PetLawNews" target="_blank">Facebook page</a></span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/PetLawNews" target="_blank"> Pet Law News</a> and <a href="http://www.google.com.kh/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=17&cad=rja&ved=0CFMQFjAGOAo&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FCircusHistoricalSociety%3Ffilter%3D2&ei=LquHUbGIEcurrAf3toCACA&usg=AFQjCNF1k0mvBVApZZzy-2LlktZEFrCccQ" target="_blank">Facebook page for Circus Historical Society</a>:</div>
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"<i><span class="userContent">The circus also had three elephants at different times named Neena. </span>The Neena my dad worked with retired and went </i><i>to
Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) who claimed that they
"rescued" Neena. Pat Derby who took Neena wrote in her book, A Lady and
Her Tiger, about the tricks that Neena did because Neena "wanted to"
and not because she had to. Pat seemed clueless that Neena was trained
to do those things because she wanted to learn them. Neena would do her
act even when her handler was not in the ring</i>. <i><span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show">My dad wanted
to visit Neena because she lived nearby, but she died in a fire at PAWS.
The people who claimed to "rescue" Neena, killed her with negligence.</span></span></i>" </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show"> <br /> <i><b>My dad
wanted to visit Neena because she lived nearby, but she died in a fire
at PAWS. The people who claimed to "rescue" Neena, killed her with
negligence.</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show"> </span></span><i><b> </b></i></div>
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The article<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2013/02/animal-rights-activist-pat-derby-dies-at-69.html" target="_blank">Animal rights activist Pat Derby dies at 70</a> says </span></span>"Derby was known to have a special affection for the elephants, at times sleeping in the animals’ barn to be near them." </div>
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In my last blog about <a href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.com/2012/10/pat-derby-1942-2013-cofounder-of.html" target="_blank">Pat Derby, co-founder of PAWS in California</a>, Jan Giacinto, Exotic Animals in Santa Rita, discusses her drinking habits: "<i>Pat bragged about how the agency sent her cases of wine. That was her
favourite drink, and she would have her glass in around ten in the
morning. I have seen her drink wine while working on the commercial with
fullgrown cougars."</i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
If Pat Derby was drinking a lot of wine during the early eighties, and was at times sleeping in Neenas barn, is it possible that Pat Derby also was a smoker, and that she accidently started the fire that killed Neena?</div>
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<br /></div>
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Is this why people who knew Neena are so upset?Who can tell more about what happened to Neena?</div>
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<br /></div>
<fieldset style="background-color: yellow; color: black;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>EDIT 2013-05-08: A person today told me that "the only thing I heard was Neena was in a truck and it was freezing
cold and they lit a fire underneath the trailer to warm her up and the
trailer caught on fire". (<span style="font-size: small;">Confirmed by <span style="font-size: small;">another</span> person<span style="font-size: small;">)</span></span></b></span></span></fieldset>
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<!--Mrs Pat Derby is famous for a quote: "BETTER A DEAD ELEPHANT THAN A CIRCUS ELEPHANT" --></div>
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At <a href="http://www.lcanimal.org/index.php/about-lca/contact" target="_blank">Last Chance For Animals</a> in Los Angeles you can request investigation regarding Neenas death.</div>
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Sources:</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.circusfans.org/res_det.php?res_id=348" target="_blank">Circus Fans Association of America</a></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=4619" target="_blank">The elephant Neena in the elephant database</a></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://newspaperarchive.com/press-telegram/1971-08-04/page-66/" target="_blank">Zoo show time has no ha<span style="font-size: small;">ss</span>les </a></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://newspaperarchive.com/press-telegram/1971-08-04">August 04, 1971</a> </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/1988/0914/rtrain.html/%28page%29/2" target="_blank">Animal stunts</a> </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=54857">Alabamas Ghost</a></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/SearchResult.aspx?s=&TBL=PN&Type=CA&ID=229006">Neena the Elephant</a></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">The article <a href="http://sloblogs.thetribunenews.com/slovault/2010/06/open-wide-elephant-caretaker/">Open wide</a> published in August 13,
1977</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.kerulos.org/about_kerulos/faculty.html">Ray Ryan at Kerulos Center</a> </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.circushistory.org/Publications/CircusReport24Jul1978.pdf">Circus Report from 24 of July 1978</a></span></span></span> </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="userContent"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/PetLawNews" target="_blank">Facebook page</a></span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/PetLawNews" target="_blank"> Pet Law News</a> </span> </span></span></li>
</ul>
DanKoehlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245638586616063380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7719911693377170022.post-19108864112522440642013-05-05T19:06:00.000+02:002013-05-14T06:30:03.800+02:00Pat Derby (1942-2013) cofounder of Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YjZgMzTH8sU/UYbCE8mJRII/AAAAAAAAE_c/y5WvA09CKhk/s1600/pat_derby_paws.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pat Derby PAWS" border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YjZgMzTH8sU/UYbCE8mJRII/AAAAAAAAE_c/y5WvA09CKhk/s1600/pat_derby_paws.jpg" title="Pat Derby PAWS" width="320" /></a></div>
In <a href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.com/2012/10/paws-threatens-to-sue-me-heres-laywers.html" target="_blank">my previous blog</a> I told about that <a href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.com/2012/10/paws-threatens-to-sue-me-heres-laywers.html" target="_blank">Pat Derby / PAWS threatens to sue me</a>. <span style="color: #0000ee;"><u>(</u></span>In 2002, PAWS spent $67,000 in legal fees, according to its income tax return. Money from kind people who gave her donations, believing that all the money went to her animals.) It so happened that Mrs Derby passed away in February 2013, and I have not heard anything more from her lawyers.<br />
During an interview, Pat Derby said that: "she is convinced that
“speech killed us, because the first thing we learn to speak we learn to
lie".<br />
<br />
This may, in her case, be very true. In numerous interviews she says that she "that she developed her own training methods based on love and trust", but this seems to be wrong, according to other people.<br />
<br />
I have documents (<span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="color: red;"><a href="http://www.elephant.se/Pat_Derby_letters.pdf" target="_blank">download here</a></span></span>)
stating <b>Pat Derbys poor competence as animal trainer, critizising her
total lack of welfare for animals in her posession, as well as privately
taking money away from shared bank accounts </b>with other persons os
companies, which you can read further down, and at the bottom of the page you find links and sources mentioned, but lets begin with an introducation:<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_LT7FOwt0_U/UYbxwarV_hI/AAAAAAAAE_s/rOXtZZuPcHQ/s1600/truth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_LT7FOwt0_U/UYbxwarV_hI/AAAAAAAAE_s/rOXtZZuPcHQ/s320/truth.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<h2>
Pat Derby</h2>
Pat Derby, (June 7, 1942 - February 15, 2013) born Patricia Bysshe Shelley in Sussex, England, met the animal trainer <span class="st">Theodore Ralph Ball (alias Ted <i>Derby</i>, </span>Pat convinced him to take his mothers maiden name Derby, as stage name) in 1964, who supplied trained animals for animals for the movies, in a San Francisco nightclub in the mid-’60s. They married, and settled in Placerita Canyon in Newhall, north of Los Angeles.<br />
<br />
Here they faced protests from neighbors, because of the animals, why they, and their animals, moved to Buellton, where the business gradually changed from animals trained for movies, to an animal shelter, sometimes reaching about 200 animals. <b> </b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Be sure to read the poster below!!</b></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="[Image0003.JPG]" border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2gu7dLmFphk/SL351WWz5sI/AAAAAAAAF5k/HrjHYgrIlnM/s640/Image0003.JPG" width="398" /> </div>
<br />
On Internet <span style="font-size: small;">I</span> found the following: "The Andersen Animal Farm, behind Pea Soup Andersen’s, had exotic animals and a train for children to ride. It was operated for two years in the early 1970s by former Pea Soup Andersen’s owner Vince Evans, who died in a plane crash."
"The business thrived under Evans' hand. By then the restaurant was purchasing 50 tons of peas each year, enough for three-quarters of a million bowls of soup! He built an aviary and filled it with parrots, he installed a train for children to ride that went from the restaurant to the area where the motel now stands, and even had a miniature wild animal park for two years. The park was discontinued in 1970 to make way for the addition of a Danish style motel in 1970."<br />
<br />
The couple divorced in the mid-1970s, and Ted Derby took some 30 animals to his new place in Tehachapi.<br />
On the morning of April 12, 1976. Derby was fatally shot by adjacent landowner Jack Coyne, 63. (Theodore Ralph Ball (alias Ted Derby) is buried in the Santa Barbara Cemetery. He was born 9/3/34 in New York, and died 4/12/76 in Bakersfield, CA
according to the cemetery records.)<br />
<br />
<b>Ted Derby was shot by a neighbour while stealing cattle, and t<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">he man who shot him was acquitted, according to </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Ronald L. Oxley, Action Animals, Acton, California. </span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">In the same year, 1976 Pat Derby me<span style="font-size: small;">t</span> Ed Stewart.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">From the article <a href="http://sloblogs.thetribunenews.com/slovault/2010/06/open-wide-elephant-caretaker/" target="_blank">Open Wide</a><span style="font-size: small;">: </span></span></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Santa Barbara County officials asked Ms. Derby to move her animals out
after some Santa Ynez Valley ranchers complained the wild animal noises
were disturbing their livestock, according to a Santa Barbara County
Planning Department spokesman.<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>He added that Ms. Derby located the animals there without proper permits
and then didn’t follow through on applications for a conditional use
permit. He said the Santa Barbara County district attorney gave her
several extensions on the permit time limit, before he ordered her to
remove the animals.</span><br />
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<div style="color: black; font: 10pt sans-serif; height: 1px; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-transform: none; width: 1px;">
<br />
Read more here: http://sloblogs.thetribunenews.com/slovault/2010/06/open-wide-elephant-caretaker/#storylink=cpy</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">Since March 1977 the animals were housed at Earl Laursens farm in </span><span style="font-size: small;"> Nipomo Mesa, </span><span style="font-size: small;">Santa Ynez Valley<span style="font-size: small;">, California, </span>ac<span style="font-size: small;">cording to the article <a href="http://sloblogs.thetribunenews.com/slovault/2010/06/open-wide-elephant-caretaker/" target="_blank">Open Wide</a><span style="font-size: small;">, </span>where Pat Derby says <span style="font-size: small;">that <span style="font-size: small;">"</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Most of the animals are defanged or declawed". </span></span></span><br />
<div style="color: black; font: 10pt sans-serif; height: 1px; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-transform: none; width: 1px;">
<br />
Read more here: http://sloblogs.thetribunenews.com/slovault/2010/06/open-wide-elephant-caretaker/#storylink=cpy</div>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sloblogs.thetribunenews.com/slovault/files/2010/06/Elephant-breath-530x373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://sloblogs.thetribunenews.com/slovault/files/2010/06/Elephant-breath-530x373.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephant Neena and caretaker Ray Ryan, who went to work for Ms. Derby in <span style="font-size: small;">Nipomo Mesa </span>after she and her cougar appeared at an auto show in Chicago, his hometown.<br />
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Read more here: http://sloblogs.thetribunenews.com/slovault/2010/06/open-wide-elephant-caretaker/#storylink=cpy</div>
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Read more here: http://sloblogs.thetribunenews.com/slovault/2010/06/open-wide-elephant-caretaker/#storylink=cp</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">1978 they opened Howling Wolf Lodge and Wild Animal<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>Sanctuary in Leggett, California.<b><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In february 1982 the elephant <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=4619" target="_blank">Neena</a> seems to have died in a barn fire, during Pat Derbys care. More about this on <a href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.com/2013/05/ted-and-pat-derbys-first-elephant-neena.html" target="_blank">next blog</a>. (Anyone who has detailed information about Neenas death, please send it to me.)</span></span></b></span> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://coolrain44.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/pat-derbys-famous-wild-animals-e1275118326320.jpg?w=333&h=278" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="333" src="http://coolrain44.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/pat-derbys-famous-wild-animals-e1275118326320.jpg?w=333&h=278" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pat Derby’s Famous Wild Animals – Leggett, CA</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
In 1984, Pat and Ed founded the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) and Ed Stewart, the former car man, is currently director of Sanctuary Operations for PAWS’ three sanctuaries and serves as PAWS animal care manager. Ed Stewart recently wrote an article titled: <a href="http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2013/05/03/no-ethical-way-to-keep-elephants-in-captivity/" target="_blank">No Ethical Way to Keep Elephants in Captivity</a>, where he states that "I have more than 32 years of experience caring for elephants, both Asian
and African, including raising calves and managing dangerous bull
elephants. My partner, and PAWS’ co-founder, Pat Derby, had more than 38
years of experience working with elephants. ", and in the same article<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent"> he appearently can look into the future when he says: "</span></span>The inadequacies for elephants in captivity will always be a source of disease and suffering for elephants", but he forgots to mention why only a few percent of captive elephants are suffering from diseases now, today. The former car man doesnt go into any details why he claim to be an elephant specialist. But when speaking about his experience with "raising calves and managing dangerous bull
elephants" he seem to forget that PAWS has no breeding, no calfs were born there, and both their bulls are castrated.<br />
<br />
So what about Pat Derbys claimed 38
years of experience working with elephants?<b> </b><br />
<br />
It seems actually that Ted Derby bought their first elephant Neena 43
years ago, in 1970, and Ted died 37 years ago, in 1976, which gives me
the indication that Pat started to take care of Neena after Teds death,
until <b>Neena appearently died in flames in the barnfire</b> six years later, in 1982. <br />
<br />
Ed Stewart says he has over 32 years experience with elephants. 2013-32 = 1981, one year before Neena died. After this Pat Derby and Ed Stewart didnt had any elephants, until 71 arrived in 1986. <br />
<br />
<h2>
Signed statements from people who knew Pat Derby:</h2>
<hr />
Ronald L. Oxley, Action Animals, Acton, California writes 1984:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">This
letter in response to a letter I received from PAWS announcing the formation
of their new organization. I have relevant, important comments to make concerning
Pat Derby who I suspect is in collusion with Ms. Sue Pressum in the
formation of PAWS. <br />
<br />
Mrs. Derby claim to have been an animal trainer for 20 years, <b>while in fact her
and he: late husband's short independent career as "trainers" lasted
from 5-7 years.</b> During this short career they were guilty of <b>severe animal
abuse at their own hand</b>.. They maintained <b>animals under the most abusive </b></span></span><b>and cruelest of circumstances.</b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
<br />
Among their more notable achievements was <b>time constant tranquilization of mammals</b>,
on the set of the filming of the Lassie series. The Derbys could not train their
animals so they attempted to tranquilize animals as an alternative (substitute)
for their obligation to provide the show with trained wild animals. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One particular incident included the sedation
of <b>a cougar which was placed in a corral with a horse</b>. The horse became
excited, <b>kicked the cougar in the head, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and killed it</b>. Subsequently the camera operator
(who can attest to this event) <b>refused to film the Derbys' attempts to later
utilize tranquilized wolves</b>. <br />
<br />
While working on cougar commercial on location in the Valley of Fire in Nevada the
<b>Derbys allowed one of their cheetahs to die of heat stroke.</b> I can proof this event
with hard evidence.<br />
<br />
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.rexano.org/PAWS/p282-pat-derby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.rexano.org/PAWS/p282-pat-derby.jpg" width="203" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>Pat Derbys book Lady and the tiger</u></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u><br /></u></td></tr>
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</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The Derbys'<b> animals were never trained or conditioned to perform in motion
pictures and it was pure cruelty on their part for them to even “perform” in moving
pictures</b>; just to take their animals on the set was a <b>severe stress on their
animals</b>. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After their
separation <b>Pat Derby could not get a job</b> with her animals so she had <b>a veterinarian
euthanize the animals Ted Derby wouldn’t take and those to which she had no personal
attachment</b>. This is a most disgusting and disgraceful act. A friend and colleague
of mine witnessed these animals being <b>scooped up by a tractor shovel</b> and heaped
in a pile in the back of a pickup truck.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(On the picture to the right, you can read about when Pat Derby describes how she was killing animals the whole day.)</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span>
<br />
As an illustration of the character, ethics and morals of <b>Ted Derby it is a matter
of fact that he was killed while stealing cattle from a neighboring farmer.</b> He
had been, warned against rustling cattle prior to being shot for doing so.
The man who shot him was acquitted. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
<br />
My personal, well-founded feelings are that <b>Pat Derby is a frustrated
individual who is too lazy to find and/or create a meaningful career; she is
therefore praying upon the emotions of an uniformed, innocent public by seeking
donations to support P.A.W.S.</b> She solicits many under the guise of animal
humanity for her own personal needs so she can live “high on the hog” I
recently watched her on television being interviewed in the company of a bear which, she claimed
had been abused by an animal trainer. Who was this trainer? She was publically denouncing
"trainers" with no specifics; a rather irresponsible act. She was crying
during the interview- l wonder if she ever cries at night over the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>cases of neglect, outright: abuse and cruelty
of which she was guilty? </span><br /><br />Pat Derby should've been an actress because she has convinced so many people that she was animal trainer. I am convinced that she did not seek an acting career for the same reasons she is not animal trainer. Animal trainers work 12-16 hour days, seven days a week and should spend 75% of their income on cages, feed, animal transportation and property on which to maintain their animals. Animal trainers can ill afford to travel around the country collecting money and fabricating stories about the abuse of motion picture animals. <br /><br />The few professional animal trainers involved in supplying animals to the TV and Motion Picture Industry are quality people who take excellent care of their animals. On a purely economic basis it is hardly in their best interest to abuse their animals. <br /><br />I have always considered my ownership of animals a privilege and not a burden. My career as a Professional trainer has always been secondary to the health, welfare, and day-to-day care of my animals. I am proud and outspoken en ray love for animals. Pat Derby for years has written articles full of distortions and lies; she has given TV. interviews which are full of fabricated stories about animals, animal trainers, animal abuse, animal training, animal handling and animal care.<br />
<br />I am in favor of well meaning, highly qualified humane organizations who legitimately seek public and private support and aid in the elimination of any form of cruelty to animals. I will continue to support these organizations such as the American Humane Association who are under contract by the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers to police the use of animals on the set. There are other worthy organizations which I support who center their activities in the field, off the set. <br /><br />Any humane group that allows Pat Derby to represent them and use her acting abilities to distract from, whatever accomplishments the organization could achieve is wreckless in its judgment and has in itself been deceived by a professional cheat and a liar. The organization's objectives, goals and potential for future progress should be re-evaluated - or the organization should be reorganized or disbanded until a legitimate, knowledgeable, honest representative can be found. <br /><br />Personally, from this day hence I will continue to gather information, based upon witness testimonials to expose Pat Derby for what she really is - a fraud! Whether or not a class action suit, to cause Pat Derby to cease and desist in her activities is presently being discussed by interested parties in my area. <br /><br />P.A.W.S, and Pat Derby are not welcomed by our industry and their sordid lies and deceit of the public will not be tolerated. I respectfully caution you to tread carefully in the future and evaluate your allegations in the light of the serious repercussions which may result from any further attempts at public deceit, slandering of professionals and disruption of an industry who has successfully policed itself and driven off the bad characters which Mrs. Derby claims to exist. There are few of us professionals who derive a living by supplying animals for use in the motion picture, TV and entertainment field - we are beyond repute and can withstand any challenges Mrs. Derby cares to present. This is especially true in the light of Mrs. Derby's character, morals, ethics, past history, state of the art knowledge of animals and her present attempts to bilk a well-meaning public out of --20.00 --25.00 --35.00 --50 or other $. <br /> <br />Mr. Ronald L. Oxley</div>
<hr />
Transcript from a letter from <a href="http://www.animalactors.net/" target="_blank">Animal Actors of Hollwood</a>, from 1988:<br />
"I have known Pat Derby since 1967. At that time Pat and her then husband Ted were subrenting space from Jungleland for their animals. <br />
<br />
I was also familar with their training methods, or rather lack of them. On one occasion (The Red Skelton Show) I was present when they were asked to leave due to, in my opinion, embarrasingly bad performance and working style. Since Pat could not succeed as a movie trainer, she became an active member of the animal protection industry. <br />
<br />
In 1975 she introduced Sue Pressman of the H.S.U.S. as a movie producer to Frank Inn, the late George Toth, Ron Oxley and myself, a missrepresentation to say the least. Among others Pressman requested we tie a wolf temporarily in the sun so that she could take a better picture of it for her upcoming movie. The resulting "Expose" appeared in that famous clarion of truth "The National Enquirer" claiming us as cruel trainers' tormenting the wolf in the biasing sun. <br />
<br />
Just recently I have viewed a Canadian T.V. show "The Fifth Estate" where Pat Derby gave misleading, incorrect, and in my opinion hateful accusations against her former colleagues in the motion picture industry. <br />
<br />
Her actions preclude any fair or unbiased treatment towards this group of highly qualified, severly controlled and supervised group of tax paying professionals. In my opinion to have Pat Derby on the Fish and Game Commission Board is an intolerable situation, and I recommend her immediate removal. ."<br />
<br />
<hr />
Transcript from a letter from Jan Giacinto, <a href="http://companies.findthecompany.com/l/16173016/Exotic-Animals-in-Tarzana-CA" target="_blank">Exotic Animals in Santa Rita</a>, 1988:<br />
<br />
At your request, here is my statement about Pat Derby. I worked with her on several jobs. Quite a few years back I worked with her on the Cougar commercials. I supplied baby cougars on several jobs. Pat bragged about how the agency sent her cases of wine. That was her favorite drink and she would have her glass around ten in the morning. I have seen her drink wine while working on the commercial with full grown cougars.<br />
<br />
Speaking of abuse to animals, if Pat Derby used to use abuse, and says she does not, why does she think that all other trainers use abuse and if they did in Pat's days, why can't they have changed like she says she is? I worked a cheetah commercial with her. I am the only trainer who had cheetahs; so many trainers used my animal. The cheetah is a very expensive animal and very docile. We worked a commercial where the cheetah had to run a distance from point A to point B for a car conical. We did this in the desert during the heat of the day. My cat did the run many times and was getting tired and I told Pat that the animal would have to rest, but she insisted that we try longer. She would not let me talk to the director to explain. She said that she knew how they worked. The cheetah was to run in a straight line to show speed. Then when the cheetah didn't run fast enough, the studio used a motorcycle to chase my cat with to get better speed. After a few tries my cheetah just curled up in a ball and would not run any farther. The animal was breathing very hard and was scared. I told Pat that was enough. I would not kill my animal for any job. My cat was worth more to me than having to work and die for a few dollars.<br />
<br />
Then the location was moved over to another spot where there was a lot of very tall tumble weed, I told Pat to tell the director not to waste his time because my cat would not run through that stuff in a straight line and they would only waste a lot of time, but again she said she knew what she was doing and I told her that I would not let my animal run through the scene, and I did not.<br />
<br />
Gardner McKay was also on this job with his cheetah, which never worked, but he said he would try the scene. His cat would not run so Pat tied a chicken to a piece of rope about 8 to 10 feet long and raised the rope above her head so the other cheetah could see it and spun the poor chicken around in circles over her head so the cheetah could see it and run in her direction. She tried this several times, but the cat would not come to the bait.<br />
<br />
A chicken may be a chicken, but I thought that it was cruel thing to do. Also it was thoughtless to try to make any animal run through large tumble weeds. These things were higher than the cheetah and had prickly thorns on them. I could see my animal's feet get hurt or one of the thorns get in his eyes. On top of the many hours were wasted in placing a new set, when I knew in advance that my animal would not do it and I would not let him.<br />
<br />
I hope this will help you a little. Sincerely, Jan Giacinto<br />
<hr />
Shirley Keith, 1989: <br />
<b><i>"We found that Pat had opened a separate account,
under the non-profit name of orphans for the wild. with only her
signature required, and was divirting donations for her own use".</i></b><br />
<br />Sorry I was delayed for a short time. I started to continue with the narrative, but its too long - most of it is not pertinent. Some of the following might direct your effort in new directions. If you and your lawyer find anything that sounds hopeful, don’t hesitate to call on me.<br /><br />1972 – Orphans of the Wild got off to a good start by April 1972. Another friend and I put in the money to get the non-profit account opened and we elected officers. I asked not to be included on the Board of Directors, but would continue as a volunteer. A friend of mine agreed to act as treasurer, and two business friends and advisers. ( I can give you her name, but she doesn’t remember much about those few weeks.)<br /><br />She would handle donation income and outgo only with the understanding that her signature would have to appear on all transactions. It was so agreed. She emphasized she would do nothing to jeopardize her bonded integrity. <b>She resigned when she found that Pat had opened a separate account under the non-profit name of orphans of the wild, with only her signature required and was diverting donations for her own use. </b>(The only person that might have information is George Kalosky, then a vice president of that bank. He isn’t listed in the phone book, but I believe is still active here.)<br /><br />At fund-raiser, Pat and Ted often took money from donation cans to buy lunch for the volunteers. Ted worried when I objected; they told me they’d replace it later. I don’t know if it was. At this time Pat instructed everyone that we were answerable only to her. That Ted had no part in running the ‘business’ except to put his name where she pointed.<br /><br />Shortly thereafter we accidentally discovered that an official board had been elected without notice to the others who were continuing to give time and expertise - I can think only because Pat liked the prestige of some of them. They all left with very unpleasant feelings about the Derbys. Aside from resenting the extreme lack of courtesy to people who were giving up their time to help, I was pleased with the ‘real’ board. Foremost among them were General and Mrs. Pierpont–Morgan Hamilton. Besides their wealth, both were well known for their philanthropic work with animal welfare.<br /><br />The Derbys promised to use their salaries as well as income from the Zoo, commercials, etc. to support orphanage expenses, build new cages and meet all the goals proclaimed, using income earned at Zoo, income from commercial - as well as all donations. The Hamiltons arranged to meet any financial shortfall, with particular emphasis on meeting mortgage obligations, when income was not sufficient to keep the organization afloat. (I discovered later that, unknown to Pat, they were responsible for convincing the San Diego Zoo to hire the Derbys to prevent wild animal shows, and guarantee their salary.)<br /><br />During this time a couple who had co-signed a note toward purchase of farm equipment, came to me in distress. The note had come due and since the Derbys hadn’t paid out, they had been forced to meet the obligation. In spite of a family emergency had arisen, Pat had refused to meet them. They came to me after seeing Pat driving her new Jaguar (auto), while they were still driving their ancient BW to visit their son in the hospital. Although I had never met the people previously, Pats response was “Don’t bother me with your friends’ problems!” (They were never repaid. Their names may be somewhere in my files.)<br /><br />By autumn, it was apparent to me and to Betty Hayes (who had been engaged as ranch manager) that no compound improvement was being done as promised to members and donors; that merchants were beginning to lose their patience and were dunning for payment of long overdue bills. Betty and I quit in August 1972.<br /><br />In Spring 1973 while I was volunteering at our local zoo a very subdued Pat called me begging me to help. The Pierpont-Morgan Hamiltons were suing Orphans of the Wild, forcing them into bankruptcy. There was an emergency need for funds to prevent the animal from going to the block. (I think risking the welfare of animals by misuse of their support is cruelty!)<br /><br />With the understanding I would merely write literature, answer fan letters, etc. as before, but have nothing to do with fund raising or other involvement in business, I agreed to help. The new organization was not tax deductible.<br /><br />Besides generous donations, movies and television brought in some money; their training school brought in $1000 per student for a six week course. Most of the upkeep of the animals was done by students as part of the course. Beyond feeding the animals, nothing was spent on improving the compound. Ted finally filed for and received a divorce from Pat. She moved from the house but they continued as partners.<br /><br />In mid-1974 Pat leased (using ‘her own money’) an ‘option to buy’ a large home in Sant Ynez Valley, about twelve miles from the compound. About three months later she and her boyfriend decided to purchase twenty acres and luxury home off Los Osos, and start a rival compound. She moved there, trying unsuccessfully to get Ted to take over her lease. He refused, and their partnership was dissolved. The Johnsons and Secretary Shirley Andberg (Solvang) continued on Pat salary; I continued to work for Ted gratis.<br /><br />A lawsuit had been initiated against Pat by two students for requiring them to clean Pats house and small animal compound there. It was dropped when the students discovered that they could not sue Pat without suing Ted as well, who they felt blameless. (If this looks useful, I’ll try to find out their names.)<br /><br />By October it was clear that the orphanage was going under. The final blow was foreclosure by the ranch owners who gave them until the beginning of 1975 to move themselves and the animals.<br /><br />Ted and Pat moved to temporarily donated locations, each taking as many animals as they could manage to maintain. Homes were found for some. Three wolf cubs were born New Years Day (1975). That day, except for them, about seventeen unplaced animals (including a Kodiak bear, two Grizzly Bears, and the remaining wolves including the new mother) were put down by Pete Batten and buried in the hills behind the compound. <br />
<br />When Ted met Pat (about 1964) he was chief trainer for Ralph Helfer. Pat begged for and was given a job tending animals (by her own account in her book “Lady and Her Tiger” page 29 she states: At this point its important to talk about the way I was with animals in those days. In the first place, I didn’t know what they were. I loved them passionately and indiscriminately, but …. I had no slightest understanding of what it was that I loved nor of what such a love, to be real, must demand of me.”<br /><br />Almost at once she began to want to start her own business with Ted as partner. When he refused, she waited until they were both guest of Bill Burrud on a radio show, at which time she publicly denounced Helfer and all other animal trainers as cruel, abusive, tec. (This has always been her line – that only Pat Derby knows how to treat animals.)<br /><br />There was going to be a multiple lawsuit, but eventually Ralph, because of his long friendship with Ted withdrew, but fired both Derbys. (They said they left because of suit)<br />
<br /><br /><br /><br />Pete Batten, formerly Director of San Jose Zoo. Helped Derbys on and off until the final breakup of the orphanage in Buellton, at which time he did the hardest thing of all – he put down all the animals which could not be placed elsewhere. I was with him – Pat would not accompany him, instead remained in the little ‘kitchen’ screaming about the poor animals – the animals that died because money to keep them and the land had been used for her personal gain. <br />
<br />
Mrs. Beverly Coburn (then Mrs. James Coburn)<br /><br />Donated monkeys and caging, plus support when Orphans of the Wild was opened. After the bankruptcy (see narrative) she continued to make donations, but stopped when Pat told her to ignore her (Bs) managers directions and make the donations larger.<br /><br />The most important people backing the Derbys when the park contract was cancelled and Orphans of the Wild was organized, were General and Mrs. Pierpont Morgan-Hamilton, both noted for philanthropies, including human movements such as Seeing Eye Dogs, etc. Nora has remarried, now Mrs. King Straus. The General, I believe has passed away.<br /><br />I hesitate to mention them – Nora was very bitter about the entire affair. The Hamiltons had, beside generous donations and acting Directors, had guaranteed to meet any shortfall, particularly with regard to mortgage payments. The 300 valuable acres had been sold to the Derbys at a very reduced price, with a guarantee that every consideration would be taken to help them maintain the animals. Very few, if any, mtg payments had been made, nor were made until in 1974 the lien holders foreclosed.<br /><br />The Hamiltons also arranged a contract with the San Diego Zoo for the Derbys to produce a ‘Wild Animal Show’ with an extremely generous salary suggested by Mrs. Hamilton. The shows were tremendously successful – but very little of that income, including the fact that the show animals were boarded free of charge, was ever directed to payment of any bills including animal care.<br /><br />The Hamiltons not only withdrew support when it was found that no money had been paid on the mortgage, building of animal facilities had halted, and the old ranch house was being expensively renovated.<br /><br />They caused a bankruptcy to be declared. The animals were to be sold unless a sum of $10,000 was paid.<br /><br />We did two fund-raising shows and I did a lot of publicity trying to regain trust. The non-profit Ootw was no longer in business.<br /><br />I don’t know where Pat got the money but the $10,000* was paid and they started over again. [I had left the Derbys in the fall of 1972 when I became very angry about the misuse of funds – at the same time Betty Hayes also left.<br /><br />I did not see the Derbys again for three months at which time Pat called me begging me to help pick up the pieces and try to overcome the failure and continue in spite of not being able to offer tax incentives.<br /><br />Betty Hayes Endicott (I’ve lost touch, but you may find her through the Screen Actors Guild – stuntwoman and character actress – last job I know of she was stand-in for Pernell Roberts in Trapper John)<br /><br />Betty was ranch manager for Orphans of the Wild in Buellton from late 1971-until fall 1972, when we both decided there was too much lack of integrity. She, like all of us who were on the so-called board of directors, was very disturbed by Pat’s misuse of donations to the non-profit corporation. She did the books, and was aware of all transactions. She, the Johnsons and I frequently talked about leaving, but always hoped we or someone could make Pat understand that donations to animals cannot be used to buy new cards, clothes, or antique furniture.<br /><br />There are several other names, but, like the above were so very hurt and disgusted that I don’t want to give you without their permission, and if they request, promise they will not have to appear in court. I talk to them as soon as I can react them.<br />
<hr />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">D</span>ownload the original <span style="font-size: large;">l</span>etters about Pat Derby below.</span></b><br />
<br />
Finally, heres a few lines what <a href="http://www.circusfans.org/res_det.php?res_id=348" target="_blank">Circus Fans Association of America</a> writes about Pat Derby:<br />
<br />
The California based Performing Animal Welfare Society has been active in ant-circus efforts since its founding. An argument might be made that PAWS is less a true liberationist group or welfare society and more of personal fiefdom for founder and former Hollywood animal trainer Pat Derby. Like PeTA, PAWS has enjoyed significant success with direct mail fund raising. In fact donations have allowed have allowed PAWS to become significant property owners both around their original "sanctuary" in Galt , CA and the Sierra foothills where they have acquired more 2000 acres for a larger animal compound.<br />
<br />
The National Farm Medicine Center studied one typical rural medical center over a two year period in 1994 and 1995 and reported 74 cases of horse related injures requiring in-patient treatment in a single community with a population of fewer than 59,000 people. In contrast in the two hundred years since the first elephant was exhibite d in America even the Performing Animal Welfare Society, reports only 120 approximate injuries directly or indirectly linked to elephant accidents -- with fewer than half of these accidents involving spectators at the circus. Sixty elephant related circus spectator injuries in 200 years in all of the United States versus 74 horse related injuries in 24 months in one rura l area with less than 59,000 people -- it's amazing that PAWS isn't su ggesting the closure of every stable in the United States . Moreover while PAWS reminds us that OSHA deems working with elephants to be a "dangerous occupation," they suggest that elephants will thrive in shelters, operations frequently staffed by volunteers with no professional experience and little training. If elephants are so dangerous in the circus by virtue of the fact that they are wild animals, then why aren't they equally dangerous when housed at the PAWS "sanctuary?" <br />
<br />
"Because elephants are uniformly mistreated in circus training and they're forced to perform," they tell us. And where's the evidence to support that? Elephant related accidents are relatively rare, and when they do occur those accidents are as likely to happen in a zoo (where the animals don't perform) as they are in a circus. <br />
<br />
PAWS likes to trumpet violations of USDA Animal Welfare Act standards by circuses traveling with elephants, but a look at the actual violations cited reveals that most of these violations were minor, <br />
not unlike the several violations racked up by Pat Derby s own sanctuary in Galt. <br />
<br />
Animal People further reminds usin their archives that PAWS Executive Director Derby lost a multi-million dollar libel judgement in August 1990 in a Nevada lawsuit brought by orangutan trainer Bobby Berosini. Derby was named in that suit along with PETA and others. Although the verdict was overturned upon appeal, apparently the 1990 jury decided that Derby and other activists weren't credible sources for information. <br />
<br />
In recent years PAWS and Ms Derby have enjoyed some successes in "acquiring" elephants from Ringling Bros, in settlement for an ill-conceived espionage effort against the animal rights group, and from the San Francisco Zoo, which bowed to pressure for liberationist group nd city council to give up its animals. How will the elephants do under Derby s care? One zoo elephant has already been euthenized, according to Derby from the long term effects of captivity. Given her record one can t be sure that that "bull" will be the only casualty. Derby rarely mentions how in her days as a trainer and operator of a roadside zoo in Buellton , CA another elephant in her care died in a barn fire. PAWS would probably say, "at least it wasn t the circus." <br />
<hr />
1984: marked the year the organization started animal rescue efforts.<br />
<br />
Rexano writes in their article <a href="http://www.rexano.org/hypocritical_sanctuaries.htm" target="_blank">Hypocritical Exotic and Wild Animal Sanctuaries</a>: "There are too many exotic and wild animal "sanctuary/rescue" animal owners with questionable past or present. They try to ban the innocent, legal, loving and presently legal, responsible, private exotic/wild animal owners in order to deflect the attention from themselves and their irresponsible ways. <br />
<br />
These people are hypocrites, they want to keep their exotic pets and getting public donations for them, while pushing for the legislation/laws that would ban others (the responsible people) from doing the same. These are the HYPOCRITICAL ANIMAL RESCUES or SANCTUARIES or whatever their latest name change might be. "<br />
<br />
While critizising zoos and circuses, it seems to me that Pat Derby failed in her profession as animal trainer, and choose to take a short-cut, marketing herself as a animal heroine, and trying to make working life more difficault for her previous competitors, by critizising them publically, as well as paying lawyers to harass people. All those money, as far as I can understand, came from public donations:<br />
<br />
<b>2002: PAWS spent $67,000 in legal fees, according to its income tax return. </b><br />
<b><a href="http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=M_YlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yfwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5672%2C3336928" target="_blank">Link to article describing different legal activities, including their neighbours.</a></b><br />
<br />
2003-09: In September 2003, the 51 years old Asian female <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=2845">Tamara</a> was euthanised.<b> </b><br />
<br />
2003: The following figures of the PAWS animal industry are from 2003: Derby makes $36,416, plus housing on the Galt sanctuary grounds, while Stewart, as secretary and treasurer, makes exactly $1 less. PAWS had a net worth of more than $3.5 million while spending more than $1.7 million per year. The land value of its three sanctuaries is about $6 million, but the organization owes $1.6 million in mortgages to five lenders.<br />
<br />
2005-03: In March 2005, the 39 years old Asian female <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=168">Tinkerbelle</a>,was euthanaised, Tinkerbelle arrived in November 2004. <br />
<br />
<b>2007: So, In any case, she has made a lot of money with her business: <a href="http://www.rexano.org/PAWS/2007-943005157-04062033-9.pdf" target="_blank">here is PAWS 2007 tax report</a>. </b><br />
<br />
2008-04: In April 2008, the 56 years old Asian female <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=157">Winky (Winkie)</a> Winky arrived in August 2005.<b> </b><br />
<br />
2010-10-08: The elephant bull Sabu arrives at PAWS, who wrote in their <a href="http://www.pawsweb.org/2010_newsletter.pdf">2010 newsletter</a>: Prince and Sabu, both retired performing elephants, are in good health so we expect them to be with us for a very long time. In this newsletter is also mentioned a very cool and rainy spring. <br />
<h2>
2010: $1.8 million in donations received in 2010. </h2>
2011: was the final year PAWS hosted an open house at its 30-acres
sanctuary in Galt after opening the new facility in San Andreas.<br />
<br />
2012: Animal rights activists main stream has claimed that <a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=1425">Performing Animal Welfare Society / ARK 2000 (PAWS)</a> is the only suitable place for the<a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=197">3 african elephants at Toronto Zoo</a> in Canada. Thousands of people have signed petitions that Toronto elephants should be moved to PAWS, encouraged by, among other celebrities, Bob Parker. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://external.ak.fbcdn.net/safe_image.php?d=AQBlq0LnV9Uu0JTl&w=90&h=90&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.kickstatic.com%2Fkickapps%2Fimages%2F62973%2Fphotos%2FPHOTO_6896578_62973_18674059_ap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://external.ak.fbcdn.net/safe_image.php?d=AQBlq0LnV9Uu0JTl&w=90&h=90&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.kickstatic.com%2Fkickapps%2Fimages%2F62973%2Fphotos%2FPHOTO_6896578_62973_18674059_ap.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sabu in the snow at PAWS.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
2012-01-11: Sabu, the latest arrived elephant, collapsed in his sleeping stall early Wednesday at ARK 2000 in San Andreas, and and was <a href="http://www.elephant.se/elephant_euthanasia.php">euthanised</a> according to PAWS due to "severe arthritis in multiple joints.". What PAWS did not tell was that already in 2000 Sabu tested positive for TB (Tuberculosis). The U.S. Department of Agriculture also found that two other elephants that died at PAWS within the past two years also tested positive for TB, according to necropsy reports. PAWS says the cause of death in both cases was not TB, but arthritis.<br />
<br />
2012-01-16: <a href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.com/2012/01/tuberculosis-in-two-elephant.html" target="_blank">On my blog I comment on Sabus death</a>, and among other things, ask the question if it is logical to only see a TB infected location holder, pretty up north in west coast north America, as the single only place where Torontos elephants should live, just because a retired showman want to pay the transport of the elephants, if they come there, and can the defenition Sanctuary really be applied to a location holding with infected animals, carrying a chronic, lethal disease? Regardless of if they claim they have a TB quarantene? Is there, scientifically, an existing TB quarantene at PAWS?<br />
<br />
I also reflected on wether the elephant stables really is a suitable playground for children and youths and if the youths and their parents also learned about the lethal zoonosis infection elephants from those stables are carrying? (See the picture below, with caption text)<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-plpG-2Vhiv4/UHb_lEFW6RI/AAAAAAAAB5c/7El99_g6I6s/s1600/youths_at_PAWS_2012_redigerad-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-plpG-2Vhiv4/UHb_lEFW6RI/AAAAAAAAB5c/7El99_g6I6s/s400/youths_at_PAWS_2012_redigerad-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
JULY 29, 2012: Le PeTiT CiRqUe'S HUMANITARIAN cirque company of kids visited the Performing Animal Welfare Society's Incredible 23,000 sq.ft sanctuary and learned about the incredible animals they are performing for at the AVALON THEATRE on Sept-30. Since all of our productions are humanitarian based, the youths learned about these animals and where they were rescued from.<br />
I also comment on the cold winter conditions at PAWS, and find it unprofessional to let the elephants walk in and out on their own decision: <br />
<br />
An article written 2009 ago says: Nicholas, PAWS Asian bull elephant, walked outside for a few moments, but he obviously preferred a heated floor and very warm water for drinking to the beautiful, but frigid conditions in his outdoor habitat.<br />
<br />
It is not known if PAWS are following the The AZA 40 degrees F rule. It seems like the elephants can choose as to stay inside or outside: "<b><i><span style="color: navy;"></span></i></b><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<fieldset>
<i>Last Thursday, as Detroit's elephants snaked their way across the
Plains States in a semi-trailer truck, Derby shuffled out every two
hours in a nightlong rainstorm to check on the three Asian elephants
that had refused to come into the barn that night. With a 10,000-candle
power spotlight, she verified their whereabouts while often wallowing
in a pond that night and returned for another fitful 120 minutes of
sleep. "If they go down, you've got about two hours to get them up
before they suffocate" under their own weight, she explained. Earlier
this year an elephant did go down. Tinkerbell, who had only been at Ark
2000 for four months after her transfer from the San Francisco Zoo,
collapsed and had to be euthanized</i>. (<a href="http://www.animalliberationfront.com/ALFront/Interviews/PatDerby.htm">source</a>)</fieldset>
</div>
<br />
2012-05-04: <a href="http://www.elephant-news.com/index.php?id=6242" target="_blank">SPCA Australia starts a campaign</a>, with ambition to get <a href="http://www.elephant-news.com/index.php?id=6242">$500k</a> in order to send the elephant Mila at Franklin Zoo and Wildlife Sanctuary, south of Auckland to PAWS, after Mila killed Franklin Zoo director Helen Schofield. <br />
<b> </b><br />
<br />
2012-10-11: I get a mail from <a href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.com/2012/10/paws-threatens-to-sue-me-heres-laywers.html" target="_blank">PAWS laywer Nicholas Nesgos with a threat to sue me</a>.<br />
<br />
2012-10-26: The Board of Management of the Toronto Zoo received a letter from
the Performing Animal Welfare Society´s (PAWS) American attorneys
threatening legal action against the Toronto Zoo.<br />
<br />
<b>2013-02-15: Mrs Pat Derby died of <span class="paragraph-1">throat cancer on Feb. 15 at the age of 69.</span></b><br />
<br />
<h3>
PAWS is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. PAWS Fed ID # is 94-3005157.</h3>
<h3>
You can probably find out more about this lucrative business!</h3>
<span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>On next Blog: <a href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.com/2013/05/ted-and-pat-derbys-first-elephant-neena.html" target="_blank">Pat Derby´s forgotten elephant Neena who died in a barnfire in 1982</a>.</b></span></span><br />
<br />
Sources:<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.elephant.se/Pat_Derby_letters.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">Letters about Pat Derby</span></a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.circusfans.org/res_det.php?res_id=348" target="_blank">Circus Fans Association of America</a></span> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=4619" target="_blank">The elephant Neena in the elephant database</a></span> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.animalactors.net/" target="_blank">Animal Actors of Hollwood</a></li>
<li>T<a href="http://boryanabooks.com/?p=476">he deep Dark Past of an Elephant Oasis</a></li>
<li><a href="http://santamariatimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/aa7c2722-662a-11df-b957-001cc4c002e0.html">Ideas for the avenues taking shape</a><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></li>
<li><a href="http://boards.ancestry.com/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=12&p=localities.northam.usa.states.california.counties.santabarbara" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ted Ball on Ancestry.com</span></span></span></a></li>
<li> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Derby" target="_blank">Wikipedia: Pat Derby</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.rexano.org/hypocritical_sanctuaries.htm" target="_blank">Hypocritical Exotic and Wild Animal Sanctuaries</a> </li>
<li><b><a href="http://www.rexano.org/PAWS/2007-943005157-04062033-9.pdf" target="_blank">PAWS 2007 tax report</a>. </b></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>
<a href="http://www.rexano.org/PAWS/PAWS_USDA.pdf" target="_blank">
</a></b></span><a href="http://www.rexano.org/PAWS/PAWS_USDA.pdf" target="_blank">USDA Inspections at PAWS February 2010</a> <br />
<b> </b></li>
</ul>
DanKoehlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245638586616063380noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7719911693377170022.post-73254263916580311162012-10-14T08:53:00.001+02:002016-03-21T10:38:56.893+01:00PAWS threatens to sue me? Heres the laywers letter.<br />
In my mailbox a couple of days ago, was mail from a law firm in Boston, representing PAWS and Le Petit Cirque, with the subject:Cease and Desist: Defamatory Postings and Copyright Infringement. For anyone who never heard of PAWS (Performing Animals Welfare Society), its a "animal sanctuary" up in Galt, northern California, USA, owned by Pat Derby and Ed Stewart, and in spite of its impressing incomes, its refered to as a non-profit. Obviously some of their funding is used to pay lawyers: The mail I recieved from PAWS lawyers, contained a pdf document with the following: <span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n82yUcZqH2w/UHdOBHZDKoI/AAAAAAAAB50/pj0kJVvHTs8/s1600/paws_law_suit_1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n82yUcZqH2w/UHdOBHZDKoI/AAAAAAAAB50/pj0kJVvHTs8/s640/paws_law_suit_1.bmp" width="494" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ljE19Oy67Tg/UHdOLIETqhI/AAAAAAAAB58/gyZjx9PN-nc/s1600/paws_law_suit_2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ljE19Oy67Tg/UHdOLIETqhI/AAAAAAAAB58/gyZjx9PN-nc/s640/paws_law_suit_2.bmp" width="494" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Apart from a lot of irrelevant text masses in this document, comes the first written confirmation from PAWS that several of their elephants suffer from TB. The document does not only mention the elephant, but it says the elephantS that suffer from TB etc...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Obviously the lawyer doesnt have a clue what he is talking about. I guess, during his studies, that he never specialized in Tuberculosis, or how it can be diagnosed on elephants. He may be excused, and I also think hes doing his job, and need to earn his money. He probably believe that PAWS tell truth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The people who gave money to PAWS, so PAWS can sue as many people they want, are also excused. They belive that they are doing something good, saving elephants and saving the world, by giving an organisation money, although the organsation wants more elephants to come to their TB-infected facility. Together with those elephants will also more money come. And more power.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">PAWS are not, and can never be, excused. They must, or should know, that within their group of elephants, maybe, or rather probably, all elephants are infected, even if they can not confirm this by tests. All present elephants has during the years been mixed with each other, and two has been TB positive during autopsy. Tuberculosos is known to be carried away over distances, and in The Elephant Sanctuary, where they argued that the founder Carol Buckley kept "the highest standard" etc in the TB monitoring, some years later 9 of the TES staff tested positive, including 3 from administration building. Shortly after this, Mrs Buckley was dismissed from TES.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The owners of PAWS, as well as Mrs <span class="st">Julie Woodyer</span> from ZooCheck Canada, and Toronto <span class="fcg"><a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=203398386337720" href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Councillor-Michelle-Berardinetti-Ward-35/203398386337720" id="js_20">Councillor Michelle Berardinetti, </a>(who according to some sources may have a background as animal rights activist and associated with ZooCheck) </span>are the only people I can find that claim that PAWS elephants are free of TB. None of those three persons, to my knowledge, are veterinarians. </span></div>
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<span class="st" style="font-size: small;">Julie Woodyer is against zoos in general, and has been campaigning many years to move Canadas elephants to any of the TB infected sanctuaries in U.S.A, which gives an interesting indication about how much she in reality care for those elephants healths. <a href="http://sumac.com/zoocheck-canada">Here</a> she says "</span><span class="st" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: italic;">I would recommend Sumac to charities large and small
who
want an easy transition and a user friendly database that will meet all
of your fundraising needs</span>." Without fundrasing ZooCheck Canada wouldnt exist, and in order to get fundings, ZooCheck must exploit animals in a way, so people gets motivated to send them money.</span></div>
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<span class="st" style="font-size: small;">Berardinetti, more or less repeats Julie and PAWS words like a parrot, and pretend for the Toronto citizens that she is some sort of elephant expert, and PAWS, as owner of a sanctuary which is a BIG money industry, does not want their sanctuary to be closed down from public visitors. <i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Those three people, has to my knowledge, not found one single veterinarian, having insight on elephant TB, that back up their personal ideas about TB on elephants. From my point of view, its totally amazing, that the local Police does not move their butts into their vehicles, drive to TB-infected sanctuaries like this, ask for the keys to the gate, and close them completely for visitors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Any person with common knowledge of animals, would understand that this is not a place to send healthy elephants. A person with minor intellectual capacity, would understand that its not a suitable playground for children. And that parents to those children have any reason to be upset, if, or when they get information that their children has been inside elephants stables, on a location where animals possibly suffer from Tuberculosis and that at least 2 elephants during the last 2 years tested positive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Le Petit cirque is a pretty unknown organisation to me, why I will wait to discuss them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">All I can say is that I saw the picture with their performers playing around in PAWS elephants stables, which for many reasons doesnt seem to be the best place, in July this year!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I became of course upset, and on an old blog I did in January, called <span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.se/2012/01/tuberculosis-in-two-elephant.html">Tuberculosis in two U.S. elephant sanctuaries</a>, I copied the picture, and made the following remark:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"> And should the elephant stables really be a playground for children and youths?<br />
<br />
<br />
</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-plpG-2Vhiv4/UHb_lEFW6RI/AAAAAAAAB5c/7El99_g6I6s/s1600/youths_at_PAWS_2012_redigerad-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-plpG-2Vhiv4/UHb_lEFW6RI/AAAAAAAAB5c/7El99_g6I6s/s320/youths_at_PAWS_2012_redigerad-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> <i><span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">JULY 29, 2012: Le PeTiT CiRqUe'S
HUMANITARIAN cirque company of kids visited the Performing Animal
Welfare Society's Incredible 23,000 sq.ft sanctuary and learned about
the incredible animals they are performing for at the AVALON THEATRE on
Sept-30. Since all of our productions are humanitarian based, the youths
learned about these animals and where they were rescued from</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">Did the youths and their parents also learned about the lethal zoonosis infection elephants from those stables are carrying?</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText" style="font-size: small;">Only hours later, PAWS lawyer send me the mail with the letter above. The lawyer is not only refering to the lines about my worries for the children and youths health situation, but also asking me to remove text concearning PAWS from my websites. I guess they are refering to the following:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><img src="http://external.ak.fbcdn.net/safe_image.php?d=AQBlq0LnV9Uu0JTl&w=90&h=90&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.kickstatic.com%2Fkickapps%2Fimages%2F62973%2Fphotos%2FPHOTO_6896578_62973_18674059_ap.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 3px; width: 150px;" /></span></span><span style="color: white;">After <span style="color: white;"><a href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.se/2012/01/tuberculosis-in-two-elephant.html">my blog in January 2012</a></span> it is n</span><span style="color: white;">ow confirmed that 2 U.S. elephant "sanctuaries" are now Tuberculosis infected, <a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=253&show=1">The elephant sanctuary in Tennessee</a>, and <a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=1425">PAWS</a> in northern California. PAWS want more elephants, so their funds from the public can increase! Please search as much information you can find regarding the planned translocation of 3 healthy african elephants from <a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=197">Toronto Zoo</a> to <a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=1425">PAWS "elephant sanctuary" in NORTHERN California</a>. The picture shows Nicholas, PAWS Asian bull elephant, walking in the snow. It is not known if PAWS are following the The AZA 40 degrees F rule. It seems like the elephants can choose as to stay inside or outside. Last year the Bull Sabu died, officially of "severe arthritis", however PAWS in their newsletter wrote one year before: Prince and Sabu, both retired performing elephants, are in good health so we expect them to be with us for a very long time. In this PAWS newsletter it also mentioned a very cool and rainy spring. PAWS and ZooCheck Canada have tried to hide that Sabu was also suffering from Tuberculosis. The U.S. Department of Agriculture also found that two other elephants that died at PAWS within the past two years also tested positive for [tuberculosis] TB, according to necropsy reports. Please <a href="http://www.save3elephants.blogspot.ca/">sign the petition asking Toronto City Council, to terminate the Agreement with PAWS, and let professionals decide about Toronto elephants whereabouts!</a></span><br />
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<div style="background-color: yellow;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: red;">PAWS is also closely associated with the animal rights people who are against zoos, and plan to setup an "elephant sanctuary" in europe, which, if it comes to reality, also will be dependant on funding from AR people for its existence, and maybe using "Noble Cause Corruption" methods.</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText" style="font-size: small;">I guess many people would be scared if they got a document like the one above, with threats sent from a lawyer. I was puzzled for some days, and decided that Im not, and will never be scared of people that are trying to hide facts, and scare critical people to be quiet. Especially if they are red haired, and looks like they have problems of moving their body because of their body weight.</span></div>
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<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText" style="font-size: small;">This woman may have rich people giving her money, but they will never have so much so they can buy my silence. And Im sorry, but I worked a couple of animals with larger teeth than her lawyers...</span></div>
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This is not the first time that PAWS is engaged in law suits, contrary, this seems to be an important part of their activities. "PAWS continues to waste its contributors' money pursuing ridiculous litigation," said Stockton attorney Dean Ruiz, representing two clients who won a case against PAWS last year. "If I was a donor, I'd want my money back." <br />
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In 2002, PAWS spent $67,000 in legal fees, according to its income tax return. <br />
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Source (2003) : <a href="http://www.lodinews.com/news/article_d69cd6ba-9c56-5652-b905-04f8a291cc3f.html">Along with success, PAWS faces legal, financial challenges</a><span class="fbPhotoCaptionText" style="font-size: small;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/lodinews.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/c1/0c14cc8e-5548-5a40-a099-9219e3e19498/0c14cc8e-5548-5a40-a099-9219e3e19498.preview-300.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/lodinews.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/c1/0c14cc8e-5548-5a40-a099-9219e3e19498/0c14cc8e-5548-5a40-a099-9219e3e19498.preview-300.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">P</span>at Derby with elephants</td></tr>
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</span></span></span></span>The following figures of the PAWS animal industry are from 2003: Derby makes $36,416, plus housing on the Galt sanctuary grounds, while Stewart, as secretary and treasurer, makes exactly $1 less. PAWS had a net worth of more than $3.5 million while spending more than $1.7 million per year. The land value of its three sanctuaries is </div>
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Yes, you read right, In 2002, PAWS spent $67,000 in legal fees, according to its income tax return.<br />
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In one lawsuit, PAWS sued John Ham, who lives on property next door to ARK 2000 west of San Andreas, Ham's friend, Kevin Krantz, and Frank Eckblom, publisher of the Calaveras County Daily News, in 2002, claiming that they defamed and harassed PAWS.<br />
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However, in September 2002, David L. DeVore, a visiting judge from Alpine County, threw out the lawsuit, saying that Ham, Krantz and Eckblom were exercising their First Amendment rights regarding a public matter. PAWS still owes Ham and Krantz about $7,000 in court and legal costs, and it owes Eckblom about $10,000, said Ruiz, who represents Ham and Krantz.<br />
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"We're still awaiting payment on the attorney fees order," Ruiz, said.<br />
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"People who send us donations continue to do so," Derby said. "People who join PAWS and donate to PAWS believe in what we do." <br />
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I have been thinking on the person that did such a thing, using the money from her supporters, in order to rush to a laywer, in order to try to scare me to be silent, obviously a habit of hers. <br />
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Not everyone has that sort of golden pockets, so they can make use of laywers as an argument and it becomes very clear, that all the money is from PAWS supporters, and that Pat Derby realized an alternative way to exploit animals, which gives less work, than working as an animal trainer. <span style="background-color: black; font-size: small;"><span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">
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Some questions arise:<span style="background-color: black; font-size: small;"><span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">
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<ul><span style="background-color: black;"><span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; line-height: 21px;">Why is their organisation not transparent? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; line-height: 21px;">Why are they attacking zoos and circuses?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; line-height: 21px;">Why are they attacking their neighburs?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; line-height: 21px;">Why are they trying to scare me with their lawyers? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; line-height: 21px;">What do they hide? </span><br /> </li>
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<b><a href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.com/2012/10/pat-derby-1942-2013-cofounder-of.html" target="_blank">In my next blog: Read more about Pat Derby</a> and what people who know her past has stated reagarding Pat Derbys poor competence as animal trainer, critizising her
total lack of welfare for animals in her posession, as well as privately
taking money away from shared bank accounts with other persons os
companies.</b>DanKoehlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245638586616063380noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7719911693377170022.post-63414097211667819892012-02-02T08:25:00.003+01:002021-12-08T12:03:38.869+01:00Elephants in Sri Lanka<a href="http://www.thecommonwealth.org/Shared_ASP_Files/UploadedFiles/%7B5AEAA49B-C216-46FB-90AE-1FF604A115B0%7D_SriLanka.gif" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.thecommonwealth.org/Shared_ASP_Files/UploadedFiles/%7B5AEAA49B-C216-46FB-90AE-1FF604A115B0%7D_SriLanka.gif" width="280" /></a>Sri
Lanka is an island with a land area of approximately 65,610 km2
situated in the Indian Ocean, 35 km from the southern end of the Indian
Peninsula. There are 501 <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protected_areas_of_Sri_Lanka" title="Protected areas">protected areas</a>
in Sri Lanka. Protected areas in Sri Lanka accounts for 26.5 percent of
total area.This is a higher percentage of protected areas than in all
of Asia and much of the World. According to Wikipedia, between 1990 and
2000, Sri Lanka lost an average of 26,800 ha of forests per year.This
amounted to an average annual deforestation rate of 1.14 percent .
Between 2000 and 2005 this accelerated to 1.43% per annum.<br /><br />
<a href="http://southasia.oneworld.net/ImageCatalog/SL%20elephant%20census.jpg/image_preview" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="http://southasia.oneworld.net/ImageCatalog/SL%20elephant%20census.jpg/image_preview" width="320" /></a>The <a href="http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/sri-lanka-has-7370-elephants">first-ever nationwide elephant census in August 2011</a>
produced a total of 5,879 jumbos across the island, of those, only 122 elephants were tuskers. (<a href="http://southasia.oneworld.net/todaysheadlines/sri-lankan-elephants-growing-in-number">Source</a>) Some
environmentalists were unhappy with
the methodology and questioned its results. But even imperfect data can
inspire more systematic conservation measures. 70 per cent of Sri
Lanka's wild elephants are not in protected areas. <br />
<br />
<br />
Human-elephant
conflict has transcended from just being a wildlife
management problem to one of the worst environmental and rural social
economic crises in Sri Lanka's Dry Zone (<a href="http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/elephant-lanka2012.html#cr">Source</a>)
In Sri Lanka nearly 120 wild elephants are killed by humans and in
return about 65 people die after being attacked by elephants every year.
It seems most of those elephants are males, possibly who goes into
farmed areas in search for rich food, before, or during their musth
period.<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.aserc.org/images/stories/aserc_logo_klein.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.aserc.org/images/stories/aserc_logo_klein.jpg" width="200" /></a></span><span style="font-size: small;">A europan organisation that has been involved with elephants in Sri Lanka, is <a href="http://www.aserc.org/">Austrian Sri Lankan elephant research and conversation project (ASERC) </a>which </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">was founded by the </span></span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 150%;">vice director at the Vienna Zoo in Austria, </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Dr. Harald Schwammer in 2005.</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #006633;"><b style="font-weight: normal;">ASERC</b> </span>gives
financial aid to the elephant care centres in Sri Lanka and supports
with experts in the veterinarian and management sector. In addition <span style="color: #006633;"><b style="font-weight: normal;">ASERC</b> </span>provides a better education for local people and children in schools, but above all to make better contact with local farmers. </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.sundaytimes.lk/111113/images/Ele-Railway.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="http://www.sundaytimes.lk/111113/images/Ele-Railway.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
In 2007: Sri Lanka Wild Life Conservation Department sources revealed that over
the last 15 years, 1,850 elephants, 1,192 of them, male, had been
reported killed.(<a href="http://www.colombopage.com/archive_07/March962442SL.html">Source</a>) A number of tragical train accidents also results in elephants dying, but the total annual number is not high. <br />
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Meantime,
according to Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC), a number of
juvenile elephants been illegally captured in Asirigama for
domestication:<br />
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<a href="http://www.sundaytimes.lk/090809/images/Baby-Elephant.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.sundaytimes.lk/090809/images/Baby-Elephant.jpg" /></a></div>
<i>"DWC has in its custody at its Anuradhapura Office a baby elephant
which had allegedly been illegally captured for domestication by still
unidentified people who on hearing that the DWC was on their trail
abandoned it close to Asirigama in the Palugaswewa area. When DWC officials set
up a cordon, on hearing of the attempt to smuggle the baby elephant from
the Asirigama area, the culprits had tied the baby to a tree in the
scrub jungle leaving a few water melons by its side, before making good
their escape, it is understood.</i><br />
<i> They may have been
planning to come back when the heat was off, a DWC source said, adding
that the baby is a female of about one and a half years. It may have
been illegally captured by either killing the mother or when it fell
into a waterhole in the jungle. </i><br />
<i> Many conservationists
were of the view that the Asirigama area is notorious for alleged
attempts to illegally capture baby elephants. The modus operandi seems
to be to capture babies and then introduce them as having been born to
captive cow-elephants, they said".</i> (<a href="http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120115/News/nws_19.html">Source</a>)<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2004/08/02/science/03floa.big.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2004/08/02/science/03floa.big.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The white elephant of Sri Lanka: <i><a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=6081">Sudu-Aliya (Sudi)</a></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>On July 24 and 25 2004, Sri Lankan newspapers
reported the spotting
of a white (albino) elephant in Yala National Park, Sri Lanka, a female
named Sue, short for Sudu-Aliya" which means "white elephant". Although
this was the first time that this had received wide publicity,
Dr. Prithiviraj Fernando had observed this animal as a newborn in
Heenwewa in 1993. In 1996 the same animal had been photographed in water
by a group of enthusiasts. Sudi is mostly a light tan color with white
body hair but has a black tail tuft. Therefore, she is not a complete
albino.</i> Source: <cite><a href="http://www.ccrsl.org/CCR/Stories/WhiteElephant.htm">The White Elephant</a></cite> <br />
<span face="'Segoe UI','sans-serif'" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span face="'Segoe UI','sans-serif'" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Captive elephants in Sri Lanka</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r9YLxDoyGDQ/TyozbhvPXDI/AAAAAAAABsk/LQjPFYdHAI0/s1600/pinnawela_perahera.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r9YLxDoyGDQ/TyozbhvPXDI/AAAAAAAABsk/LQjPFYdHAI0/s320/pinnawela_perahera.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small Perahera in Rambukkana, 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In 2008 the captive elephant population consisted of 137 elephants, of which only 27 were tuskers.</span></span><span face="'Segoe UI','sans-serif'" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span></span><br /><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">The annual Perahera in Kandy, which dates back nearly 220 years, is </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">celebrated July-August each year, where many of the captive elephants can be seen. Another important Perahera is the </span></span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">annual Nawam Maha Perahera at Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo which is held in Februari.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">In 1999,</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span>Wimalaratne
and O, Kodikara DS. from Department of Rabies Diagnosis and Research,
Medical Research Institute, Sri Lanka wrote about the <span style="font-size: small;">first reported case of <a href="http://www.elephant.se/rabies.php">elephant rabies</a> in Sri Lanka. (<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10097315?dopt=Abstract">Source</a>) which was followed by 2 cases in 2009. In the elephant database, there is presently 5 <a href="http://www.elephant.se/rabies.php">elephants listed, that died of rabies</a>. Read also about </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/abs/10.2460/ajvr.67.11.1934">Results of vaccination of Asian elephants (<i>Elephas maximus</i>) with monovalent inactivated rabies vaccine</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iF19ZHzFrm0/Tyo0sSBvczI/AAAAAAAABss/-2Beek2hin8/s1600/PEO_milkshed.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iF19ZHzFrm0/Tyo0sSBvczI/AAAAAAAABss/-2Beek2hin8/s320/PEO_milkshed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The milkshed at Pinnawala orphanage 2012.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;">The Elephant Orphanage in Pinnawala has recorded the highest number
of elephant births in 2011, according to the statistics of the
Department of National Zoological Gardens. During the year, 15 elephant
calves were born and nine of them were males. </span>Apart from the breeding project in Pinnawela, the breeding of
captive elephants in Sri Lanka seems to be low, a report speaks about only three captive born baby elephants outside Pinnawela..<br />
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.elephant.se/images/sri_lanka_1000_rupee.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.elephant.se/images/sri_lanka_1000_rupee.jpg" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Stamp issued 1989 in memory of old <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=4755">Raja in Kandy</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The Department of National Zoological Gardens has earned Rs. 651
million during 2011, the highest on record. The income came from earnings
from the Dehiwala Zoo (Rs. 163 million), Elephant Orphanage, Pinnawela
(Rs 487 million) and Rs.16 million from other sources. More than 1. 6
million locals and 20,000 had visited the Dehiwela Zoo in 2011 while
around 400,000 locals and around 2.4 million foreigners had had visited
the elephant orphanage (<a href="http://www.sundaytimes.lk/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=14518:zoo-elephant-orphanage-draws-record-income&amp;catid=1:latest-news&amp;Itemid=547">Source</a>) </span><span class="newsbody" style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.travelweekly.asia/images/news/tourism/sri-lanka-tourism.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="http://www.travelweekly.asia/images/news/tourism/sri-lanka-tourism.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span class="newsbody" style="font-size: small;">Sri Lanka's tourist arrivals hit a record high in
December 2011, with 97,517 tourists arriving in the island, the data released
by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) </span><span class="newsbody" style="font-size: small;">The month has recorded a 15.2 percent increase in
arrivals compared to December 2010 while the number of arrivals in 2011
increased by 30.8 percent over the previous year. (<a href="http://www.colombopage.com/archive_11B/Jan07_1325877777CH.php">Source</a>) </span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span class="newsbody" style="font-size: small;">Links:</span></div>
<ul style="font-family: inherit;">
<li><span class="newsbody" style="font-size: small;"> <a href="http://www.pachydermmagazine.org/elescience.html">Elephants in Sri Lankan history and culture</a> </span></li>
<li><span class="newsbody" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1557861462">Sri Lanka </a></span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.srilankatourism.org/">tourism.</a></span></li>
<li><a href="http://www.ccrsl.org/CCR/Stories/WhiteElephant.htm">The White Elephant</a></li>
</ul>DanKoehlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245638586616063380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7719911693377170022.post-48314553653257627562012-02-01T18:46:00.001+01:002012-02-02T07:29:00.959+01:00Elephant captive breeding history and Hall of fame<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BbWtF6lX1x4/Tyk_5uMn33I/AAAAAAAABsE/jnJFdaaP_r0/s1600/elephant_mother_with_baby.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BbWtF6lX1x4/Tyk_5uMn33I/AAAAAAAABsE/jnJFdaaP_r0/s320/elephant_mother_with_baby.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
The elephants were never domesticated, and although captive breeding for sure occured, before and during medevial time, this was ocassionally, by random matings, and probably never leading to a second generation. <br />
The reason, especially in Asia, was simple: it was much easier to catch wild elephants in the forest, and tame and train them, than trying to breed them. Maybe Asian mahouts during medevial times, already then found out, that captive born elephants becomes much more dangerous and aggressive, than wild caught elephants, a fact that obviously still until today is unknown by most laymen, and also many people within the Zoological community. Another reason was that the elephants were used for war or work, why it was more effective to catch semiadult, or adult elephants. Some Indian states actually had written laws, prohibiting capture of elephants younger than 20 years. Investing time, food, and recources in elephant babies was uncommon.<br />
Therefore, Asia had no traditions of captive breeding, and the first recorded babies born in Asia is from the 18 century. The northern african elephant, <i>Loxodonta pharaoensis</i>, (now extinct) which was captured and used for roman time wars by Carthago and Rome, was probably not bred in any remarkable numbers, although some records indicate elephant births on the <i>Compagna</i> outside Rome City.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the book </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Modoc: The True Story of the Greatest Elephant That Ever Lived, </b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the author Ralph Helfer tells about Modoc the elephant born in Germany in 1900 to Mr. Joseph and Katrina Guntertine, which is all false, its no true story at all, no such elephant were born at that time in Germany, no german elephant keeper ever stranded with his elephant in India, and according to elephant and circus historian William "Buckles" Woodcock, Helfer mixed up three different wildborn Modocs which all were kept at Ringling Brotters and Barnum and Baileys Circus in USA:</span></span><br />
<ol>
<li><a class="external free" href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=2382" rel="nofollow">http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=2382</a></li>
<li><a class="external free" href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=2383" rel="nofollow">http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=2383</a></li>
<li><a class="external free" href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=2006" rel="nofollow">http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=2006</a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With this falsery, Ralph Helfer even managed to bring this fictional elephant Modoc, being merged from three different Modocs, into the Guiness books of records, as the oldest elephant recorded, from which I believe, it is now removed. If not, it should be.</span></span> <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The first documented 10 captive born elephants</span></span><br />
<br />
The first documented captive bred elephants in the western hemisphere
were indeed born on circuses.In those times very few zoos kept bulls,
but the circuses did, with lethal consequences for the elephant
trainers.<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
1. The very first The first documented birth of a captive asian elephant outside Asia, was the male <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=3131">Joe born 31st May 1875 at Howes Great London Circus</a> (he died shortly afterwords)<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.elephant.se/images/Cooper&Bailey_hebe_columbia_1880.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="http://www.elephant.se/images/Cooper&Bailey_hebe_columbia_1880.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<small>Babe and Columbia 1880 at the Cooper & Bailey winter quarters in Philadelphia.</small></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
2. The second was the female <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=1013">Columbia born 3rd October 1880 on Cooper & Bailey Circus</a> who was 27 seven years on her death 1907. <q>Although her mother, Hebe, commonly known about the show as Babe, was
one of the best-natured elephants I ever knew, the daughter grew meaner
and meaner as she got older, until in 1905 or 1906 she had to be
killed. Mr. Bates, who was assistant superintendent of elephants for a
long period of years, told me she inherited her vicious disposition from
her sire.</q><br />
<cite>W. Henry Sheak, The Elephant in Captivity, Natural History, September-October 1922</cite><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The father of the those first two babies, <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=910">Mandarin</a>, was killed and sent to the bottom of New York Harbour in 1902, on Barnum and Baileys retour to the U.S. from the european tour. <br />
<br />
3. The third baby was <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=1198">Bridgeport born 1882 at Barnum and Bailey Circus</a>, She was burned up in the fire in 1886 that
destroyed much of the splendid menagerie of Barnum and Bailey.The father, <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=1014">Chieftain</a>, was killed in 1888 by strangulation, he was choked to death by two bull elephants <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=3015">Basil</a> and <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=3013">Bismarck</a><br />
<br />
4. Ringling Bros Circus had a baby born named <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=3328">Ned (Nick) </a> in 1900. His mother Alice did not take care of her son, and was Ned was bottlefed, but with
less results, he died three months old. He was the first birth on the
Ringling Brothers Circus.<br />
<br />
5. The first elephant born in a Zoo, was <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=1266">a stillborn calf born 1902 in London Zoo</a>, but it was bred on Circus Sanger.<br />
<br />
6. The same year, 1902, an elephant was born on Ringling brothers Circus, which was killed by the mother.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.elephant.se/images/Buenos_Aires_Nayan_Phua_1905.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.elephant.se/images/Buenos_Aires_Nayan_Phua_1905.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><small>Phua Victoria Portena with her mother Nayan, Buenos Aires Zoo 1905</small></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
7. In Buenos Aires Zoo, Argentina, the worlds first <i>Zoo-bred</i> surviving elephant was born 23 february 1905, and got the name <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=1404" title="first elephant bred in a Zoo Phua Victoria Portena">Phua Victoria Portena</a>. Unfortunately she died after three years. Her father Sanyan was bought from Firma Hagenbeck, and killed at least one keeper.<br />
<br />
8 and 9. In 1906 the two elephant babies <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=1262">Mädi born in Vienna Zoo.</a> and <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=1271">Editha born in Berlin</a>
(Conceived between February and April 1905 in Hagenbecks Tierpark,
Hamburg.) was born, Mädi died in 1944, officially shot because of
enteritis while the bombs fell in Vienna, and Editha, who was rejected by
her mother died only some weeks later after the birth in anorexia, the hand rearing was
not succesful.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.elephant.se/images/copenhagen_kaspar_ellen.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.elephant.se/images/copenhagen_kaspar_ellen.jpg" width="281" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><small>This photo shows Ellen with Kaspar,the day after he was born.</small></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
10. Denmark had three elephant births in a row, the first was the bull <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=1153">Kaspar born in Copenhagen Zoo 1907.</a><br />
<br />
Kaspar was named after Mr Kaspar Rostrup, and was rented some years, during the summers, to a circus
owned by by Wrestler Magnus Bech-Olsen (World champion in 1892 and held this title until 1903).<br />
<br />
Kaspar was transfered in 1912 to Hannover Zoom who paid 5.000 german
Marks for Kaspar. Hannover sold in 1922 him to Jardin d´Acclimatation in
France. In spring 1927 he becaome more and more aggressive, due to
musth
condition, and it was decided to kill him, after he tusked a zookeeper.
Some sources state he was poisoned, other strangulated. At death he
reached 2.70 meters at shoulders, and had a weight of 4000 kgs.<br />
<br />
11. Vienna Zoo had a stillborn baby in 1910. <br />
<br />
12 Vienna Zoo had the next birth with <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=1272">Greti</a>, who were born in 1911, and died in 1916, five years old.<br />
<br />
Then 100 years went by, with various results. Many elephants were killed
by their mothers, and there was also some stillbirths. And quite a few
of the captive born elephants became much more aggressive during their
teenager age, than the wild caught elephants, resulting in keeper
accidents and euthanising of the elephants. The first official example
is <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=94">Komali</a>,
born 1984 in Zürich Zoo. Many laymen beleive that captive born
elephants become more docile in captivity, but this is not the case, by
apr. 10 years of age, or even earlier, especially young bulls, they
create much more problem than wild-caught elephants.<br />
<br />
Another sensational knowledge through the captive breeding was that
young females, dominated by their fathers could give off spring in very
young ages. Some females, bred by their fathers by the age of six, gave
birth to babies by eight years of age, without undergoing major physical
problems. This has, during the last ten years, resulted in an
intensive transfer of breeding bulls by animal transport companies, in
order to avoid inbreeding.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Elephant captive breeding in Europe</span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto; width: 650px;">
<div align="left">
The breeding of elephants in Europe is supervised by the EEP, The European Endangered Species Programme. There are presently about 500 Asian, and less than 300
African, captive elephants in Europe. The majority are cows, but Apr. 50
Asian (10 breeders) and 40 (2breeders) African are bulls. 16 Asians,
and 3 Africans, of these were born in Europe, the rest wereimported from
origin countries.</div>
Between 1902-1992; 121 Asian, and (1943-1992) 11 African births are registered.<br />
The first two generation born elephant in europe was <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=2005">Charkowtschanka</a>
born 1958 at Kharkiv Zoo. Rotterdam Zoological Gardens in Holland had
three unique elephants babies: Both their parents were born in
Zoos,(Copenhagen and Hanover) so those three are true second Zoo
generation. <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=594">Bernhardine (Bernhardini)</a> was the first 2nd generation zoo elephant elephant in the world, whos both parents were born in zoos. Rotterdam Zoo broke a record in 1997-1998, having bred four elephants in four months!<br />
<br />
Read more on (incomplete) <a href="http://www.elephant.se/elephant_breeding_in_europe.php"><span style="font-size: small;">EEP elephant studbook in the elephant database</span></a><br />
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Elephant captive breeding in America</span><br />
<br />
<br />
The breeding of American elephants is supervised by the <a href="http://www.aza.org/ConScience/ConScienceSSPFact">American Zoo and Aquarium Association Species survival plan</a> including the African , and the Asian elephant. <br />
<br />
The first births was in 1880 and 1882, but ut took long time until
next births. From 1962 until 1994, 85 births were recorded, with a birth
almost every second year.
In 1994 about 50 of these were still living.<br />
Second Zoo generation offspring has been born in the most productive
Zoo; Portland in Oregon, and in Calgary, and the first third-generation
elephant to be born in the United States was <a href="http://www.elephant.se/elephant_breeding_in_america.php?open=Elephant%20breeding">Sam (Samudra) at Portland Zoo</a>. Other productive locations are African Lion Safari in Canada, and Ringling Bros Barnum and Baileys breeding farm. <br />
<br />
Read more on (incomplete) <a href="http://www.elephant.se/elephant_breeding_in_america.php"><span style="font-size: small;">SSP elephant studbook in the elephant database</span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Elephant captive breeding in Australasia</span><br />
<br />
The first elephants in Australasia was two imports to Sydney and Melbourne Zoo from Calcutta Zoo in 1883.<br />
<br />
The breeding of elephants in Australasian Region is supervised by the Australasian Species Management Program
(ASMP) and care and management by <a href="http://www.zooaquarium.org.au/ArticleDocuments/57/ARAZPA%20Elephant%20Management%20Guidelines.pdf.aspx">Guidelines for Management of
Elephants in Australasian Zoos</a>. Both are within the <a href="http://65.110.83.134/">(ARAZPA)</a>. The import of elephants from Thailand in 2006 has so far resulted in 3
succesful births of Asian elephants, the first one was the male <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=4747">elephant Luk Chai born 2009</a>, the second the female <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=5571">elephant Mali, born 2010</a>, and the third was the male <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=5609">elephant Pathi Harn, born 2010</a>.<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<br />
Read more on (incomplete) <a href="http://www.elephant.se/elephant_breeding_in_australasia.php">ASPM<span style="font-size: small;"> elephant studbook in the elephant database</span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Most succesful captive elephant breeders worldvide</span><br />
<br />
It should take almost hundred years before the natural captive elephant
breeding was becoming really successful, but although breeding had a
slow beginning, it has been succesful since the 1970´s with following 20
record holders: (I may have forgotten some important breeding
facility, please correct me, if so)<br />
<ol>
<li><a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=43&show=3">Pinnawela elephant orphanage</a> in Sri Lanka had officially 67 births since 1984. </li>
<li><a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=248&show=3">Ayutthaya royal kraal</a>, in Thailand had so far 57 (they state 55!) recorded births since year 2000.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=214&show=3">Ramat Gan Zoo</a> in Israel had 38 births between 1973 and 2006.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=187&show=3">Portland Zoo (Metro Washington Park Zoo)</a> in U.S.A. had 27 births between 1962 and 2008.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=127&show=3">Emmen Zoo</a> in Netherlands had 26 babies between 1992 and 2011.<br />
</li>
<li><a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=11&show=3">Hannover Zoo</a> in Germany had 26 babies between 1942 and 2012. </li>
<li>In my records, <a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=245&show=3">Maesa elephant camp in Chiang Mai</a>,
Thailand, had 22 recorded babies since 1997, but I think the correct
number should be much higher, I visited this place in 1989, and they
had, for sure breeding already then. They may eventually be nr 1 or 2 as
breeder.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=337&show=3">Roman Schmitt</a> had 20 births between 1983 and 1995 in Busch Gardens U.S.A.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=89&show=3">San Diego Wild Animal Park </a>in U.S.A. had 20 babies between 1981 and 2011. </li>
<li><a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=170&show=3">Ringling Bros. And Barnum & Bailey Center For Elephant Conservation</a> in U.S.A. had 18 births between 1996 (they took over Roman Schmitts breeding project) and 2010.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=222&show=3">Howletts Wild Animal Park</a> in United Kingdom had 18 births between 1982 and 2011.</span> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=12&show=3">Tiergarten Berlin-Friedrichsfelde</a> in Germany had 16 births between 1998 and 2010.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=169&show=3">Houston Zoo</a> in U.S.A. had 16 births between 1983 and 2010.
</li>
<li><a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=84&show=3">Rotterdam Zoo (Diergaarde Blijdorp)</a> in Netherlands had 15 births between 1984 and 2010.<br />
</li>
<li><a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=10&show=3">Carl Hagenbecks Tierpark in Hamburg</a>, Germany had 15 births between 1929 and 2009.<br />
</li>
<li><a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=119">African Lion Safari</a> in Canada had 14 births since 1991.</li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=115&show=3">Cabarceno Zoo Obregon (Parque de la Naturaleza de Cabarceno)</a></span> in Spain had 14 births since 1995.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=10&show=3">Copenhagen Zoo (Zoologisk Have)</a> in Denmark who had 14 births between 1907 and 2006.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=98&show=3">Paris Zoo</a> in Bois Vincennes, France (not operating anymore) had 11 births between 1945 and 1998.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=97&show=3">Dickerson Park Zoo</a> in Springfield, U.S.A. had 10 babies born between 1985 and 2006, sharing their level with <a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=34&show=3">Zürich Zoo</a> in Switzerland, who also had 10 babies in similair time span, between 1984 and 2005..</li>
</ol>
<span style="font-size: large;">Artificial insemination</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.elephant.se/images/artificial_insemination_of_captive_elephant.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.elephant.se/images/artificial_insemination_of_captive_elephant.jpg" width="246" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><small><i>Photo © Daryl Hoffman, Houston.</i></small></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Only in the last decades U.S. and german scientists managed to breed elephants by <a href="http://www.elephant.se/artificial_insemination_of_captive_elephants.php?open=Elephant%20breeding" title="Artificial insemination of elephants">artificial insemination (AI)</a>
So far, 36 elephants has been born by AI since 1999, 25 males, and 10
females. 17 bulls were used for AI. With african elephants in U.S. a mix
of semen with different bulls has been used, and the father has later
been prooved through DNA testing. The next step is now to select the
semen, in order to avoid the
birth of too many bulls in captivity, since AI seem to produce many
bulls. <br />
<br />
AI is mostly used as an option with places that doesnt have a (breeding)
bull present, and when its important that the females start to breed. A
female that didnt had a baby before 20-25 years of age, will often
undergo pathological development in the ovaries, such as myomas, and
will become sterile.<br />
<br />
In order to save those females for future breeding, its sometimes essential to breed them through insemination.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Challanges</span><br />
<br />
Apart from stillbirths, and elephant babies being killed by their mothers, a virus has become a major threat towards baby elephants. The <span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.elephant.se/elephant_herpes_virus.php">EEHV - Elephant endotheliotropic herpes virus</a> has so far killed over 45 elephant babies, and the virus is now feared by all western elephant breeding institutions. For some time, it was thought that the herpes virus from african elephants were lethal for Asian elephants, but lately, with more collected data, it seems like its more complicated than that. The virus has also been found on wild Asian elephants, who had no physical contact with captive Asian or African elephants. Some institutions prepare for the worst, and store medicine before birth, and start to medicate their new born elephant calfs when theres only small suspicion of herpes.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
But in general, elephant captive breeding is not a large problem anymore,
the challenge is more connected to enough space to keep breeding groups,
and to house bulls in a safe and not too small environment.<br />
<br />
Some zoos, like Heidelberg in Germany, has focused on management of
young bulls, which they keep for future breeding projects. This is
almost similair to wild conditions, where semiadult bulls stay together
in bachelor groups. One of the davantages is that this system gives them
more stimulation than if they would kept single in a smaller enclosure
in a zoo. Still, probably many single adult bulls could theorethically
be kept together with the breeding groups, like fomer examples from
Hannover, Paris and Howletts did for many years.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Breeding situation 2012</span><br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.elephant.se/elephant_database.php">statistical section of the elephant database</a> shows a total of 1262 <a href="http://www.elephant.se/captive_born_elephant_database.php?open=Elephant%20database">captive-born</a> from both species since 1875, <span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.elephant.se/cow_elephant_database.php">652 cow elephants with offspring</a>, and <a href="http://www.elephant.se/bull_elephant_database.php">245 bull elephants with offspring</a>. Presently, </span><span class="clsVALUES3">31 female elephant cows (</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">1%) </span><span class="clsVALUES3">out of 2443 total living cows are pregnant, </span><span class="clsVALUES3">653 females (27%) had babies, </span><span class="clsVALUES3">while </span><span class="clsVALUES3">1759 (72%) are virgins who never had a calf. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="clsVALUES3">Leading breeding bulls are African </span><a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=817" title="elephant Yossi">Yossi</a> from Ramat Gan and Asian <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=1708" title="elephant Vance (Matt)">Vance (Matt)</a>
who both sired 23 babies each. Ramat Gan also win the price for the
highest inbreeding of elephants, othervise the inbreeding so far does
not look so serious.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Future</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span> <br />
I hope the import restrictions to western countries will soon be
removed. Theres really no serious threat towards most of the present
African and Asian elephant populations, and I see no reason why the
elephant species shall not be treated just like any other mammal
species. Zoos in America and Europe now breed elephants succesfully, but
now and then theres a need for new blood, and younger females for zoos
who have some gentle and nice females, which are too old to breed. <br />
<br />
Some, later critizised animal dealers/brookers, actually contributed a
lot to breeding programmes. While single zoos today have problems of
importing only a few animals for breeding, dealers like <a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=322&show=6">Franz van den Brink in Netherlands</a>, (and <a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=310">Firma Ruhe</a>, <a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=1003">Firma Hagenbeck</a> and <a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=420">Georges Munro</a>
before him) actually supplied europe with their larger parts of present
breeding materials, through his +40 elephants import from Burma
1988-1990. Another example is the "crazy" millionaire and inventor of
the Nautilus exercise machines, Mr <a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=914">Arthur Jones</a>, who imported some 80 baby elephants
from Zimbabwe in 1984, which today are the dominant breeding african
elephants in North America.<br />
<br />
Today theres unwritten rule that Zoos shall not buy animals from
animal dealers, but history shows that companies like <a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=1003">Hagenbecks</a> and <a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=310"> Firma Ruhe</a> collected important knowledge and experience as experts in
this particualir field, which each single zoo simply can not reach. For
sure, a lot of unnessecary problems could be avoided if importers were
aloud to operate, and build up their special competence in that sector.<br />
<br />
One can also hope that politicians and zoo directors get tired to listen
to the never ending flow of critizism from animal right activists, whos
hidden agenda is that they are just against anything, and their
knowledge is extremely low, all they do is repeating the same message
they read on their favouriye forums, but it has to be stated, that
seldom, or never, do they posses any sort of relevant personal knowldge
or experience in regard to elephant training, management, pathology or
breeding. They just scream very high, and unite in terror like
organisations, signing thousands of petitiions, which may upset a few
pubertal, unexperienced, politicians.<br />
<br />
But in no democrazy, shall a majority of people have to surrender to a minority, only because they are more aggressive, manipulating or terrorizing, than the rest of the population. <br />
<br />
I know, since the elephant keepers meeting in Howlets back in 1999, that some people within the EEP elephant tag does not believe in existence of subspecies within the <i>Elephas maximus</i>, but for sure, those people are not DNA specialists, and now, after 100 years of various attempts of elephant breeding, when every single elephant baby was considered a success, regardless if it was a crossing of Borneo and Sri Lankan subspecies, it may now be time, to start to consider breeding true lines of different local varieties, and today, theres really no need for mixed elephant subspecies breeding anymore.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Urgent need</span> <br />
<br />
Finally, there may be time to think about exporting elephants back to
their origin countries, as Zoos has already done with other mammals
pecies, like the Przewalski's horse, the eruopean Bison, and the Arabian
Oryx.<br />
<br />
One example may be Vietnam, which today has less than 52 wild elephants and about 82 captive elephants.<br />
<br />
Facing this situation, Vietnam is now setting up thier first elephant
conservation centre, which will need all support it can get, financially,
but also with breeding material and breeding know-how.<br />
<br />
As far as I can see, theres <a href="http://www.elephant.se/country.php?name=Vietnam">16 living Vitnamese elephants in US and Europe</a>,
of which at least 50% are in breeding age, (and the rest could give
moral "aunt" support to the potential breeding females) which could
contribute to a captive breeding project in Vietnam. 16 elephants is
nothing compared to what <a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=322&show=6">Franz van den Brink</a> imported to Europe in the 80s, and it
should be quite possible to send those elephants back, to a country
that has almost run out of breeding material, with only a handful females in breeding age left.<br />
<br />
Of course, the captive breeding of elephants must also be safe and succesful for the elephants. In order to acchieve this, Vietnam may need some support, not only with elephants, but also with experience.<br />
<br />
Something I hope both EEP
and SSP will consider to give. Its payback time...DanKoehlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245638586616063380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7719911693377170022.post-73392604503221818292012-01-16T14:36:00.001+01:002013-05-08T10:44:39.656+02:00Tuberculosis in two U.S. elephant sanctuaries<a href="http://www.pawsweb.org/images/SABU.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pawsweb.org/images/SABU.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">My earlier blogs </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><a href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.com/2011/12/elephants-suffers-in-sanctuaries-effect.html">Can elephants suffer in sanctuaries, as an effect of volonteers opinions?</a> and </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><a href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.com/2012/01/can-sambo-transmit-tuberculosis-to.html">Can Sambo and other elephants transmit tuberculosis to people?</a> has become even more actual after the death of <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=860">Sabu (Look Chai)</a> at <a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=1425">Performing Animal Welfare Society / ARK 2000 (PAWS).</a> Sabu was relocated to PAWS' ARK 2000 Sanctuary in September 2010, from</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Patricia Zerbinis</span><a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=872"> Two Tails Ranch </a></span>in Williston, Florida.<br />
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Sabu lived one year at PAWS. Sabu
arrived a year ago PAWS, in Galt, northern California, and was <a href="http://www.elephant.se/elephant_euthanasia.php" title="euthanasia (euthanazia) on elephants">euthanised</a></span><span style="font-size: small;"> there a
week ago, 29 years old, officially because of severe <a href="http://www.elephant.se/arthritis.php">arthritis</a>. But 29 years is a very young age for an elephant to develop such a severe arthritis that he must be euthanised. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://www.elephant.se/images/twotails_logo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-size: small;">PAWS wrote in their <a href="http://www.pawsweb.org/2010_newsletter.pdf">2010 newsletter</a>: <i>Prince and Sabu, both retired performing elephants, are in good health so we expect them to be with us for a very long time.</i></span> In this newsletter is also mentioned <i>a very cool and rainy spring.</i> <br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<br />
<b> </b><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">And Patricia Zerbini, owner of </span><span style="font-size: small;"> Two Tail Ranch in Willistone, Florida, </span><span style="font-size: small;">where Sabu was housed by Ringling Brothers Barnum and Baileys Circus before his relocation to PAWS says:</span><i> Sabu
had no medical issues here, he was very sound and never showed any joint
stiffness what so ever. </i><br />
<br />
<i>Sabu was here untill a year ago when he left to go to PAWS, He did
belong and was here under the care of Ringling Bros. staff and
veterinarians, but I saw him every day and in all the years he had been
here I never saw any signs of arthritis, or other illness, he was a very
healthy beautiful animal, the reason he was retired so young I was
told is because he got too large to travel comfortably by train. I was
here the day he was loaded and lended a hand with his loading, he in no
way had any stiffness, soarness, or signs of problems with his joints, I
would think that if he had any arthritis in him that would cause his
collapse and death a year later he would have had to show some kind of
signs while here at the ranch, I am not sure what happened to him while
in the care of PAWS and I am sure we will never know but I do not in
any way shape or form believe that arthritis was a factor in his
death.</i> Patricia Zerbini 2012-01-17<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">More elephants </span><span style="font-size: small;">were </span>euthanised at PAWS for the same reason, arthritis:<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">In April 2008, the 56 years old Asian female </span><a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=157" title="elephant Winky (Winkie) Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)">Winky (Winkie)</a>, <span style="font-size: small;">arrived in August 2005.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">In March 2005, the 39 years old Asian female </span><a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=168" title="elephant Tinkerbelle Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)">Tinkerbelle</a>, arrived in November 2004.</li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">In September 2003, the 51 years old Asian female <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=2845">Tamara</a>.</span></li>
</ul>
But nothing is mentioned about that Sabu suffered from <span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.elephant.se/mycobacterium_tuberculosis.php">Elephant TB (<i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i>)</a>.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<div class="style16">
<span style="font-size: small;">At PAWS, Sabu joined
<a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=1480">Nicholas</a>, PAWS' youngest bull elephant and
half brother to Sabu, who arrived there in 2007 together with an Asian female <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=1482">Gypsie</a>, from John Cuneos </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=293&show=6">Hawthorn corporation</a></span><span style="font-size: small;">. In January 2009, Gypsie was relocated to the other Asian females. PAWS writes on their website: </span><i>Gypsy had provided security, safety and wisdom to him as long as she could. In the wild, he would be sent out to follow
older bulls and learn the ritual that all elephants understand.We moved Gypsy down the hill to join the other Asian
elephants where she's been given a much deserved rest and retirement
after the daunting task of raising a young bull. Nicholas is now a neighbor to Prince and Sabu, PAWS two other bull elephants</i>. (<a href="http://www.pawsweb.org/meet_elephants.html">Source</a>)</div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<div class="style16">
<br /></div>
<div class="style16">
Which means that the Tuberculosis possibly was spread to previous kept elephants at PAWS.</div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The both bull elephants stables can be seen on this video:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/yWPWRYxVp24?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Nicholas belonged to a group of Tuberculosis infected elephants from <a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=293&show=6">Hawthorn corporation</a> in U.S.A. which needed to be translocated. </span><span style="font-size: small;">Most of the elephants were sent to two elephant sanctuaries In U.S.A.: <a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=253">The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee</a> and Nicholas to <a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=1425">Performing Animal Welfare Society / ARK 2000 (PAWS).</a> <br />
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uCrlnaCh_n4/Th3_PXYFpOI/AAAAAAAAIL0/E_UeHK6FLJw/s1600/207229_208252082538028_100000597148219_760559_507002_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uCrlnaCh_n4/Th3_PXYFpOI/AAAAAAAAIL0/E_UeHK6FLJw/s320/207229_208252082538028_100000597148219_760559_507002_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The lengthy relocation effort
began in March 2004 when APHIS settled a case with the Hawthorn Corporation
for violating the Animal Welfare Act. Under the terms of the consent
decision and order, Hawthorn paid a $200,000 fine and agreed to donate
the entire elephant herd to other facilities. Although the decision
was a regulatory accomplishment for AC, it quickly became a steep logistical
challenge. Of
the 18 elephants, 2 (Nic and Gypsy) went to the
PAWS facility, 1 went
to an individual licensed exhibitor, 1 to the Endangered Ark Foundation,
and 11 to the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. Unfortunately,
four of the elephants covered under the order died prior to or shortly
after being placed in their new homes.</i> (<a href="http://search.usda.gov/search?q=cache%3Ao_pTivRNnnUJ%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.aphis.usda.gov%2Finside_aphis%2Fdownloads%2FSummer07_Issue.rtf+PAWS+elephants&proxystylesheet=usda&output=xml_no_dtd&access=p&client=usda&num=10&site=usda&ie=UTF-8">Source</a>) </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://irapl.altervista.org/geografia/usa/img2.php?recnum=thumb_5351428.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">People objected to the idea to mix TES elephants with documented Tuberculosis infected elephants. But the elephant sanctuary in Tennesee claimed they had a <i>TB quarantene</i>, and that the medical issues were monitured scientifically. Maybe they thought so, but it wa false...<br /><br />A later report released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says:<i><br />
TB spread to eight employees, though three of them didn't work
directly with the elephant, according to a report released Wednesday by
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The three worked in an administrative building next to an elephant
barn at the refuge in Hohenwald, about 85 miles southwest of Nashville. </i>(<a href="http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-02-elephants-blamed-tb-outbreak-tenn.html">Source</a>)<br /><br />
<a href="http://www.elephants.com/lota/lota_diary_photos/1_23_05.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.elephants.com/lota/lota_diary_photos/1_23_05.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><span style="font-size: small;">Some elephant holdings, including PAWS Sanctuary, claim the have a TB protool and perform trunk washes. But trunk washes are
extremely inacurate. In a TB
outbreak in Sweden, five elephants were affected. Of 189 trunk wash
samples collected, only 7 were positive from the 5 elephants that were
confirmed (on postmortem) to be infected with TB (Moller 2005, Moller
2006, Lewerin 2005). Presently, the TB Rapid Test is the most accurate method to trace TB among captive elephants. Read more: <b>
Is the trunk
wash an accurate diagnostic technique?</b><a href="http://www.elephantcare.org/TBinfo.htm#wash"><b>Elephant tuberculosis FAQ by elephantcare.org</b></a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Sabu tested positive for TB (Tuberculosis) already in year 2000. Karl Cullen writes on his blog <a href="http://www.elephantdreaming.com/">elephant dreaming</a>: <i>"Their three female Asians and one bull, Sabu, have all been exposed to
the TB virus, which can be transferred elephant – human and vice versa,
so when in contact with any of them we were required to wear face masks".</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://peterdickinson.hubpages.com/">Peter Dickinson</a> writes on his blog:<br /><i>It is known that 'Sabu' had tested positive for TB in 2000 though
there was no mention of this as a contributory factor in the death. In
fact the TB has not been mentioned at all. This is both as odd as it is
disturbing because it is a <a href="http://labanimals.awionline.org/wildlife/elephants/Part%2010.pdf">Animal Welfare Act regulation </a>that
'all captive elephants in the US are periodically tested for TB...and
that all of those having close contact are tested on an annual basis'.</i><br /><i>So was 'Sabu' cured? Did he no longer have TB?</i><br /><br /><i>Were the councillors kept in the dark over the TB question? How open has
this sanctuary been with its medical records? If it were an AZA
approved collection (which it isn't) then these records would be
available. It is to an approved AZA collection that the Toronto Zoo
staff wanted to send the animals they loved and cared about. Now they
have another nightmare of worry.</i> (<a href="http://peterdickinson.hubpages.com/hub/Toronto-Zoo-Elephants-In-Trouble">Link to the blog article</a>) </span><br />
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage uiStreamHeadline" style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=520575188" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=520575188">Pam Reid-Chevalier</a> writes on Facebook:</span></h6>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSzKNfMtFLmykH-dlI7qtyNysmtwoIDIuGaRgaT0NZWfrTD72RU" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSzKNfMtFLmykH-dlI7qtyNysmtwoIDIuGaRgaT0NZWfrTD72RU" /></a></div>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">The
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is a U.S. govt regulating
body that has specific legal requirements. According to page 21 of the
APHIS manual on Guidelines for controlling TB in elephants PAWS was
required by law to do TB testing before and after the euthanasia of
Sabu:<br /> <br /> "It is essential that a post-mortem examination be performed on all elephants that die. The examination must inc<span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span><span class="text_exposed_show">lude a thorough search for lesions of tuberculosis regardless of exposure status.
Prior to any planned euthanasia of an elephant, trunk washes, blood for
serology and any other ancillary tests should be performed regardless
of whether or not TB is suspected. In this way, valuable data can be
gathered to evaluate the efficacy of the current testing protocol. In
the event of a sudden death, collect post-mortem blood and separate
serum for other tests. "<br /> <br /> There has to be records somewhere so I
think that PAWS should publicly release the results of these tests in
order to answer the questions that have been raised concerning the TB
status of its elephants.</span></span></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="text_exposed_show"> </span></span></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="text_exposed_show">Read more on U.S. </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="text_exposed_show">at <a href="http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/downloads/elephant/elephant_tb.pdf">Guidelines for the control of Tuberculosis in elephants </a></span></span></span><br />
</h6>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://nationalpostnews.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/barkerelephant.jpg?w=620" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://nationalpostnews.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/barkerelephant.jpg?w=620" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
Animal rights activists main stream has claimed that <a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=1425">Performing Animal Welfare Society / ARK 2000 (PAWS)</a> is the only suitable place for the<a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=197">3 african elephants at Toronto Zoo</a>
in Canada. Thousands of people have signed petitions that Toronto
elephants should be moved to PAWS, encouraged by, among other
celebrities, Bob Parker. In the article <a href="http://www.cp24.com/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110415/110415_barker_elephants/20110415/?hub=CP24Home">Bob Barker Visit Could Sway Vote On Sending Toronto Elephants To Sanctuary</a> is written: A visit from Bob Barker may have been the final push needed to convince
Toronto officials the city's three elephants should be sent to a
sanctuary in a <i>warmer climate</i>.<br /><br />
<a href="http://irapl.altervista.org/geografia/usa/img2.php?recnum=thumb_5351428.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="http://irapl.altervista.org/geografia/usa/img2.php?recnum=thumb_5351428.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><span style="font-size: small;">Neither
the retired game show host or the journalists at The Canadian Pres, or
Zoocheck Canada, or Toronto City councillors Michelle Berardinetti and
Shelley Carrol, who claimed that another winter in Toronto Zoo could
kill the Toronto elephants, seems to have bothered to look on a map,
looking up the longitudes for Galt, where PAWS is located, and Toronto.
Galt, situated in NORTH California, is not really tropical... For
anyone, not just interested in signing petitions, it may be interesting
to learn about how the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_Stream">Golf Stream</a> affects east coast, with warmer water, due to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coriolis_effect">coriolis power</a>... further reading may suggest find out why corals grown on east coasts, and less at west coastsand why <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upwelling">upwellings</a>
are more common on west coasts. Now, african elephants are less
sensitive to cold. It may be noted that North Americas most succesful
breeding operation of Asian elephants, is in Cambridge, Canada, only
some kilometers south-west of Toronto...</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It is not known if PAWS are following the The AZA 40 degrees F rule</span><span style="font-size: small;">. <i><b>It seems like the elephants can choose as to stay inside or outside</b></i><span style="font-size: small;">: "</span></span><b><i><span style="color: navy;"></span></i></b><br />
<fieldset>
<i>Last Thursday, as Detroit's elephants snaked their way across the Plains States in a semi-trailer truck, Derby shuffled out every two hours in a nightlong rainstorm to check on the<b> three Asian elephants that had refused to come into the barn that night.</b> With a 10,000-candle power spotlight, she verified their whereabouts while often wallowing in a pond that night and returned for another fitful 120 minutes of sleep. "If they go down, you've got about two hours to get them up before they suffocate" under their own weight, she explained. Earlier this year an elephant did go down. Tinkerbell, who had only been at Ark 2000 for four months after her transfer from the San Francisco Zoo, collapsed and had to be euthanized</i>. (<a href="http://www.animalliberationfront.com/ALFront/Interviews/PatDerby.htm">source</a>)</fieldset>
</div>
<br />
<br />
I have worked with arthitis elephants, and although elephants are intelligent, they didnt really seem to have an intellectual attitude, as to understand what components may affect their arthritis legs.<br />
<br />
I am highly sceptical, that any professinal manager would conifirm, that this sounds like a responsible way of keeping tropical animals. PAWS claim that they have an "elephant jacuzzi" and other therapy methods for arthritis elephants, but the text above gives an indication that in spite of expensive investments, allt this technique can not compensate lacking common sense. If this location would have been in Florida, the situation would have been different. But its northern California...<br />
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://external.ak.fbcdn.net/safe_image.php?d=AQBlq0LnV9Uu0JTl&w=90&h=90&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.kickstatic.com%2Fkickapps%2Fimages%2F62973%2Fphotos%2FPHOTO_6896578_62973_18674059_ap.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://external.ak.fbcdn.net/safe_image.php?d=AQBlq0LnV9Uu0JTl&w=90&h=90&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.kickstatic.com%2Fkickapps%2Fimages%2F62973%2Fphotos%2FPHOTO_6896578_62973_18674059_ap.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">An article written three years ago says: </span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Nicholas,
PAWS Asian bull elephant, walked outside for a few moments, but he
obviously preferred a heated floor and very warm water for drinking to
the beautiful, but frigid conditions in his outdoor habitat.</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"> (Follow this <a href="http://ulocal.kcra.com/_PAWS-Asian-Bull-Elephant-Nicholas/photo/6896578/62973.html">Source</a> and read about the snow falls in NORTHERN California)</span><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="color: black;"> </b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Last year the snowfall was 2 feet deep in Galt. </b></span> <span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">[EDIT: maybe this is wrong, maybe the snowfall was not two feet deep. I dont think it really matters for elephants how deep the snow is, what matters, is they shouldnt walk free in and out, on their own wish, under such circumstances.]<br /> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I have no reason to accuse PAWS for anything, and I realize that they are eager to take as many new elephants as possible to get more fundings. What I can not understand i why PAWS suddenly became the only appropriate place to relocate Toronto Zoos elephants to? And why not AZA member locations can not even be considered? </span><span style="font-size: small;">This blog article is not a critic against PAWS, who for sure have to compete with other institutions, in order to get funds, so they can develop and buy even more land.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.simpsonstrivia.com.ar/simpsons-photos/wallpapers/homer-simpson-wallpaper-brain-1024.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://www.simpsonstrivia.com.ar/simpsons-photos/wallpapers/homer-simpson-wallpaper-brain-1024.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Its
critical against people, who by political manipulation, stop to think
themselves, and just keeps signing petitions, or taking council
decisions, although thay lack most knowledge and background information
needed, to engage in issues like where elephants should be located. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Is
it logical to only see a TB infected location holder, pretty up north
in west coast north America, as the single only place where Torontos
elephants should live, just because a retired showman want to pay the
transport of the elephants, if they come there.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Is it because its called a Sanctuary? (Sanctuary = good, Zoo =bad?) </span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">But
can the defenition Sanctuary really be applied to a location holding
with infected animals, carrying a chronic, lethal disease? Regardless of
if they claim they have a </span><span style="font-size: small;">TB quarantene? Is there, scientifically, an existing </span><span style="font-size: small;">TB
quarantene at PAWS and TES? It was claimed so before, but the present
board of TES also alleges that the previous directors failed to
implement infection control measures,
which the sanctuary and regulators agreed to, that preceded several
elephant caregivers' testing positive for tuberculosis. (<a href="http://malnutritionandmalaria.blogspot.com/2011/03/tuberculosis-elephants-in-tennessee.html">Source</a> from a blog, The Teneseean has, for some reason, removed the article from their online archive)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">And should the elephant stables really be aplayground for children and youths?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-plpG-2Vhiv4/UHb_lEFW6RI/AAAAAAAAB5c/7El99_g6I6s/s1600/youths_at_PAWS_2012_redigerad-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-plpG-2Vhiv4/UHb_lEFW6RI/AAAAAAAAB5c/7El99_g6I6s/s320/youths_at_PAWS_2012_redigerad-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">JULY 29, 2012: Le PeTiT CiRqUe'S
HUMANITARIAN cirque company of kids visited the Performing Animal
Welfare Society's Incredible 23,000 sq.ft sanctuary and learned about
the incredible animals they are performing for at the AVALON THEATRE on
Sept-30. Since all of our productions are humanitarian based, the youths
learned about these animals and where they were rescued from</span></i></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">Did the youths and their parents also learned about the lethal zoonosis infection elephants from those stables are carrying?</span></b><i><span class="fbPhotoCaptionText"> </span></i></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">As far as I can understand, a place with infected Tuberculosis animals, can not be <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_sanctuary">defined as a sanctuary</a>, since its not a safe place for healthy elephants. And Florida may actually be much warmer for the Toronto elephants...</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Still PAWS directors does not understand why AZA want to send the elephants to warmer Florida, and they write on their website:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Some of the most renowned and respected scientists — Cynthia Moss, Joyce
Poole, Winnie Kiiru, Keith Lindsay and Dr. Jane Goodall — have
recommended the PAWS ARK 2000 sanctuary to Toronto Zoo as a retirement
home for the three African elephants, Thika, Toka and Iringa. Why does
AZA consider their years of experience as unimportant, and continue to
threaten Toronto Zoo with the horrors of lack of accreditation? </i>(<a href="http://rumblingsfrompaws.wordpress.com/">Source</a>)</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">So
whats more important, the future health of the Toronto elephants, or
the thousands of petition signers on Internet? Should decisions be made
by experts, or by </span><span class="st" style="font-size: small;"><i>politicians, dependant on, and manipulated by, propaganda?</i></span><br />
<br />
<span class="st" style="font-size: small;"><i>And who are experts by the way? </i></span><br />
<br />
<span class="st" style="font-size: small;"><i>And if the above mentioned "experts" really think its better to move healthy elephants to a Tuberculosis infected "sanctaury" on the somewhat colder north california coast, rather than to a TB free AZA credited location in Florida, well we might ask ourselves, are really </i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Cynthia Moss, Joyce
Poole, Winnie Kiiru, Keith Lindsay and Dr. Jane Goodall that stupid, or is it possible their names were used by the welfare people according to the new "noble cause corruption" mentality?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Maybe, just maybe, </i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Cynthia Moss, Joyce
Poole, Winnie Kiiru, Keith Lindsay and Dr. Jane Goodall doesnt really think that healthy elephants should be infected with Tuberculosis?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>You may actually ask them, because, they signed papers in order to convince us hat experts had analyzed the destiny of the healthy Toronto elephants, and the only pla<span style="font-size: small;">c</span>e they recommend was a private location with Tuberculosis infected elephants, pretty much north in California.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i> <span style="font-size: small;">-Although Florida is warmer...</span> </i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>How odd it may sound, this was their decision. Or was it? Ask them! </i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>[EDIT]</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>2013-03-11: </i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>USDA to Consider Guidelines for the Control of Tuberculosis in Elephants</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>WASHINGTON, Dec. 28, 2012--The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA)
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is taking public
comments on the Agency’s intention to use the 2010 “Guidelines for the
Control of Tuberculosis in Elephants,” issued by the United States
Animal Health Association (USAHA), to assess whether or not USDA
licensees are adhering to the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) regulations and
providing their elephants with adequate veterinary care with respect to
tuberculosis (TB), TB testing and elephant movement</b></i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><b><a href="http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/2012/12/elephant_tb.shtml" target="_blank">Link: read more</a> </b> </i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><br />
Links:
<span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><br />
</span><br />
<ul><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
<li><a href="http://labanimals.awionline.org/wildlife/elephants/Part%2010.pdf"><span style="font-weight: normal;">PDF document where positive TB test on Sabu is mentioned</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.elephantcare.org/TBinfo.htm"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Elephant Tuberculosis FAQ</span></a> </li>
<li><a class="l" href="http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/downloads/elephant/Evolution%20of%20the%20Guidelines.pdf">Evolution of the Guidelines for the Control of <i>Tuberculosis</i> in Elephants</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.durhamradionews.com/archives/35756?mid=5783">Animal lover fears Torontos elephants risk infection at their new home</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.elephant.se/arthritis.php">Elephant Database list of some 50 elephants that died of arthritis </a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.elephant.se/mycobacterium_tuberculosis.php">Elephant Database list of some 40 elephants that died of Tuberculosis</a></li>
</span></ul>
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</span>DanKoehlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245638586616063380noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7719911693377170022.post-60368914523123943762012-01-09T14:03:00.000+01:002012-01-12T13:15:30.809+01:00Circus elephants in Chile and Vietnam transfered from circus to ZoosAlmost in the same day, two circus elephants, in Chile and in Vietnam, were transfered to new locations.<br />
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In Chile, a few days ago, the Ecopolis campaigne<a href="http://liberenaramba.blogspot.com/"> Liberen A Ramba - Free Ramba</a> (also on Facebook:<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="profileName fn fsxl fwb"> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/LIBEREN-A-RAMBA-EL-ULTIMO-ELEFANTE-DE-CIRCO-EN-CHILE/118095024951808">LIBEREN A RAMBA EL ULTIMO ELEFANTE DE CIRCO EN CHILE</a></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">) the elephant <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=7280">Ramba</a> was confiscated from </span></span><a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=2038&show=5" title="Circo Los Tachuelas">Circo Los Tachuelas</a> in Chile and relocated to <a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=2177" title="Rancagua Safari Park (Parque Safari de Rancagua)">Rancagua Safari Park (Parque Safari de Rancagua)</a> where she arrived to a newly designed one hectar facility, and an air-conditioned stable.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/jpJbFLjQ-HU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<a href="http://www.vietnamheritage.com.vn/Uploads/Laura-feeding-Ny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://www.vietnamheritage.com.vn/Uploads/Laura-feeding-Ny.jpg" width="416" /></a></div>
In Vietnam, there has been concearn about the elephant Ny, located at Saigon Circus, for some years.<br />
<br />
Annie Eagleton wrote an article about Ny, <span id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_ctl00_lblNewsTitle"><a href="http://www.vietnamheritage.com.vn/pages/en/712114330421-Project-to-return-circus-elephant-to-the-bush.html">Project to return circus elephant to the bush</a> in March 2011.</span><br />
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<a href="http://anniemalia.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/foot.jpg?w=605" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="http://anniemalia.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/foot.jpg?w=605" width="320" /></a></div>
<span id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_ctl00_lblNewsTitle">Ny and another elephant was a gift from Sony Korea to the Ho Chi Min City, who gave the two elephants to the Saigon Circus. </span><br />
<br />
<span id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_ctl00_lblNewsTitle">The second elephants where abouts is unknown, and Ny stayed on Saigon Circus as a single elephant, most of the time kept on an extremely short chain, which restricted her movements to a minimum.</span><br />
<span id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_ctl00_lblNewsTitle"> </span> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.elephant.se/images/saigon_circus_ny.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://www.elephant.se/images/saigon_circus_ny.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://anniemalia.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/img_2279.jpg?w=605" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://anniemalia.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/img_2279.jpg?w=605" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice the plastic pipes through her ears</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
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Last night she arrived in <a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=327">Saigon Zoo</a>, which had another 5 elephants during my visit there in January, including a mature bull. And since I am now in Saigon, I will go to see her tomorrow.DanKoehlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245638586616063380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7719911693377170022.post-74431276203194098502012-01-06T11:17:00.000+01:002016-04-06T04:38:59.348+02:00Can Sambo and other elephants transmit tuberculosis to people?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.phnompenhpost.com/images/resized/images/stories/news/national/2012/120106/7d/120106_05a_276_383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.phnompenhpost.com/images/resized/images/stories/news/national/2012/120106/7d/120106_05a_276_383.jpg" height="320" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foreign tourist hand feeding Sambo (Phnom Penh Post)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
What the <a href="http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2012010653829/Lifestyle/whats-sambos-future.html">article about Sambo in the Phnom Penh Post</a> about Sambo in the Phnom Penh Post doesnt discuss, is the risk of people transmitting bacterial TB to Sambo, and Sambo transmitting TB to people.<br />
<br />
Does Sambo have Tuberculosis? None knows.<br />
<br />
She was never tested, we dont know if her owner Sin Sorn, his family, or his nephew working as Sambos mahout was tested. But statistically, she most likely was heavily exposed to Tuberculosis, and she and all humans in daily close interaction, should be checked ASAP.<br />
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<a href="http://www.expat-advisory.com/sites/default/files/southeast-asia/cambodia/article_images/christmas-elephant-parade-who-d-have-thought-it-santa-domray_santaelephantparadephoto_december-16-2011-255pm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.expat-advisory.com/sites/default/files/southeast-asia/cambodia/article_images/christmas-elephant-parade-who-d-have-thought-it-santa-domray_santaelephantparadephoto_december-16-2011-255pm.jpg" height="200" width="195" /></a></div>
Recently, 17th of December, she was used at christmas mascot at a <a href="http://www.expat-advisory.com/articles/southeast-asia/cambodia/christmas-elephant-parade-who-d-have-thought-it-santa-domray">christmas event in Phnom Penh, called Santa Elephant Parade</a>:.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>People will gather at the Kids Park at Wat Phnom at 7:45am. At 8am,
Santa will arrive on his elephant and the parade will begin. The parade
will be led by 20 children from The Future Light Organisation, which
runs an orphanage for more than 280 orphans which aims to help them the
skills necessary to lift themselves out of poverty towards a brighter
future </i></span><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">At the end of the parade, Santa will be handing out gifts to all the
children whilst</span> <u><b>people on the parade can help feed Sombo a well deserved
healthy meal. </b></u></i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The event, organised by <a href="http://www.monument-toys.com/">Monument Books and Toys</a>, is part of their
regular calendar of children’s events and activities, which has
included, face painting, magic shows, storytelling and origami.</i></span> <br />
<br />
Did anyone catch Tuberculosis from Sombo as christmas present? We dont know...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bccdc.ca/NR/rdonlyres/FCFD11E0-387E-4EF8-9E15-56C7DF1CBC76/0/tuberculosisofthelungspicture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.bccdc.ca/NR/rdonlyres/FCFD11E0-387E-4EF8-9E15-56C7DF1CBC76/0/tuberculosisofthelungspicture.jpg" height="256" width="320" /></a><br />
Pulmonary Tuberculosis
is a medical problem which is a sleeping bomb in regards to captive
elephants in Asia. TB is airborne and spreads through tiny droplets in
the air. Besides people and elephants,
tuberculosis also affects primates, cattle, horses and other animals.<br />
<br />
It is thought that among Asias captive elephants, 5-25% suffer from
Tuberculosis. Many of those elephants are kept in forest camps and have minor interaction with other humans than their mahout. But 40% elephants in some temples in India are reported to have Tuberculosis. Why?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.chrisputro.com/angkor/028%2020051121%20Phnom%20Penh%20-%20elephant.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.chrisputro.com/angkor/028%2020051121%20Phnom%20Penh%20-%20elephant.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Asias forest camps are completely different to the case with the elephants in urban environment, being handfed from hundred of people every day, like the single elephant Sambo in Phnom Penh, who have been
standing as a monument outside Wat Phnom temple since 1992, and the hour walk home along the Riverside.<br />
Through the banana
hand feeding, or just checking people up, if the have food in their hands, Sambo has been exposed to hundred of thousands of people, 64% of
them having TB...<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;">
<tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.travelpod.com/users/chris-barbara/1.1248856329.sambo-the-elephant.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://images.travelpod.com/users/chris-barbara/1.1248856329.sambo-the-elephant.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sambo handfed from staff at a restuarant in Phnom Penh</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
And during the begging, also fruits at the shops may have been infected, and sold to people, <br />
<br />
Actually, during the 1,5 hours daily walk home, Sambo has been handfed by restaurant staff at the most populair resturants along the Ton Le Sap.<br />
<br />
Maybe, maybe, very much maybe the waitors washed their hands afterwards??<br />
<br />
But not their lungs...<br />
<br />
Some minutes later they served a tourist a meal..<br />
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<a href="http://8020.photos.jpgmag.com.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com/2159728_2500_2b8eabfb76_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://8020.photos.jpgmag.com.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com/2159728_2500_2b8eabfb76_l.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3264/2659498247_334e98bc5d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Cambodia ranks 21st on the list of 22 high-burden tuberculosis (TB) countries in the
world. An estimated 64 percent of Cambodians are infected with TB, and a substantial
number of cases remain undetected. As of 2007, around 13,000 Cambodians have died
annually from the disease. There were almost 71,000 new TB cases in Cambodia in
2006, with an estimated incidence rate of 495 cases per 100,000 population <br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Link: </span><a href="http://jpgmag.com/stories/14323"><span style="font-size: small;">Cambodian TB Patients - Coughing in Cambodia</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3264/2659498247_334e98bc5d.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3264/2659498247_334e98bc5d.jpg" height="215" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"> It seems also like the TB goes through a mutation in elephants, before being passed back to humans.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Alarmingly, 4.3 percent
of new human TB cases worldwide are now multi-drug resistant (MDR TB)
(Shah 2007). </span><b>More than 50 percent of drug resistant TB cases are fatal</b>, even when
treatment is administered (American Lung Association 2007). The incidence
of XDR TB is increasing. In the initial reported outbreak of XDR TB, 52 of
53 patients died within three weeks (WHO 2006).</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.elephants.com/lota/lota_diary_photos/12_21_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.elephants.com/lota/lota_diary_photos/12_21_04.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Between 1994 and 2006, there have
been 36 culture-confirmed cases
of tuberculosis in U.S. elephants, most of them asian elephants. Among
all US elephants, ≈12% of Asian and ≈2% of African elephants are thought
to be infected with <i>M. tuberculosis</i> (<a href="http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/17/3/10-1668_article.htm#r6" title="6"><i>Source 1</i></a>,<a href="http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/17/3/10-1668_article.htm#r7" title="7"><i>2</i></a>). <br />
<br />
Looking on this picture, seing the person protecting himself with a mask, may rise the question, when did you last time read a sign in an asian elephant sanctuary or camp, "We are TB-free!".<br />
<span style="font-family: "tahoma"; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.aliesez.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/DSC09344-490x330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.aliesez.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/DSC09344-490x330.jpg" height="215" width="320" /></a></div>
Many foreign tourists, especially western females visiting elephant camps and sanctuaries in Asia, tend to try to have as mouch body contact with the elephants as possible. (And some 5-10% with the mahouts as well...) This includes hand feeding, and close contact, when the elephants normally check the tourist up with their trunks, looking for food, or just checking the breath and smell of the human elephant lovers. And theres a lot of kissing, and excited laughs, and Oh-My-Gooods etc...<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HDaWOSnKkIc/TXzTYkYw3uI/AAAAAAAAJpw/ZwVkv1_h6rY/s1600/Elephant++3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HDaWOSnKkIc/TXzTYkYw3uI/AAAAAAAAJpw/ZwVkv1_h6rY/s320/Elephant++3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Its impossible to hand feed an elephant without facing the risk of Tuberculosis transfer in Asia.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://thebrotrip.blogg.se/images/2010/p1030817_120981802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://thebrotrip.blogg.se/images/2010/p1030817_120981802.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
When the elephant takes your gift, you get exposed to saliva from the trunk, and air from its lungs.<br />
A second later, the fruit is gently placed on the elephants toungue, with the trunk.<br />
<br />
And then trunk moves to the tourist again, for next fruit.<br />
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Would you step into a hospital in Asia, and kiss the patents?<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://adventurousalfred.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/pb221802.jpg?w=532&h=369" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://adventurousalfred.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/pb221802.jpg?w=532&h=369" height="220" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caption: An elephant moves in for a slobbery kiss. <a href="http://adventurousalfred.wordpress.com/2011/11/22/elephant-painting-poo-and-paper-lampang-thailand/">Source</a>: </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">When you and your children spend a week in an elephant sanctuary, did you check if they are TB testing their elephants and their mahouts?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Did you test yourself later? Or your children? </span></div>
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Furthermore; when Asian countries start to demand TB checkup on captive elephants in camps and sanctuaries, and eventually promting them to establish <b><i>quarantine</i></b>, and stopping human visitors and interactions, how many will continue to "save" and "rescue" elephants, when no dollars are coming in from the tourists? <br />
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And how can the camps be trusted, unless they publish veterinary reports, issued by officials?<br />
One example is one of Thailands most visited camps, "The Elephant Nature Park", owned by Mrs Lek Sailert in Chiang Mai, and marketed as a "sanctuary", which has had a turnover of more than 70 elephants through the years. This place even sell elephant kissing, to well paying tourists.<br />
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<a href="http://www.elephant.se/images/enp_kwanjai_dead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.elephant.se/images/enp_kwanjai_dead.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
How is the TB situation at Thailands most visited elephant camp, where you can even get a kiss from an elephant if you pay well? -The answer is, you can not find out what risks visitors to <em>The Elephant Nature Park</em> take, when they interact with the elephants. Does anyone else, apart from Mrs Sangduen Chailert, and , believe its enough to "isolate" an elephant, if its postive for Tuberculosis, in a place with a +70 elephants turnover throughout the years, 16 deaths with no public autopsy reports, and apr 100 international visitors daily, included children? ENP has a very intensive physical contact between humans and elephants, including a special kiss-an-elephant event? Read <a href="http://www.saveelephant.org/blog/addressing-false-claims-a-statement-from-sangduen-lek-chailert-on-behalf-of-elephant-nature-park/" target="_blank">Lek Chailerts statement</a>, where she writes: "We open our park to university and international veterinarians and the government to regularly test our elephants for TB.".<br />
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BUT! Thailand’s most well-known specialists on TB, a scientist from Chiang Mai University, wrote me 20th of May 2013: “They used to ask me the possibility to do the test, but after that I have heard nothing.” Lek Chailert writes: "Tuberculosis is a concern at our park, however none of our elephants has the disease" WHERE is public documentation from Thai official veterinaries that confirm that NOONE of the 70 elephants carried TB?<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tonyhawk.com/08/journal_images/082307_photos/elephant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.tonyhawk.com/08/journal_images/082307_photos/elephant.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sambo hand fed at Wat Phnom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Some links discussing Tuberculosis and its transmits between elephants and humans:
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></b><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.elephant.se/mycobacterium_tuberculosis.php">Elephant TB (<i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i>)</a> </span>.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><a href="http://www.elephantcare.org/TBinfo.htm">Elephant TB FAQ by elephantcare.org</a><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://news.vanderbilt.edu/2011/03/elephants-transmit-tb/">Elephants can transmit TB to humans</a>. <span style="font-family: inherit;">The study, “Elephant-to-Human Transmission of Tuberculosis, 2009,” appears in the March issue of the CDC journal </span><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/17/3/366.htm" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank"><i>Emerging Infectious Diseases</i></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">. It describes the 2009 outbreak of tuberculosis skin test conversions among eight employees at an elephant refuge in Tennessee.</span></span>
</span></li>
</ul>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2366/2263874589_78c9ecd19e.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2366/2263874589_78c9ecd19e.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small;">Sambo being handfed.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/7926523/India-elephant-blessings-to-stop-over-tuberculosis-fears.html">India elephant blessings 'to stop' over tuberculosis fears </a></span><span style="font-size: small;">Indian temples have been asked to stop their elephants from blessing
Hindu pilgrims after fears were raised that the tourists were passing
tuberculosis to the animals</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/global_health/id/tuberculosis/countries/asia/cambodia_profile.html">Tuberculosis in Cambodia</a>.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><a href="http://jpgmag.com/stories/14323"><span style="font-size: small;">Cambodian TB Patients - Coughing in Cambodia</span></a> (news article)<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;">The StopTB Partnership (<a href="http://www.stoptb.com/" style="text-decoration: underline;">www.STOPTB.com</a>)
has adopted the slogan “TB Anywhere Is TB Everywhere” to emphasize that we
must develop strategies to control human TB worldwide.</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li>
</ul>
DanKoehlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245638586616063380noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7719911693377170022.post-30885893623871954822012-01-06T10:32:00.000+01:002012-01-06T10:38:34.465+01:00What’s Sambo’s future? (Article in Phnom Penh Post)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.phnompenhpost.com/templates/ja_teline_iv/images/newlogo3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.phnompenhpost.com/templates/ja_teline_iv/images/newlogo3.png" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.phnompenhpost.com/images/resized/images/stories/news/national/2012/120106/7d/120106_05b_383_228.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><br />
<h1 class="contentheading clearfix" style="text-align: center;">
<a class="contentpagetitle" href="http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2012010653829/Lifestyle/whats-sambos-future.html">What’s Sambo’s future? </a> </h1>
Today the Phnom Penh Post have an <a href="http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2012010653829/Lifestyle/whats-sambos-future.html">article about Sambos future</a>, written by Ou Mom.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.phnompenhpost.com/images/resized/images/stories/news/national/2012/120106/7d/120106_05b_383_228.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://www.phnompenhpost.com/images/resized/images/stories/news/national/2012/120106/7d/120106_05b_383_228.jpg" width="320" /></a>Hopefully, this article will widen the debate, and make more people realize, that this elephants really is badly suffering, and need acute competent medical care, something her present owner, Mr Sin Sorn, will never be able to supply. And this puts more responsibility on the Forestry Administration of Cambodia, who have to step in and take resonsibility for the animal, since her owner is neglecting her health.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.phnompenhpost.com/images/resized/images/stories/news/national/2012/120106/7d/120106_05a_276_383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
What the article about Sambo in the Phnom Penh Post doesnt discuss, is
the risk of people transmitting bacterial TB to Sambo, and Sambo
transmitting TB to people. (my next blog post...)<br /><br />
Read the Phnom Penh Post article: <br />
<h1 class="contentheading clearfix">
<a class="contentpagetitle" href="http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2012010653829/Lifestyle/whats-sambos-future.html">What’s Sambo’s future?
</a></h1>DanKoehlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245638586616063380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7719911693377170022.post-16020307579340479522012-01-05T12:47:00.001+01:002012-01-07T13:03:05.136+01:00Phnom Tamao Zoo and Wildlife Rescue Center, Cambodia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LawRXWhhiuI/TwVwvcsrBVI/AAAAAAAABpQ/pP9lb54oeNI/s1600/phnom_tamao_Chhouk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://earsasia.org/why_we_need_to_help/Pages/Sambo_files/Sambo%27s%20feet1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L9Uc6ikVpP8/RkfmUcZY7PE/AAAAAAAAAlo/2EzcIMxFjKM/02_PhnomTamaoZOOAndResqueGarden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L9Uc6ikVpP8/RkfmUcZY7PE/AAAAAAAAAlo/2EzcIMxFjKM/02_PhnomTamaoZOOAndResqueGarden.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Before leaving Cambodia, I was called by the Phnom Penh Post, and asked questions about the elephant Sambo at Wat Phnom in Phnom Penh. The article is written in Khmer, (<span style="font-size: small;"><a class="contentpagetitle" href="http://www.postkhmer.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=70956:2012-01-03-16-57-48&catid=101:social-culture&Itemid=276">សម្បូណ៌ត្រៀមទទួលការព្យាបាល</a></span>) so I havnt been able to read it, the english is said to apprear on friday. In my answers I focused on the owners limited knowledge and recources, and that Sambo must be relocated to Phnom Tamao ASAP.<br />
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In February 2011 I visited Phnom Tamao Zoo (founded in 1995), situated less than an hour away from the capital of Phnom Penh, and learned that this is by far, more than zoo, the
Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center is also home to over 1,200 animals rescued
from the illegal wildlife trade. Since 2001, Wildlife Alliance has rescued more than 43,000 animals from
poachers and illegal wildlife traders, and has dramatically driven down
the buying and selling of wildlife in Cambodia and throughout Southeast
Asia. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://elephant.se/images/Phnom_Tamao_Zoo_elephants.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://elephant.se/images/Phnom_Tamao_Zoo_elephants.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In 1998 and 1999 the female elephants Lucky and Narang arrived. Photo: Gavin Bourchier, Sept 2000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://elephant.se/images/phnom_tamao_stables.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://elephant.se/images/phnom_tamao_stables.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The elephant stables with a fairly modern setup</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uC1HYsbNmcc/TwWBuuLbQOI/AAAAAAAABrA/cNNJh1V90wg/s1600/phnom_tamao_elephant_boxes2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uC1HYsbNmcc/TwWBuuLbQOI/AAAAAAAABrA/cNNJh1V90wg/s400/phnom_tamao_elephant_boxes2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good shade in the boxes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BnEqJWc00vw/TwWBt8wUUOI/AAAAAAAABq4/hDqsSrQLg0Q/s1600/phnom_tamao_elephant_boxes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BnEqJWc00vw/TwWBt8wUUOI/AAAAAAAABq4/hDqsSrQLg0Q/s400/phnom_tamao_elephant_boxes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-39Fao8qBBpg/TwWBvsJ3GHI/AAAAAAAABrI/BdG24wcpg8g/s1600/phnom_tamao_elephant_enclos.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-39Fao8qBBpg/TwWBvsJ3GHI/AAAAAAAABrI/BdG24wcpg8g/s400/phnom_tamao_elephant_enclos.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and several out enclosures </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i> </i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oYVs13e7c1Q/Twg0GSS-DTI/AAAAAAAABrw/V62Re0qTE0Q/s1600/phnom_tamao_chocky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oYVs13e7c1Q/Twg0GSS-DTI/AAAAAAAABrw/V62Re0qTE0Q/s320/phnom_tamao_chocky.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<i>Around 1999, six calf elephants were captured, ranging in age
from 6 months to five years old, according to Mondulkiri provincial DFW sources.
One particular young elephant that avoided the hunters was brought to
the WPO Wildlife Rescue Center in Phnom Penh. During a hunt, the mother
of this individual was killed, and the young animal ran into a village.
It was caught in a villager's kitchen searching for food. The villagers
negotiated with the DFW as they did not wish to raise the elephant. In
the end, an undisclosed sum of money was paid to bring the young animal
to the Wildlife Rescue Center. </i><br />
<br />
<i>This young animal unfortunately died on 5
April 2001 because of an infection following an accident that resulted
in a number of broken bones.</i> <br />
<br />
Source: <span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/ad031e/ad031e0c.htm">The status, distribution and management of the domesticated Asian elephant in Cambodia </a>by Chheang Dany, Hunter Weiler,
Kuy Tong and Sam Han</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/na101/home/literatum/publisher/tandf/journals/content/tveq20/2006/tveq20.v028.i02/01652176.2006.9695209/production/01652176.2006.9695209.fp.png_v03" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.tandfonline.com/na101/home/literatum/publisher/tandf/journals/content/tveq20/2006/tveq20.v028.i02/01652176.2006.9695209/production/01652176.2006.9695209.fp.png_v03" width="273" /></a></div>
In 2002, Phnom Tamao Zoo had the first confirmed fatal case of <a href="http://www.elephant.se/elephant_herpes_virus.php">EEHV (<span style="font-size: small;">Elephant endotheliotropic herpes virus</span>)</a> in Asia: <q>The deceased elephant (“Seima”) was approximately three years old,
wild-born [in Cambodia]. She was confiscated from traders in 2002 as an
approximately 6 months old calf and placed in Phnomn Tamao Wildlife
Rescue Center where she was bottle-reared by keepers and housed with 4
other elephants…. She died in lateral recumbency on May 6, 2004 without
observed symptoms and without any treatment.</q><cite> <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CCUQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.idausa.org%2Fnews%2Fcurrentnews%2Fpdfs%2FEEHV_FACT_SHEET_BASICS.pdf&ei=hn0FT4w25-LRAcSkjdEC&usg=AFQjCNEWsmD-6sjj8BUXFjo_3FYg1Tqu2g&sig2=uHyTOjLOH3mvNHQ_mYmOog">Reid, et al., Veterinary Quarterly 2006; 28(2), p. 63, under Case report/Disease History</a></cite> <br />
<br />
See also<span style="font-size: small;">: <a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01652176.2006.9695209#preview">Endotheliotropic Elephant Herpes Virus (EEHV) infection. The first PCR‐confirmed fatal case in Asia</a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
In 2007, 138 captive wild animals was recued from neglect and deplorable conditions at the
Angkor Zoo in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The government cracked down and closed
the Angkor Zoo, and some of the animals were brought to Phnom Tamao.<br />
<br />
Presently, <a href="http://elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=134">5 elephants are housed at Phnom Tamao Zoo (database)</a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WpDAwvYLEuY/TwVxAEmIEOI/AAAAAAAABpg/hRjQ_SDmHFg/s1600/phnom_tamao_elephant_walk.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WpDAwvYLEuY/TwVxAEmIEOI/AAAAAAAABpg/hRjQ_SDmHFg/s400/phnom_tamao_elephant_walk.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Returning to the stables after a walk and swin in the lake.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YCmB_Zynedk/TwVxCLiwmyI/AAAAAAAABpo/ziVG985X4us/s1600/phnom_tamao_elephant_walk2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YCmB_Zynedk/TwVxCLiwmyI/AAAAAAAABpo/ziVG985X4us/s400/phnom_tamao_elephant_walk2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UoBTXwKDAzk/TwVxDAJtJuI/AAAAAAAABpw/pR3wdRsQa98/s1600/phnom_tamao_lucky.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UoBTXwKDAzk/TwVxDAJtJuI/AAAAAAAABpw/pR3wdRsQa98/s400/phnom_tamao_lucky.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
During my visit the elephants were taken for walk outside the enclosure, and getting a bath in the nearby lake. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yLAn_44auhU/TwWBxU9RN5I/AAAAAAAABrY/Dm-GX2LIKys/s1600/phnom_tamao_elephant_prot.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yLAn_44auhU/TwWBxU9RN5I/AAAAAAAABrY/Dm-GX2LIKys/s400/phnom_tamao_elephant_prot.jpg" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Chhouk</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-reyYLfVmfPc/TwVz4R4gS5I/AAAAAAAABqs/pvs8rgS1neY/s1600/phnom_tamao_chocky.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">In March 2007, there were reports of a lone, orphaned baby elephant wandering
through the forest in Mondulkiri, with his front left foot severely injured and
infected, as a result of hunter snares.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Chhouk was transported 26 hours on the back of a truck to Phnom Tamao, where his treatment began, Nearly 5 inches of infected tissue and bone had to be removed, and he was fitted with his first prosthetic foot in 2009. He is now waering his fourth artificial foot.</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SV5p1fQlKb4/TwWBy-U8-bI/AAAAAAAABro/94hlQHC8NBw/s1600/phnom_tamao_elephant_prot3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SV5p1fQlKb4/TwWBy-U8-bI/AAAAAAAABro/94hlQHC8NBw/s400/phnom_tamao_elephant_prot3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D0xpjwjrrys/TwWByE8aBsI/AAAAAAAABrg/sZJibSIHprw/s1600/phnom_tamao_elephant_prot2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D0xpjwjrrys/TwWByE8aBsI/AAAAAAAABrg/sZJibSIHprw/s400/phnom_tamao_elephant_prot2.jpg" width="368" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Chhouk's </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Prosthesis</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">,
which was made by the Cambodian School of Prosthesis and Orhtotics
(CSPO), </span></span>with funding assistance from SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">for a cost of US$30,000</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> </span> <br />
Some Youtube videos:<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/FVljK6fosDI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe> </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/XxHMdddAjpI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Tt0zrJmfwuY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/mxyEs7jBSrQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Read more:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=134">Phnom Tamao Zoo and Wildlife Rescue Center</a> (from the elephant database) </li>
<li>Website: <a href="http://www.wildlifealliance.org/visit-our-field-sites/">Phnom Tamao on Wildlife Allience</a> website</li>
<li><a href="http://www.wildlifealliance.org/blog/tag/phnom-tamao-wildlife-rescue-center">Wildlife Allience Phnom Tamao field blog</a></li>
</ul>DanKoehlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245638586616063380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7719911693377170022.post-48971421621487368662011-12-31T15:23:00.003+01:002012-01-05T12:47:36.495+01:00Records from the elephants database during 2011<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z0mGubld728/TR4T9q6DuoI/AAAAAAAAA3U/Qhx1D4PIi30/s400/ElephantAsia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z0mGubld728/TR4T9q6DuoI/AAAAAAAAA3U/Qhx1D4PIi30/s400/ElephantAsia.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.elefantasia.org/">Elefantasia</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<b><b>During 2011 submissions in the elephant database:</b></b></div>
<ul>
<li><b><b>There was 66 elephants born 2011 in the database, 32 males, 20 females. 49 were born in captivity, 22 males, 17 females. (<a href="http://www.elephant.se/elephant_birth.php?year=2011">listings</a>)</b></b><b><b> </b></b></li>
<li><b><b>64 records of elephants deaths in the database during 2011 (<a href="http://www.elephant.se/elephant_death.php?year=2011">Listings</a>)</b></b><b></b></li>
<li><b><b></b></b><b><span style="font-size: small;">105 transfers of elephants during 2011 in the database (<a href="http://www.elephant.se/elephant_transfers.php?year=2011">Listings</a>)</span></b></li>
</ul>
<h2 style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In The Elephants News, </span></span></span></b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>359 headlines about Elephants was recorded during 2011 (<a href="http://www.elephant-news.com/index.php?y=2011">Link</a>)</b></span></span></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.elephant.se/logos/logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.elephant.se/logos/logo.gif" /></a></div>
<h2 style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b> </b></span></span></h2>DanKoehlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245638586616063380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7719911693377170022.post-60958619157471634182011-12-29T18:11:00.000+01:002011-12-31T14:50:04.178+01:00Return to Elephant Valley Project in Cambodia<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZAjM8F4uzWY/TvyE6h7SwLI/AAAAAAAABkg/ZEUgHaaUiB0/s1600/evp_office.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZAjM8F4uzWY/TvyE6h7SwLI/AAAAAAAABkg/ZEUgHaaUiB0/s320/evp_office.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Upon my return to Cambodia in December, I met Jack Highwood, again, and he invited me to Mondulkiri to spend christmas there, and see the Elephant Valley Project again.<br />
<br />
On christmas day we went out to the project, after passing by the new town office in Sen Monorom.<br />
<br />
It once again strucked me, what a nice place Jack has found for the
elephants within the project, and for himself and the project
volunteers and guests.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F25zhC2Lh8c/TvtGmzoxoKI/AAAAAAAABjU/S2p2pQRash0/s320/evalley_vellyview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F25zhC2Lh8c/TvtGmzoxoKI/AAAAAAAABjU/S2p2pQRash0/s320/evalley_vellyview.jpg" /></a> <br />
<br />
The view from the lodge main complex, the sounds of wild birds, and the abscence of traffic makes the visitor forget about urban traffic and stress, and to open the mind for the nature.<br />
<br />
The nature here is disapearing however, and Jack said, that he heard chain saws from the next valley, after the mountain to the right in the picture.<br />
<br />
Money talks...<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cp_EWSuKwEs/TvyFAeNlxWI/AAAAAAAABlE/LT409yWVQ7w/s1600/evp_trees_bamboo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cp_EWSuKwEs/TvyFAeNlxWI/AAAAAAAABlE/LT409yWVQ7w/s400/evp_trees_bamboo.jpg" width="265" /></a>The area Jack is renting, is protected by the presence of the elephants and the economy support to the project, why this is not only an elephant sanctuary, but also a conservation project.<br />
<br />
The area provides natural food, enough for a small herd of elephants, and natural shade and protection.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zQK3vtdfiQg/TvyE-K-6DNI/AAAAAAAABk8/rpuz1j3dsVM/s1600/evp_trees.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zQK3vtdfiQg/TvyE-K-6DNI/AAAAAAAABk8/rpuz1j3dsVM/s640/evp_trees.jpg" width="392" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">natural scratching posts...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hvKdnhkyQ3o/TvyE7MuZA4I/AAAAAAAABks/U5RMK-EI6g0/s1600/evp_plant.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U-JvI8SB5Do/TvyE566y36I/AAAAAAAABkc/MXcra9684C8/s1600/evp_bamboo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U-JvI8SB5Do/TvyE566y36I/AAAAAAAABkc/MXcra9684C8/s400/evp_bamboo.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bamboo is abundant</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vxybReC9WCU/TvyE89j0vjI/AAAAAAAABk0/l1tJ_QMWt8k/s1600/evp_river.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vxybReC9WCU/TvyE89j0vjI/AAAAAAAABk0/l1tJ_QMWt8k/s640/evp_river.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A river runs through the valley...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uq0XQWl4-Yk/TvyT7X9l6II/AAAAAAAABlQ/ha-It4tllSA/s1600/evp_forest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uq0XQWl4-Yk/TvyT7X9l6II/AAAAAAAABlQ/ha-It4tllSA/s400/evp_forest.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5DSMTc_bF-k/TvyZVn-GD4I/AAAAAAAABns/nWbuemxdWQU/s1600/evp_elephant_riding.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5DSMTc_bF-k/TvyZVn-GD4I/AAAAAAAABns/nWbuemxdWQU/s400/evp_elephant_riding.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X4NBJgHsdCk/TvyUNm740iI/AAAAAAAABlc/YAh2Zgf7lqY/s1600/evp_river_bath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X4NBJgHsdCk/TvyUNm740iI/AAAAAAAABlc/YAh2Zgf7lqY/s400/evp_river_bath.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">to get a morning bath</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w1z9_L0c1Mo/TvyUlmZWNtI/AAAAAAAABlo/WBVGXY-CJpA/s1600/evp_bob.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w1z9_L0c1Mo/TvyUlmZWNtI/AAAAAAAABlo/WBVGXY-CJpA/s640/evp_bob.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bull Bob is mostly ridden by his mahouts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7qUaHZPTaKY/TvyVVYY9kKI/AAAAAAAABmA/r8gf3FKakl8/s1600/evp_elephant_training.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7qUaHZPTaKY/TvyVVYY9kKI/AAAAAAAABmA/r8gf3FKakl8/s400/evp_elephant_training.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">while the cows are herded to the river, according to Jack, without hooks.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-31762Szjeek/TvyVoypy9xI/AAAAAAAABmM/6vd6XW5-_1I/s1600/evp_jack_elephant2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="311" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-31762Szjeek/TvyVoypy9xI/AAAAAAAABmM/6vd6XW5-_1I/s400/evp_jack_elephant2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After bath a little skin care</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m9sKWnK2pL4/TvyV0ufwrnI/AAAAAAAABmY/bIYOMoOcg78/s1600/evp_elephant_foot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m9sKWnK2pL4/TvyV0ufwrnI/AAAAAAAABmY/bIYOMoOcg78/s400/evp_elephant_foot.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">natural feet without foot care</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X38LT4kvPA0/TvyWEnX7RnI/AAAAAAAABmk/CgPuPaaAH84/s1600/evp_elephant_shit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X38LT4kvPA0/TvyWEnX7RnI/AAAAAAAABmk/CgPuPaaAH84/s400/evp_elephant_shit.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">feaces from natural food</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AMJqxB1rXQY/TvyWa2JIp4I/AAAAAAAABmw/PYHMbnkp4Wc/s1600/evp_mahout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AMJqxB1rXQY/TvyWa2JIp4I/AAAAAAAABmw/PYHMbnkp4Wc/s400/evp_mahout.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PjsaUn_FSbY/TvyWdQT6TZI/AAAAAAAABm4/2mDTnlnk9lA/s1600/evp_mahout2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="375" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PjsaUn_FSbY/TvyWdQT6TZI/AAAAAAAABm4/2mDTnlnk9lA/s400/evp_mahout2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SyZmZGXK6_4/TvyWe3DfSiI/AAAAAAAABnA/LkPi2hHwOWg/s1600/evp_mahout3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SyZmZGXK6_4/TvyWe3DfSiI/AAAAAAAABnA/LkPi2hHwOWg/s400/evp_mahout3.jpg" width="348" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The mahouts gets their income, in a new way for them, with minor stress.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RZZFcqa6VPw/TvyU77FYdFI/AAAAAAAABl0/Hai30mJX-pI/s1600/evp_elephant_shit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gYRc9HEJ5QU/TvyXB2sfQLI/AAAAAAAABnM/rNhEW0Yp-bE/s1600/evp_ear_ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gYRc9HEJ5QU/TvyXB2sfQLI/AAAAAAAABnM/rNhEW0Yp-bE/s400/evp_ear_ball.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The richness of <i>tannin</i> in the food is indicated by an enlarged gland behind the ears</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8A9sdhWgz-w/TvyXDdl9BGI/AAAAAAAABnU/CTCk4IjBDIY/s1600/evp_ear_ball2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8A9sdhWgz-w/TvyXDdl9BGI/AAAAAAAABnU/CTCk4IjBDIY/s400/evp_ear_ball2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a result from a lot of branches, which most zoo, circus <i><b>and sanctuary</b></i> elephants lacks.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R29R3P3OB44/TvyY354GBYI/AAAAAAAABng/fO4Fa4gh0XE/s1600/evp_elephant_browsing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R29R3P3OB44/TvyY354GBYI/AAAAAAAABng/fO4Fa4gh0XE/s640/evp_elephant_browsing.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this could be a wild elephant leaving the river</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-upsnaqc5VbI/TvyaJUQZ-BI/AAAAAAAABoQ/tPW2otmGGy8/s1600/evp_milot_scratching.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-upsnaqc5VbI/TvyaJUQZ-BI/AAAAAAAABoQ/tPW2otmGGy8/s400/evp_milot_scratching.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and after some stomach scratching</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-edTvGKcS4d8/TvyaF1dDwxI/AAAAAAAABn4/eV3_km_nM5o/s1600/evp_elephant_picking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-edTvGKcS4d8/TvyaF1dDwxI/AAAAAAAABn4/eV3_km_nM5o/s400/evp_elephant_picking.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">start with breakfast</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dmfpOBWQK84/TvyaGt1XXMI/AAAAAAAABoA/LFLHC7_7MLI/s1600/evp_elephants_browsing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dmfpOBWQK84/TvyaGt1XXMI/AAAAAAAABoA/LFLHC7_7MLI/s400/evp_elephants_browsing.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">in good company</td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jsciO_uGzcI/TvyaH3nF4yI/AAAAAAAABoE/BUAbJnflKHk/s1600/evp_elephants_browsing2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jsciO_uGzcI/TvyaH3nF4yI/AAAAAAAABoE/BUAbJnflKHk/s400/evp_elephants_browsing2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-43leBgL-XwM/TvybSDZCbfI/AAAAAAAABo4/Ds5BubdnTU0/s1600/evp_people.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="330" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-43leBgL-XwM/TvybSDZCbfI/AAAAAAAABo4/Ds5BubdnTU0/s400/evp_people.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">observed on polite distance without petting, hugs and kisses</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5nthwAPKS-8/TvybA0p2p5I/AAAAAAAABok/bwXEwQtnjRk/s1600/evp_elephants_browsing4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5nthwAPKS-8/TvybA0p2p5I/AAAAAAAABok/bwXEwQtnjRk/s400/evp_elephants_browsing4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the elephants can search out the food of their liking</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-onpDZWLXYHo/TvybQ8rdHsI/AAAAAAAABow/qJE3H6-x2gs/s1600/evp_elephants_browsing3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-onpDZWLXYHo/TvybQ8rdHsI/AAAAAAAABow/qJE3H6-x2gs/s640/evp_elephants_browsing3.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">like wild elephants do</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yN4bAy0pn18/TvygNEThEoI/AAAAAAAABpE/R-dTfhx21-Q/s1600/evalley_jack_highwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yN4bAy0pn18/TvygNEThEoI/AAAAAAAABpE/R-dTfhx21-Q/s320/evalley_jack_highwood.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
So far, this is the closest to a real sanctuary I have seen, and it could be copied on more places.</div>
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In fact, I think Jack Highwood is slowly approaching a concept, which may successively become a project where captive elephants are brought back to wild nature, with as less manipulation as possible.</div>
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But with this type of sanctuary one can only provide an environment for rather healthy, and not aggressive elephants. And for people who want to contribute by voluntering, or just visit the project, this gives an alternative way of experiencing elephants, observing their daily life close but still safely, without interfering too much.<br />
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Still, some interaction is possible, like washing the elephants and likevise. A concept which could be copied on more places.</div>
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At least Jack Highwood will try to do that, with some support.</div>
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Read more:</div>
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<ul>
<li>Website for the elephant valley project: <a href="http://www.elephantvalleyproject.org/">http://www.elephantvalleyproject.org/</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=1362">Elephant Valley Project in the Elephant Database</a>. </li>
</ul>
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<br /></div>DanKoehlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245638586616063380noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7719911693377170022.post-18733360049845573202011-12-28T16:30:00.000+01:002011-12-28T19:27:03.280+01:00Elephant Valley Project in Sen Monorom, Mondulkiri province, Cambodia. (March 2011)<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-My5K_o3KsLU/Tvrucqy-fxI/AAAAAAAABh8/dodtD5ipMyk/s1600/evalley_jack_highwood2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-My5K_o3KsLU/Tvrucqy-fxI/AAAAAAAABh8/dodtD5ipMyk/s320/evalley_jack_highwood2.jpg" width="320" /></a>A couple of years ago I came in contact with Jack Highwood through the Internet, and finally visited him in Cambodia in March 2011. <br />
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Jack grew up on his parents and grandfathers farm in England, and enjoyed working with animals as shepherd in his youth. His mother is a <span class="st">narcotic detector dog trainer. Jack became interested in elephants in Thailand, and worked as translator and administrator of elephant related issues in Surin and later at an elephant trekking camp in Koh Chang. He quit the job in Koh Chang when he felt that the elephants became over exploited and mistreated. </span><span class="st"> </span><br />
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Cambodia_Mondulkiri_locator_map.svg/250px-Cambodia_Mondulkiri_locator_map.svg.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Cambodia_Mondulkiri_locator_map.svg/250px-Cambodia_Mondulkiri_locator_map.svg.png" /></a><span class="st"></span><br />
<span class="st"> In Cambodia Jack founded the </span>the Elephant
Livelihood Initiative Environment (E.L.I.E) in 2005, with primary goal
to improve the health and welfare of domestic elephants in Mondulkiri
through a mobile veterinarian program and an indigenous community based
organisation program. <br />
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Mondulkiri Province in eastern Cambodia mountains, has the largest
concentration of the domestic elephants in Cambodia, with thirty
females and twenty-four male elephants present, most of which
are old, and have ailments and injuries.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yht5TIy65dk/TvtMofO1WrI/AAAAAAAABkE/ONLwpFgX8gc/s1600/evp_elephants_browsing3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yht5TIy65dk/TvtMofO1WrI/AAAAAAAABkE/ONLwpFgX8gc/s320/evp_elephants_browsing3.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
In 2007, Jack Highwood founded the <a href="http://www.elephantvalleyproject.org/">Elephant Valley Project</a> 20 minutes from the Mondulkiri capitol Sen Monorum,
which is 5-7 hours bus trip from Phnom Penh.<br />
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The elephant valley is an ecotourism project that provides an alternative approach to
elephant care, rehabilitation and conservation, and combines captive elephant rehabilitation with forest protection, and by doing so, reducing the manipulation of the elephants to a minimum. Because of this, theres no ridings, and very limited interaction with elephants.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ba7ww7VIttg/TvtCVW2CNyI/AAAAAAAABi8/_sgCo2eJB0c/s1600/evalley_byriver.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ba7ww7VIttg/TvtCVW2CNyI/AAAAAAAABi8/_sgCo2eJB0c/s320/evalley_byriver.jpg" width="320" /></a> On the other hand, The elephant valley project provide a chance to observe elephants on short distance when they spend their day almost like a wild elephant would do.<br />
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Apart from being chained at night, and being herded to the river for a bath twice a day, the mahouts are just following and observing them daytime, when they are browsing, and seing to they they dont enter neighbouring farmland. So far, <a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=1362&show=6">13 elephants have been bought or rented</a>
and kept at the sanctuary, and presently 9 elephants is involved in the project, including a mature bull, Bob. Elephant hooks are generally not used, except for the bull Bob. The elephant valley is open for short time guests and volunteers.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1lHOR24pPL8/TvtHWV4g54I/AAAAAAAABjg/xOe5bk1RA4E/s1600/evalley_volonters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1lHOR24pPL8/TvtHWV4g54I/AAAAAAAABjg/xOe5bk1RA4E/s320/evalley_volonters.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>Volunteers work a 5 day week.</b> <br />
<ul>
<li> Learning about the project and the elephants.</li>
<li> Learning how to interact with the elephant.</li>
<li> Walking the elephants into the forest to forage.</li>
<li> Help bathe and cleaning the elephants.</li>
<li> Working with the local Bunong staff to improve the living conditions of the elephants.</li>
<li>
Help to form and build the elephant sanctuary by maintaining banana
plantations, doing light construction work, planting seedlings and
maintaining pathways.</li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ki-ja6ReI1M/TvtJP2QJSlI/AAAAAAAABjs/-JHsVYLL_Yw/s1600/evalley_conference.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ki-ja6ReI1M/TvtJP2QJSlI/AAAAAAAABjs/-JHsVYLL_Yw/s400/evalley_conference.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The combined meeting and dining room in the main complex.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TlUywMyCWa8/TvtDoHHi1zI/AAAAAAAABjI/0RM87Ziu7Lg/s1600/evalley_bungalow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TlUywMyCWa8/TvtDoHHi1zI/AAAAAAAABjI/0RM87Ziu7Lg/s320/evalley_bungalow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Although remote in forest sourrandings, volounteers and guests stay in comfortable bungalows, labelled as hill tribe traditional Bunong style house with western interior, with electricity and tap water.<br />
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The lodges and main complex are located on the slopes of the elephant valley affording
stunning views over the surrounding forest where many varieties of birds
can be seen from eagles to hornbills.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3ZFbe9vhwbw/TvtLZs45phI/AAAAAAAABj4/QP-d5KA1Z9w/s1600/evalley_mudbath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3ZFbe9vhwbw/TvtLZs45phI/AAAAAAAABj4/QP-d5KA1Z9w/s320/evalley_mudbath.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The prime focus of the sanctuary is to rehabilitate older trekking elephants, and giving them as much possibilities as possible to just be elephants and exhibit natural behaviour, including long baths in the river and mudbathing.<br />
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But the project is also securing an alternative income for the mahouts, that previously were involved in different tourist riding operations in the area. Furthermore, the forest is protected against being exploited as farm land.<br />
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Its an interesting alternative to captive elephant management in Asia, and well worth visiting and supporting.<br />
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During christmas 2011, I returned to Jack in Mondulkiri to see his elephants again.DanKoehlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245638586616063380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7719911693377170022.post-22342719262041773832011-12-28T16:07:00.000+01:002011-12-29T21:59:56.742+01:00Elephants in Cambodia<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRiUcp32eT4VnCqhrCTCNLE52TxgMURYNXTM00-Qbe0eu7e2BLG3A" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRiUcp32eT4VnCqhrCTCNLE52TxgMURYNXTM00-Qbe0eu7e2BLG3A" /></a>There is between 400 and 600 wild elephants in Cambodia, and the country has also
suffered a lot of deforestation, rubber plantations and mining being one
of the growing industries that reduces the forest at fast speed, and
removing natural environment for fauna and flora. <i>The Royal Government of Cambodia is working on the
assumption that 56% of the land is forested. However, current forest cover is
closer to 30-35% of total land area - with total allocations to logging
companies, if approved, of 35.6%. The RGC is therefore in danger of selling
Cambodia’s entire forest area to foreign companies. (</i><a href="http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/005/AC774E/ac774e09.htm">FAO: elephants in Cambodia</a>.)<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kWKqQEHEdf0/TH90EoXEALI/AAAAAAABAb4/7GhwnxxmBPE/s320/252525.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kWKqQEHEdf0/TH90EoXEALI/AAAAAAABAb4/7GhwnxxmBPE/s320/252525.jpg" /></a><br />
During the Angkorian period (800 A.D to 1431 A.D), when the mode of transport and wars and <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD4">manpower</span>
were elephants, it was estimated that Cambodia had about 20,000
elephants in the wild. Dropping from 10,000 elephants before the Khmer
Rouge in 1969, the wild elephant population was estimated to apr. 2000
elephants in 1990. (Santiapillai and Jackson 1990)<br />
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Mr. Chan Sarun, Minister of Agriculture, said DNA tests and analyses
conducted recently indicated that Cambodia still has between 450-500
elephants in the wild. Read more: <a href="http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/005/AC774E/ac774e09.htm">FAO: elephants in Cambodia</a>.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mlup-baitong.org/image/cambodia_protected_area.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="350" src="http://mlup-baitong.org/image/cambodia_protected_area.gif" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Light green color is protected areas with wild elephants</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8up7h6T0Kzc/S85crsNmpSI/AAAAAAAAQfE/VjzvxLun1As/s400/Wild+elephants+in+Mondulkiri+%28AP%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="219" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8up7h6T0Kzc/S85crsNmpSI/AAAAAAAAQfE/VjzvxLun1As/s320/Wild+elephants+in+Mondulkiri+%28AP%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;">Wild elephants walk through a forest in Mondulkiri province</span></td></tr>
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About half of Cambodias wild elephants live in Cardamom Mountains of
Southwest Cambodia, the rest in small, scattered populations in
Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri Provinces in eastern Cambodia. (Duckworth and
Hedges, 1998) Read more: <a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/7140/0">Asian elephant globally at IUCN red list</a>.<br />
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Cambodias wild and captive elephants are are coordinated by The Forestry Administration, supported by international organisations like <a href="http://www.wcs.org/where-we-work/asia/cambodia.aspx">The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)</a>, <a href="http://wwf.panda.org/who_we_are/wwf_offices/cambodia/">WWF Cambodia</a> and <a href="http://www.fauna-flora.org/explore/cambodia/">Fauna and Flora International (FFI)</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://assets.panda.org/img/corridor_map_cambodia_387663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://assets.panda.org/img/corridor_map_cambodia_387663.jpg" /></a></div>
There are some seasonal migrations of wild elephants which are not always considered.<br />
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Presently, <a href="http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/greatermekong/news/?111924/Preventing-human-elephant-conflict-in-Cambodia">a wildlife corridor in Mondulkiri</a> is under threat to be transfered to rubber plantage, which will cause elephant-human conflicts,and probably reduce the elephant population. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ty7lQpAlOR0/TvstbaoD8kI/AAAAAAAABiY/9uMRxHuSapg/s1600/angkor_elephant_terrace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ty7lQpAlOR0/TvstbaoD8kI/AAAAAAAABiY/9uMRxHuSapg/s320/angkor_elephant_terrace.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The famous parade of elephants complete with their Khmer mahouts. were documented at <span style="font-size: small;">Terrace of the Elephants </span>at Angkor Thom, in the Ankhorian period, showing elephants used in wars during the Khmer empire under king<span style="font-size: small;"> Jayavarman VII.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.elephant.se/images/Phnom_Penh_royal_palace.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="http://www.elephant.se/images/Phnom_Penh_royal_palace.jpg" width="320" /></a>Elephants were also kept on the royal grounds during french colonisation.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E1BP23ELUlQ/TPRlpoBbtII/AAAAAAAAAhI/x--oW2SCFb0/g.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E1BP23ELUlQ/TPRlpoBbtII/AAAAAAAAAhI/x--oW2SCFb0/g.jpg" width="302" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Jackie Kennedy pictured 1967, feeding royal elephants</td></tr>
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McNeely (1975) gave a figure of 582 domesticated elephants in
Cambodia; and Olivier (1978b) accepted that figure. Kemf and Jackson (1995),
without citing a source, say, “There are still over 500 domestic elephants
in Cambodia....”<br />
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During the Pol Pot regime, some domesticated elephants reverted to a
wild state.<br />
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Very few wild elephants were captured during the period 1980
to 2000, according to local people in Mondulkiri.<br />
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<a href="http://www.jaunted.com/files/2909/elie4.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://www.jaunted.com/files/2909/elie4.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Most of Cambodias captive elephants are privately owned by tribal peoples in eastern Cambodia.<br />
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Only the Jarai, Ede, Krung and Pnong still actively work with elephants.
The Pnong people are belonging to the local indigenous Bunong (Phnong
in Khmer, mening “people of the
hills,” Osborne (1985) says, “Uplanders were <i>moi</i> to the
Vietnamese, <i>phnong</i> to the Cambodians, and <i>kha</i> to the Laotians.) <i>(</i><a href="http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/005/AC774E/ac774e09.htm">FAO: elephants in Cambodia</a>.)<br />
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<b>There is today around <a href="http://www.elephant.se/country.php?name=Cambodia">120 captive elephants in Cambodia</a></b>, most of which
are old tourist trekking riding elephants, and have ailments and injuries. The consideration of the elephants in Cambodia is so low that these old
and sick elephants continue to work and their numbers continue to
decline with little attention paid to conservation. (Highwood 2009) <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=1901">Angkor Wat elephants (Compagnie des Eléphants d’Angkor)</a> has between 15 and 30 elephants which are used for tourist rides around the Angkor temple complex.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tctSnTEK3fo/Tvs3k9-tvBI/AAAAAAAABik/dGQtVXnFHBU/s1600/evp_elephant_browsing.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tctSnTEK3fo/Tvs3k9-tvBI/AAAAAAAABik/dGQtVXnFHBU/s320/evp_elephant_browsing.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephant Valley project Sanctuary</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Close to Sen Moronom In Mondulkiri, is two elephant trekking camps, <a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=1115">Putang elephant camp</a> and Phulung, where some 15 elephants are kept for tourist rides, as well as one kept for rides at Sen Moronom water fall.<br />
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<a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=1362">Elephant Valley Project</a> is a sanctuary outside Sen Moronom which keeps 9 elephants, bought or rented, in very natural sourrandings, where they are herded in the forest, and by this concept, also contrubuting to protection of their environment.<br />
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Outside Phnom Penh, <a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=134">Phnom Tamao Zoo and Wildlife Rescue Center</a> house 5 elephants in Zoo conditions. Those elephants are daily taken for walks to a nearby lake, and they also have veterinary recources. <br />
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In Phnom Penh, Mr <a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=1365">Sin Sorn</a> keep the handicapped and abused elephant Sambo at Wat Phnom, and he rents out elephants to other organisations, like <a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=1362">Elephant Valley Project</a>.<br />
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One zoo in the south, owned by a government official, <a href="http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=1364">Kampot Teuk Chhou zoo</a> keeps a pair of elephants in hands-off conditions.DanKoehlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245638586616063380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7719911693377170022.post-76015801564402756462011-12-21T16:12:00.002+01:002016-03-30T17:54:42.417+02:00Can elephants suffer in elephant sanctuaries, as an effect of volonteers exploit and opinions?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>A <b>sanctuary</b> by definition is any place of safety. The mission of sanctuaries is generally to be safe havens, where the
animals receive the best care that the sanctuaries can provide. Animals
are not bought, sold, or traded, nor are they used for animal testing. What distinguishes a sanctuary from other institutions is the philosophy
that the residents come first. In a sanctuary, every action is
scrutinized for any trace of human benefit at the expense of non-human
residents. Sanctuaries act on behalf of the animals, and the caregivers
work under the notion that all animals in the sanctuary, human and
non-human, are of equal importance. The resident animals are given the opportunity to behave as naturally as possible in a protective environment.</i></span> (wikipedia)</div>
<a href="http://paradigm-shift-21st-century.nl/plaatjes/good-and-evil.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mindmapinspiration.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Seesaw-of-Good-and-Bad.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.mindmapinspiration.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Seesaw-of-Good-and-Bad.jpg" height="305" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Road maps of good and bad can be less or more complicated.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://paradigm-shift-21st-century.nl/plaatjes/good-and-evil.gif" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://paradigm-shift-21st-century.nl/plaatjes/good-and-evil.gif" height="240" width="320" /></a>The world is not black and white, and sometimes its difficault to say who is the good guy, and who is the bad guy. So, in order to make this clear people use labels. When we speak about religions, its not enough to speak about protestants and catholics, catholics believers are divided into Orthodox Catholic
Church etc. Soon our various opinions makes us enemies in topic like
religion and politics. Our stone age mind demands that there is good and bad, friends and enemies, and that someone define this for us, so we can be politically correct. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q1zD6Hqf7GY/TUHyNpKs-QI/AAAAAAAAAHY/8YeRnmkFvws/s1600/good-choice-bad-choice-sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q1zD6Hqf7GY/TUHyNpKs-QI/AAAAAAAAAHY/8YeRnmkFvws/s320/good-choice-bad-choice-sign.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Does it mean there are only bad and good choices? And is it easy to identify what is bad and what is good? Can you do it by Internet forum discussions? And why is it so important to have opinions of a field where we actually lack personal reference? How many people are actually prepared to study something for aperiod of at least 5 years before having an opinion at all? <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YZw_XemggYA/TI9lKuopI5I/AAAAAAAADD4/e5Pt5RqUEZQ/execution%5B3%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YZw_XemggYA/TI9lKuopI5I/AAAAAAAADD4/e5Pt5RqUEZQ/execution%5B3%5D.jpg" height="320" width="296" /></a><br />
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Today, its very important to be politically correct, and if we want to be accepted, we must follow different codes of ethic and political correctness. Often based on hypcrisy, theres rules for the child naive impression that theres "good" and "bad" things. And as with <span class="st">religions</span>, the rules are not printed in law books, as a result of a democratic society, they are forced upon other people, wrapped in different threats: if you eat meat, I dont like you, and I will punish you until you change your mind, and you will not be accepted by the community.<br />
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As a social mammal, we need to belong to a comunity. And the most effective way of controling other people, is to excpel them from the community, if they dont follow the rules. Stone age democrazy!<br />
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Animal Ringtsh Activists continue to manipulate their sisters on forums in Internet . This is a very woman dominated world, with hardly no men active. Its easy to study this on Internet ARA´s (Animal Rights Activists) forums. If you have wrong opinion, the threats comes within minutes; suggesting that you go somewhere else. Theres only room for one opinion, the politically correct one. And the activity on the forum is identifying the enemy, and make war strategies. Often the aggression goes further: <i>"I wish someone would shoot that hunter, can someone whip the circus trainer?</i> In this environment its best never to question anything, facing the risk of being harassed, punished and expelled. Its like the church in the medevial, where you were not supposed to question anything. If you did, you would get accused of blasphemy.<br />
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT7Md_mrmRTGn9PpjoaHEMwNIkDUgZRQgjYlDFwoKVyZXbUI5gliQ" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT7Md_mrmRTGn9PpjoaHEMwNIkDUgZRQgjYlDFwoKVyZXbUI5gliQ" width="320" /></a></div>
ARA´s (Animal Rights Activists) sometimes show similair patterns, and when it comes to elephants, it seems as if the elephants health and wellbeing is not the most important factor, its more important HOW the elephant is cared for, regardless if it may suffer from falsely interpreted or fabricated ideas on how elephants should be managed. Contrary to zoo keeper education which is based om animals most basic needs, subjects like the "soul", "heart" and love of the elephants are discussed, and the opinions are divided in wrongs and rights, and more or less based entirely on phantasies about elephants. The word "LOVE" is repeated over and over again.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wfft.org/images/sidebar_img/elephant2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.wfft.org/images/sidebar_img/elephant2.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is this less exploiting than riding an elephant?</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Now and then those "elephant lovers" actually meet an elephant in real life, and not only on Internet forums. Only in Thailand, thousand of
young westerners, pay millions of dollars in order to cuddle-and-kiss-elephants in a famous
elephants sanctuary somewhere, as a Holy Sanctuary Elephant Lover Volunteer. And they teach each other what is "right" and what is "wrong", and the terms are defined as simple as possible, like they were used in the book Animal farm: "two legs bad, four legs good". They know more or less nothing about what elephants eat, or how their skin, or feet, or nail should look like, all they are interested in is give "love" to elephants, and be able to tell stories when they return home about how wonderful the elephant sanctuary they visited is, how they rescue handicapped elephants, and happy those sanctuary elephants are, and how bad all normal riding camps is that just have healthy elephants that are used for riding and worked, like any well cared dog or horse is in captivity.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://cache.virtualtourist.com/6/4356899-big_kiss_from_baby_ellie_Northern_Thailand.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cache.virtualtourist.com/6/4356899-big_kiss_from_baby_ellie_Northern_Thailand.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a>This means kissing an elephant in a camp, is politically incorrect,
since camps are considered bad. But kissing an elephant in sanctuary is
considered OK, since sanctuaries are good.<br />
Can the kisser even
define the difference, in cathegorizing, except from that the word
sanctuary is being used on a website? Are they in fact just searching
for an identity, and want other people to confirm that they are good? And
in order to do this, they are as much consuming elephants commercially as
the one taking a ride?<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c1xBOez_fF4/UKLvVDVRefI/AAAAAAAACFg/mvp53VUZ5Ls/s1600/anantara_mahoot_school.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c1xBOez_fF4/UKLvVDVRefI/AAAAAAAACFg/mvp53VUZ5Ls/s320/anantara_mahoot_school.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
To the right, you see tourists riding elephants during their "mahout school" at Anantara Golden Triangle Hotel in Chiang Rai, Thailand. They are not overworked, and the camp is scientifically supervised, including a full time veterinarian.<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Through the <span class="text">Golden Triangle Asian Elephant
Foundation those elephants also contribute to different projects in Thaland, where money is needed, like </span><span class="text">mobile clinic, and medical assistans to elephants in northern Thailand. The elephants are in a very good condition, and walking and riding activities keep them healthy.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FahK8JD4VwE/TstG1VAmrQI/AAAAAAAABEg/3yQK2tq4wQI/s400/victory2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FahK8JD4VwE/TstG1VAmrQI/AAAAAAAABEg/3yQK2tq4wQI/s320/victory2.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text">Since 1955, one of Asias largest elephant festivals is celebrated in Surin in eastern Thailand. Hundreds of elephants are brought there during some days in November, when they perform for visitors. </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text">Now an internationally recognized event, the Surin Elephant Round Up
also includes elephant talent competitions, demonstration of the
various techniques used to capture and train elephants, a presentation
of ancient elephant warfare techniques, and a tug-of-war between men
and elephants. It is part of the Surin culture. </span></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Preaching_from_a_Waggon_%28David_Livingstone%29_by_The_London_Missionary_Society.jpg/220px-Preaching_from_a_Waggon_%28David_Livingstone%29_by_The_London_Missionary_Society.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Preaching_from_a_Waggon_%28David_Livingstone%29_by_The_London_Missionary_Society.jpg/220px-Preaching_from_a_Waggon_%28David_Livingstone%29_by_The_London_Missionary_Society.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a>Michele Shelley Franko, zookeeper at PAWS sanctuary in USA, wrote in November 2012:<br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[5].[1][2][1]{comment376444219105959_376485732435141}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[5].[1][2][1]{comment376444219105959_376485732435141}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]."><span id=".reactRoot[5].[1][2][1]{comment376444219105959_376485732435141}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[0]">"<i>Some
traditions, such as this, are meant to die. This is so disrespectful
to these beings. At least there are those in Thailand who are striving
to make a positive difference for these innocent and brutalized slaves.[...] </i></span></span></span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[5].[1][2][1]{comment376444219105959_376485732435141}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[5].[1][2][1]{comment376444219105959_376485732435141}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]."><span id=".reactRoot[5].[1][2][1]{comment376444219105959_376485732435141}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[0]"><i><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[5].[1][2][1]{comment376444219105959_378652332218481}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[5].[1][2][1]{comment376444219105959_378652332218481}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]."><span id=".reactRoot[5].[1][2][1]{comment376444219105959_378652332218481}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[0]">
A lot of work is currently being accomplished throughout Asia to rescue
and rehab Asian eles, while helping and educating mahouts to
transition, and at least learn to handle their eles more humanely"</span></span></span></i> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
Michelle wrote this 100 years after <span class="fn">William Booth died in </span>20 August 1912!! <span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[5].[1][2][1]{comment376444219105959_378652332218481}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[5].[1][2][1]{comment376444219105959_378652332218481}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]."><span id=".reactRoot[5].[1][2][1]{comment376444219105959_378652332218481}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[0]"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">People like Michelle actually believe this, that they are enlightening the savages<span style="font-size: small;">?</span> I think its cultural racism. No people have the right to judges other nations culture<span style="font-size: small;">, as <span style="font-size: small;">its not illegal in that country?</span></span> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/Williambooth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/Williambooth.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">William Booth <span style="font-size: small;">Jr </span>was a British Methodist preacher who founded The Salvation Army and became its first General. He wrote:<i>"We are a volunteer army"</i> </span><span style="font-size: small;">Often the beginnings in other countries occurred through "salvationist" activities by non-officers who had emigrated. What they in fact did, was killing and wiping out ancient cultures<span style="font-size: small;"> armed with white man moral, religion, and non-tolerant attiude towards other peoples religions, cultures, habits, way of thinking.</span></span> <br />
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Sanctuary volounteers often resemble the character of colonial missionaires, with less knowledge in anthropology or native culture, they put all their efforts in trying to destroy thousand years of tradtions and culture, because they think those cultures are "bad" and "wrong". <br />
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In 2012 the animal rights activist <span class="petition-owner-name">Jayna Milan</span> started to campaign against elephant camps where tourists can ride an elephant in nature by using terror like method and pressure on Lonely Planet:. <a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/lonely-planet-urge-readers-to-avoid-elephant-trekking-promote-elephant-nature-sanctuary" target="_blank">Lonely Planet: Urge readers to avoid elephant trekking. Promote Elephant Nature Sanctuary.</a><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RsmPY-o_qKs/Vvv1-QVgQNI/AAAAAAAAFsI/hvzF0jaAVU81CQNBpjCknWQalev9_vDSw/s1600/peta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RsmPY-o_qKs/Vvv1-QVgQNI/AAAAAAAAFsI/hvzF0jaAVU81CQNBpjCknWQalev9_vDSw/s320/peta.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Many of those extrememists are members in, or support, <a href="http://www.animalwrongs.com/activist-groups/peta/" target="_blank">PETA, or People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals</a>, the most well-known animal rights group in the world.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.animalwrongs.com/activist-groups/peta/" target="_blank">PETA</a> directly provides funds and support to two groups, ALF (Animal Liberation Front) and ELF. (Earth Liberation
Front). The Earth Liberation Front, on September 4, 2002, made the following
public statement: "In pursuance of justice, freedom, and equal
consideration for all innocent life across the board, segments of this
global revolutionary movement are no longer limiting their revolutionary
potential by adhering to a flawed, inconsistent "non-violent" ideology.
While innocent life will never be harmed in any action we undertake,
where it is necessary, we will no longer hesitate to pick up the gun to
implement justice, and provide the needed protection for our planet that
decades of legal battles, pleading, protest, and economic sabotage have
failed so drastically to achieve." <br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[5].[1][2][1]{comment376444219105959_376485732435141}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[5].[1][2][1]{comment376444219105959_376485732435141}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]."><span id=".reactRoot[5].[1][2][1]{comment376444219105959_376485732435141}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[0]"></span></span></span></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IX6FeUS0B1c/UKMDJ-r5ZTI/AAAAAAAACFw/-ZkRBJhifJE/s1600/Bambina_Skansen.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IX6FeUS0B1c/UKMDJ-r5ZTI/AAAAAAAACFw/-ZkRBJhifJE/s200/Bambina_Skansen.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="http://cache.virtualtourist.com/6/4356899-big_kiss_from_baby_ellie_Northern_Thailand.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IX6FeUS0B1c/UKMDJ-r5ZTI/AAAAAAAACFw/-ZkRBJhifJE/s1600/Bambina_Skansen.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Between 1850 and 1950 riding an elephant in a zoo was a memory for life, for most people. In almost every capitol around the world, there were public elephant rides. Accidents were extremely rare, and the elephants were kept in strong and healthy condition by the work. Now Animal Rights Activists claim it is animal abuse.<br />
When did riding an elephant become abusive? 400 kg was always in the past considered a weight an adult elephant could carry without a problem. Suddenly ARA´s claim an elephant can not have more than 100 kg on its back. What happened, is the elephants smaller today? <br />
<br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQu2nJQ_kh8jMQc7XR8ukyb6_RpcE3EDu_QJSzgsFtBk0GepS89" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQu2nJQ_kh8jMQc7XR8ukyb6_RpcE3EDu_QJSzgsFtBk0GepS89" /></a>This started in the sixties during the hippie "peace-love-and-understanding-era: "Circus" is bad, "zoo" is good. Today its more like "Hooks" are bad, "Target" is good, "Camp" is bad, "Sanctuary" is good. (Sometime also "men" are bad, children and women are good. Unfortunately, the elephants insight in the difference of all those terms, and philosophies, is as limited as the laymen. But unlike the blondes, the elephants can not read the elephant lover Koran/Bible on Internet... Animal welfare is, at least by women, often also also sexy, and is now and then associated with a certain exhibitionism. But the half naked male circus lion trainer with a whip, is a macho="bad", and not sexy.If a nude woman attack a circus, naked is "good", and sexy. Often celebrities and pop-stars expose themselves for this cause.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://blogs.discovery.com/.a/6a00d8341bf67c53ef017c323191b3970b-800wi" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://blogs.discovery.com/.a/6a00d8341bf67c53ef017c323191b3970b-800wi" height="161" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pop star Kesha</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "garamond";">In a <span style="font-size: small;">r</span></span></span>adio interview pop star Kesha talked about the inspiration for her new song "Supernatural.": "Yes, "having sexy time" means what you think it means: Her song is about
the time she had sex with a ghost. "I had a couple of experiences with
the supernatural. I don't know his name! He was a ghost! I'm very open
to it....<b><i>I was in Africa rehabilitating baby lions</i></b>. I went <b><i>diving with
great white sharks</i></b>, and just went on this crazy spirit quest. I got
hypnotized, and I just really wanted this record to be really positive,
really raw, really vulnerable and about the magic of life."<br />
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Young people are searching for an identity, they went to belong to a cultural elite, and they want to travel, and come back with a story that impresses the closest society they belong to. They are mostly uninterested in science, but as volonteers they want "to make a change", to "save" or "rescue" or "help" any animal that looks small and beatiful. Endangered species of snakes, snails, lizards and insects are not very interesting objects, while dolphin and elephants are very populair to exploit for those young people, often women, who want to be regarded as "good" people, while they think that people with other opinions and ideas, are "bad". A large portion of antropomorfism and mysticism seems to be the base of their attitude to nature and animals, and mostly they find logic and science pretty boring and uninteresting. And to complicated, maybe. Very few of those volounteers seems to be really interested in biology and zoology. It seems their interest in animals is more based on philosophy and politics. And to get a confirmation that they are "good souls" and that they are making some sort of change.<br />
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<b>The sanctuaries make <span style="font-size: x-large;">BIG MONEY</span> thanks to all those volunteers. </b><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O_h5eDAAVOg/TvHWiUEWA5I/AAAAAAAABg0/acDEK_R7h8Q/s1600/hand.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O_h5eDAAVOg/TvHWiUEWA5I/AAAAAAAABg0/acDEK_R7h8Q/s400/hand.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many volunteers want to place their hands on the trunk and experience "understanding" of elephants,and feel the "love" from the exploited animal, after stuffing them full with tons of sugar rich fruits like bananas, pineapples oranges, melons etc. Many of those elephants seldom see a twig or branches, suffering from tooth problems and similar problems related to the false diet. On average, some 20% of Asian elephants may carry Tuberculosis, which may be the elephants gift back to the volunteers,a and their boyfriends, children and their families, after their loving abuse of "hang-around-elephants/mahout-for-a-week/make a change: stuff kilos of pineapples into elephants.<br />
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They probably dont know that they are exploiting elephants. They probably have no clue that most elephants doesn't want to be petted, kissed and hold by people they never saw before. They probably never saw this film. </div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fk0ey7aqc-g" width="480"></iframe>
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You can see that the elephant in fact is not aggressive, it continue to eat after it hits the tourist. It just want to be left alone. What you see a totally natural reaction from a not handicapped elephant being approached by a stranger.</div>
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<a href="http://images.travelpod.com/users/curtis.melissa/3.1282155053.baby-kiss.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.travelpod.com/users/curtis.melissa/3.1282155053.baby-kiss.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a>Those volonteers never learned how to spell tuberculosis, but with their money, they want to make a change. And instead of respecting mahouts from Asia who worked elephants for five thousand of years, the volounteers regard them as primitive, stupid and they think the mhouts should be salvated by white people who ave better, and more "modern" ideas about elephant management. This attitude is no different than the missionaires 100 years ago.<br />
<a class="l noline" href="http://elephant.elehost.com/About_Elephants/Senses/Grieving/grieving.html"><i><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></i></i></a><br />
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRxg5httxjbBjZrpscAjnt1sZrgAXczwTPhaKsHtOlWvtYVcQfv" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRxg5httxjbBjZrpscAjnt1sZrgAXczwTPhaKsHtOlWvtYVcQfv" /></a><br />
They often have the opinion, that all those stupid mahouts could learn so much how from them about how to train elephants, and they often also give small pieces of "instructions" and advice the mahouts when they kiss and hug the elephant, while the mahout commands the elephant not to move or hit them, so the volunteers can satisfy their confirmation of being an animal lover. But the truth is, all those volunteers doesnt have a clue about elephant training. They never trained a single elephant in all their life. They know almost nothing about elephants.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3piZfAt-6b4/TvHeKDP4sVI/AAAAAAAABg8/_TU41sS8lm0/s1600/nails.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3piZfAt-6b4/TvHeKDP4sVI/AAAAAAAABg8/_TU41sS8lm0/s320/nails.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neglected nails on a sanctuary elephant</td></tr>
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Most of those sanctuaries, are dependant on tourists money, and therefore depending on their popularity. This means, that even if some elephants suffer from lack of medical care, they dont get relevant threatment, because the elephants can not be controlled. Often they can not be told to put a foot in the air on command for one minut. Its impossible for the "sanctuary-not-hook-using-mahout" to make the elephant go through a normal medical examination that most zoos do on an every day routine basis, why they are dependant on risky anesthesia for threatment, but often it is simply neglected, and the more an animal seem to suffer, the more it satisfy the need visitirs to sanctuaries wants to satisfy.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8CwAMdpyFPw/TUNUxAv9AiI/AAAAAAAAADM/D-VwQJTy3ak/s1600/sad-puppy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8CwAMdpyFPw/TUNUxAv9AiI/AAAAAAAAADM/D-VwQJTy3ak/s320/sad-puppy.jpg" width="320" /></a>Handicapped, malnutritioned, suffering elephants that had different kind of accidents, are more valuable, since the visitor "feel" more when then they look at them. An angry, healthy elephant that doesnt want to be kissed is not as attractive as a suffering one, that maybe would have been euthanised in a zoo. People enjoy looking on suffering animals especially if they can "help" those animals. To streangthen their identity, they want to belive that they are helping. Thats why the suffering puppy is so easy to sell. The sad puppy on the picture starts feelings, and especially women actually undergo endocrinology <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">changes within seconds.</span></span> A need to love, hug, kiss, help and save the puppy starts. It creates emotions, which some people will actually pay for.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l8BNTl5IblE/TnDPlA7IZuI/AAAAAAAAByI/tZpRP9xf1Mk/s320/090323MadWiki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l8BNTl5IblE/TnDPlA7IZuI/AAAAAAAAByI/tZpRP9xf1Mk/s320/090323MadWiki.jpg" /></a></div>
Not seldom, it can be compared to when public could pay to look on physically or mentally suffering humans on display in "hospitals" some centuries ago.<b><b><b><br /></b></b></b><br />
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Lets stop here for a second, and ask, could many of the displayed suffering people have been helped and cured? For sure, with modern medical science.<br />
But what if the "hospital" earns more money, by not not curing the patients? By satisifying
the needs for visitors who want to see suffer, and is willing to pay for
it. <br />
<br />
May this be the same for some elephants in sanctuaries? Is it even possible, that more "suffering elephants are actually being "produced" for this industry, and that the mahouts import them from Burma, to satisfy the demand, and sell to the sanctuaries? Most populair sanctuaries buy or rent their handicapped
elephants, but the term "buy" is not used, those elephants are always
refered to as "rescued". (Political labels again...)<br />
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<a href="http://media.commercialappeal.com/media/img/photos/2011/01/30/31elephant_t607.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media.commercialappeal.com/media/img/photos/2011/01/30/31elephant_t607.jpeg" height="237" width="320" /></a></div>
Such elephants are perfect for sanctuaries, often handicapped, weak, in terrible shape, they dont display a normal healthy elephant behaviour.<br />
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Often being more or less powerless, they are seldom aggressive, so just about anyone can approach them without a hook and have an experience of looking into their mind, understanding them, and other bullshit people think they are experiencing when they look deep into the eye of a suffering elephant, whos pain could be released with euthanasia. Such an elephant is a good investment. (Photo is from the elephant sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee, USA)<br />
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQG6cBGlB6w4dgDYn8oDsAOMnJaMxZqX8qyTbuIkzGI4-9ZMsYRGQ" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQG6cBGlB6w4dgDYn8oDsAOMnJaMxZqX8qyTbuIkzGI4-9ZMsYRGQ" /></a></div>
And once "rescued", they should be as spoiled as possible, but not spoiled with good care and good diet, they should be spoiled with everything that young female westerners with rich fathers think they need, and since most humans like sugar and fruits, but seldom branches, this is what elephants often are fed in sanctuaries, apart from sugar cane leaves and similair.<br />
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Often they are served all fruits by a bar, by the westerners, standing on a ramp, having pictures taken. Not having an idea which various bacterials the elephant may have in their trunk.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O9mH5FjJAv4/TmVrQfZO9fI/AAAAAAAAHaA/kBwXzDtwDOI/s1600/IMG_5788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O9mH5FjJAv4/TmVrQfZO9fI/AAAAAAAAHaA/kBwXzDtwDOI/s320/IMG_5788.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
This was called elephant public feeding in Zoos, and was mostly prohibited during the seventies, of medical and behaviour reasons.<br />
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Elephant public feeding is a lot of fun for the feeders, but also creates wrong behaviour patterns, for the elephants that in the wild search for food 16 hours/day. Elephants know how to eat themselves, they dont need to be hand fed. Both humans and elephants can carry diseases which are effectively spread by contact bewteen the hands and the trunk.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4063/4525310165_b3900e889a_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4063/4525310165_b3900e889a_z.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: inherit;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Road maintenance at Mwaluganje elephant sanctuary.</td></tr>
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Not to forget, thcose foreigner want to work also, and since they have limited knowledge, they end up with alot of interesting activities which they would probably never do in their hometown<br />
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Sometimes they perform different activities for weeks, that a tractor and a driver could do in an hour.<br />
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<a href="http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-l/02/33/e8/07/preparing-food-for-the.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-l/02/33/e8/07/preparing-food-for-the.jpg" /></a>Or they spend an hour cutting fruits in pieces for an animal whose molars can crush large branches.<br />
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And as they perform different kind of body labour, they think this is an ecological gift they give, not realizing that its the dollars that counts. They mostly return home and think they did something important.<br />
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And maybe it was to them. But not always for the elephant, because there is a price they have to pay, by spending time in this loving environment, where their care or not always taken care of, since work with hooks would lead to complains by the visitors.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j5N4dG1WGio/TvH2LOIVqcI/AAAAAAAABhU/LCZUAHroqJw/s1600/abcess3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j5N4dG1WGio/TvH2LOIVqcI/AAAAAAAABhU/LCZUAHroqJw/s400/abcess3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abcesses in ALL FOUR FEET on an elephant in <a href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.com/2016/03/my-visit-to-sangduen-lek-chailert-and.html">Elephant Nature Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand</a>, where elephant hooks are officially prohibited, leading to untrained elephants who can not anymore recieve normal veterinary care.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TX89jNigaBk/TvH2DjFBWlI/AAAAAAAABhE/tyzdhqDoMqI/s1600/abcess.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TX89jNigaBk/TvH2DjFBWlI/AAAAAAAABhE/tyzdhqDoMqI/s320/abcess.jpg" width="320" /></a>Abcesses like this in <a href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.com/2016/03/my-visit-to-sangduen-lek-chailert-and.html">Elephant Nature Park</a> can not be treated with blue spray, its simply not
enough. They need to be cleaned and cured by veterinarians, and those
vets will be dependant on mahouts that can control the elephant.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SEtDSSCHLLc/TvH2J3PNN8I/AAAAAAAABhM/Jb8AXPzOBdM/s1600/abcess2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SEtDSSCHLLc/TvH2J3PNN8I/AAAAAAAABhM/Jb8AXPzOBdM/s320/abcess2.jpg" width="320" /></a> An elephant on a european circus, with such problems, would most probably become confiscated, unless medical care would be provided by the circus. But this elephant in an Asian sanctuary, is "loved" and will not get normal veterinary treatment, and the abcesses will not be cleaned, since this can only be made with traditional training methods. <br />
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So when we discuss animal abuse, it must not be forgotten, that animals are sometimes abused in "sanctuaries" who doesnt take full responsibility for their elephants, but value the dollars from volonteers more, and the neglect of the animals origin in the simple fact that the volonteers would stop sending money if the mahouts would use hooks. And a circle is closed.<br />
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Heres two films showing the extremely poor status of training the elephant has, the veterinarian is powerless, all he can do is trying to put some bluespray on the abcesses, which is far from enough. The elephant should have been taken to an elephant hospital long time ago. <br />
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<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/_hAMfsMMniY/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/_hAMfsMMniY&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/_hAMfsMMniY&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/2dRczOwq6xI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div id="watch-description-text">
<div id="eow-description">
Unsuccesful attempt to treat foot
abcesses in all four feet on an elephant in an <a href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.com/2016/03/my-visit-to-sangduen-lek-chailert-and.html">Elephant Nature Park</a>, an "elephant sanctuary" in
Chiang Mai, in Thailand. Elephant hooks are officially prohibited, why the control of
the elephants by the mahouts is drastically radically reduced, resulting in almost
no existing medical care of this elephant, and other suffering elephants in the
sanctuary. If this elephant would have been located on an european circus, it would have been confiscated. Now, thousand of volonteers walk by this elephant every year, and believe that its the ideal way of managing elephants. Abuse of elephants has become the opposite for animal rights people, they rather let an elephant suffer, becasue of neglected medical care, than giving the elephant medical treatment, which need the use of elephant hooks. </div>
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<a href="http://www.elephant.se/images/DanKoehl_Bara_Freiburg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.elephant.se/images/DanKoehl_Bara_Freiburg.jpg" height="320" width="271" /></a></div>
Lets face it, most welfare people and volonteers cant see when an elephant is suffering, but they belive that an elephant trained with a hook does. They are not veterinarians, did not worked decenniums with elephants, they are just reapeting the anti-hook philosophy as a mantra. And they think that a mahout, who use a hook, can not "love" elephants. And they dont see a need for hooks, dont see the ned for that in order to fully control an elephant, and make it lift it leg, and put it on an object for foot care, and see to that the elephant stands still as long as it takes to manage the foot care.<br />
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Now, people may argue, this can be done with protected contact. And yes, upto a certain point, and never as effective as in free contact. And you need a lot of manpower. What takes one keeper to do in 10 minutes, when using free contact, may take 30-40 minutes, with 3 keepers.<br />
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Protected contact is very time and manpower consuming, and expensive, still it does not provide as high level of manegament as with free contact. Cologne Zoo and Copenhagen Zoo in Europe are examples of PC Zoos, whith high ambitions of management. They have more than 10 keeper each, educated in PC.<br />
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Is this really a relevant concept for Asia to imitate, just to satisfy demands of volonteers and sponsors?<br />
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Animal rights people claim that elephants in camps does not come in first place, its second to the focus on commercial interest and satisfying the demand from their visiting tourists, and MAY compromize the elephants health during the process.<br />
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I say sanctuaries are as much focused on commercial interest and to satisfy the demands from their volonteers and their sponsors and MAY as well compromize the elephants health during the process.<br />
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Good is sometimes bad also? So does it mean that sanctuaries are bad?<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.eyesofthailand.com/blog2/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Boonmee_Antiseptic_2010_09_13-440x330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.eyesofthailand.com/blog2/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Boonmee_Antiseptic_2010_09_13-440x330.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An elephant gets proper medical treatment under scientific supervision</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
-No, but if the animals health should be given best possible care under whatever the circumstances, the management has to be based on scientific principles, not on the visitors feelings. In this world theres always different components that has to be considered, and for suffering elephants, with physical problems, "feelings" are sometimes secondary to scientific knowledge and experience, in order to cure and rehabiliate an animal as fast as possible, reducing the suffer, and seing to that the animals health is improved ASAP.<br />
<br />
Maybe some of those rescued elephants are in need to be rescued from the rescuer, maybe they would actually benefit of being transfered from
the love-kiss-and-cuddle environment, brought to a place where a
normal mahout work them normally with a hook, so they can be controlled
even for medical care, or just something so basic as a normal footcare? <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images.mirror.co.uk/upl/m4/dec2011/4/0/duchess-the-african-elephant-during-her-operation-pic-swns-98761009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.mirror.co.uk/upl/m4/dec2011/4/0/duchess-the-african-elephant-during-her-operation-pic-swns-98761009.jpg" height="207" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Now and then, it may be important to ask yourself, what is best for this animal, taken care of by experienced veterinarians and experienced keepers, that can control the animal effectively during an examination, treatment or operation, until its ready to be transfered to an environment that also satisfy the mental needs, or is it better to neglect the physical problems, while strictly following a no-hook using philosophy? <br />
<br />
Is possible that sanctuaries sometimes abuse an animal physically, by following a strict rule, that is more associated with philosphy, than knowledge and experience¨, while the elephants health could be taken care of in minutes, following traditional methods?<br />
<br />
Is it even possible that a sanctuary sometimes actually commercially exploit elephants, as much as the place it was rescued from? Can neglect ever be defended, arguing that it is following a politically correct philosophy?<br />
<br />
I believe that a good sanctuary has to be run independantly of its sponsors layman knowledge.<br />
<br />
They may be welcome paying visitors and volonteers, but visitors and sponsors should not run the show.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z_G6IjLbU2c/TvLcOsjrkpI/AAAAAAAABhg/33thcg6VLz4/s1600/fae_mosha.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z_G6IjLbU2c/TvLcOsjrkpI/AAAAAAAABhg/33thcg6VLz4/s320/fae_mosha.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wonderful work done, by competent people</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And if a sanctuary make the visiting volonteers interpretations about elephant management the priority, rather than the animals real need, is it hen really a sanctuary? Can it be justified that a sanctuary let elephant suffers, because the management policy includes a good cause? Shall the animals real needs come first, or <i>welfare people ideas</i> about the animals needs? <br />
<br />
If a sanctuary has an "animal friendly" policy, which restrict a good medical for some of their elephants, is it then really a sanctuary? I guess most people would think not. If an elephant could be helped, using traditional training methods, but its care is neglected out of pseudo-religious reasons, or new age philosophy, for sure this kind of abuse can be compared with the complains welfare people have against elephant camps.<br />
<br />
And does even the elephant understand the difference? Is the elephant even aware of human labelling, and appreciating it is "loved" while it have pain in the feet, since the care is neglected?<br />
<br />
Is the Sanctuary label just an abstract human invention, having no meaning for the elephants themselves?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z_G6IjLbU2c/TvLcOsjrkpI/AAAAAAAABhg/33thcg6VLz4/s1600/fae_mosha.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>
And are sanctuaries indeed harmful for some elephants, that
would get a better apropiate care somewhere else, by veterinarians, who
have years of experience of curing, but are uninterested in new age
philosphy, while being busy to satisfy the basic needs of the animal.<br />
I think elephants are very basic, and in need of having the basic beeds satisfied, and that "love" is secondary. And I think that regardless if its an elephant camp, a zoo or a sanctuary, those labels are secondary and pretty uninteresting, they are just political expressions. And whatever label one uses for an any commercial elephant operation, satisfying the elephants basic needs shall not be neglected, even if one must use elephant hooks, chain restraint or other devices, unpopulair among welfare people, in order to give best care.<br />
<br />
Because othervise we may end up with only "love" and politics in sanctuaries, while in fact, some elephants are abused, and would benefit from a confiscation from the "elephant lovers".<br />
<br />
Also sanctuaries must take a full resonsibility for the animals under their care, even if the methods to do so, leeds to complains among their sponsors and volonteers. Othervise its not a true sanctuary, just using the label to attract donors. Or, its in reality, a bad sanctuary. <br />
<br />
Something interesting is that many sanctuaries, also attack other institutions, critisizing alternative ways of manage elephants, and try to take monopoly on being the best place for elephants. At the same time, theres a tendency to avoid being compared to commercial operations, but on each sanctuary website you can read the words donate, support, sponsor, gift, instead of ticket price.<br />
<br />
Elephants are not bought, but "rescued".<br />
Sanctuaries seems to occupy themselves with alot of politics. Why?<br />
<br />
Are there any good sanctuaries, and how can then a "good" sanctuary be defined?<br />
And can we demand the same standard of quality of elephant management from a sanctuary, as we would do from a commercial elephant camp with riding operations? Would it be better to send the worst medical cases to an elephant hospital run scientifically by veterinarians, insetad of exploiting them on some sandy field, just to satisfy the needs of thousands of volounteers that pay enourmus sums to th sanctuary owners?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Many of those Asian sanctuaries make <span class="st">$ 5 000/ day, the <a href="http://dankoehl.blogspot.com/2016/03/my-visit-to-sangduen-lek-chailert-and.html">"Elephant Nature Park" in Thailand</a> makes over </span><span class="st">$ <span style="font-size: large;">10</span> 000/day.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="st">This is a lot of money for a concept, which is claimed not being commercial, and not making profit. Most of the sanctuaries does not have a transparent economy<span style="font-size: large;">, and they seldom follow a scientific program in their medical care.</span></span></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="st"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></b></span> DanKoehlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245638586616063380noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7719911693377170022.post-49457358170675592532011-12-21T08:18:00.001+01:002011-12-21T12:41:25.583+01:00Support Sombo on Facebook<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/174600_156734501044163_3080599_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/174600_156734501044163_3080599_n.jpg" /></a></div>
Sambo has a Facebook page, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/supportsombo/posts/282790415105237?ref=notif&notif_t=feed_comment_reply#%21/supportsombo">Support Sombo</a>, where Mr Vansoeun Song, the son of Sambos owner Sin Sorn is active, and answering questions.<br />
Mr Song is <span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">currently living in UT, USA, but follows the discussions about his fathers elephant on distance. He is against to that Sambo is brought to Phnom Tamao Wildlife rescue Center, and says that he will<i> </i></span><i><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">"find the place for her to be cure around the side of the city, and that it gonna be private place, not related to goverment." </span></i><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">He also says that</span><i><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">:" </span><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">she is my family she had
human brain now not an animal anymore and i strongly believe, she will
stay with us longer than that. and be friend with everybody." </span></i><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">and</span><i><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"> "</span><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">agreed she is suffering. she need medical care", </span></i><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">and that</span><i><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"> "</span><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">sombo will be at rest soon and will not be brought back to Wat Phnom while she get treated till she is heal."</span></i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ec-T8-gL_SA/TvGNyZy4XmI/AAAAAAAABgk/ofu4HX68NhM/s1600/ride_sambo_sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ec-T8-gL_SA/TvGNyZy4XmI/AAAAAAAABgk/ofu4HX68NhM/s320/ride_sambo_sign.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">But on his Facebook page </span></i>Vansoeun<i><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"> </span></i><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">wrote in July, under a picture with Sambo at Wat Phnom</span><i><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">; Cool, ride everybody, and he uploaded a sign at Wat Phnom, promoting people to ride Sambo, bewteen 7.30am and 4pm, 7 days a week. </span></i><br />
<br />
Vansoeun Song<span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"> does not comment why </span><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">the international efforts and
help from EARS elephant foundation was declined by Sambo's owner. The
vet clearly stated Sambo must stop working immediately. This was ignored
and 2 days later Sambo was back at work in severe pain being forced to
carry tourists around Wat Phnom. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2QSKExM2nOs/TvG5wGxIqFI/AAAAAAAABgs/FCXW4LIClDI/s1600/sambos_feet_feb_2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">On thie Facebook page <a href="http://www.facebook.com/supportsombo">Support Sambo</a>, now and then its not clear if the support is meant for the suffering elephant Sambo, or for her owner, who put her in this misearable situation. But at least here it is possible to follow a dialogue where the owners son is involved. And Vansoeun seems to be like his father, a friendly and polite person.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.earsasia.org/why_we_need_to_help/Pages/Sambo_files/abscess1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.earsasia.org/why_we_need_to_help/Pages/Sambo_files/abscess1.jpg" /></a></div>
<span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">I wrote a personal message to Vansoeun as follows: </span><i>Please Vansoen, pododermatitis, osteitis, ostoelysis, deep sepsis and
other lesions, what can your father do? You really think any intelligent
person believe he love her, when he force her walk 4 km and stand on a
place where her pain make her lift her leg all day, you relly think this
is love? And then spray a little violet spray on her swollen feet and
wonder why everyone angry? your father is killing his elephant, and of
course people are damn angry. try to convince him to do the right thing,
maybe you can speak with him? He can still save his face and your
families honor. And Im happy to help, him and Sambo, if he takes a good
decision. <br /> -Enough is enough? The world is watching your father killing an elephant, do something, please!.</i><br />
<br />
Vansouen replied today: <i>"Dan,i knew my family couldn't do anything to help Sombo"</i>, and then he went into his family´s economy, ending with the question <i>how long it will take to heal her? </i>I replied that <i>she will probably never heal, but; She will probably be permanently handicapped until she dies, and only educated people can help her a little bit. Her medicines will cost a lot, but theres already a budget of <span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">$ </span>600
dollars/month to cover costs. This will however never be given as long
as shes taken care of by her father, I think.</i><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"> </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/222474_180339045350375_156734501044163_501943_5281056_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;">
<tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/222474_180339042017042_156734501044163_501942_8370517_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/222474_180339042017042_156734501044163_501942_8370517_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sinsorn and Sambo with the new donation box.</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">December discussions indicate that Sin Sorns plans are to "retire" Sambo </span><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">at her present night shelter close to the Australian Embassy, and </span><i><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">"Sin Sorn proposes to bring a
younger female elephant to the city to keep Sombo company and to
continue Sombo's work of giving rides to people."</span></i><br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">A public donation box has been put up at Wat Phnom, and it says the money will go to medicine and food for Sambo, and that her owner has the key. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">No guarantees are given how the money will be spent, although the sign says they are for medicines and expencies. </span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/222474_180339045350375_156734501044163_501943_5281056_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/222474_180339045350375_156734501044163_501943_5281056_n.jpg" width="400" /></a><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"> </span><br />
<span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"><br /></span><br />
<span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">In case of retirement, her medicine costs would be covered by <a href="http://www.earsasia.org/">EARS Asia</a>, and then there would be a guarantee for a proper medicination, not just putting bluespray on Sambos feet...</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">On the "Support Sambo" Facebook page is also stated that Sambos owner, Mr. Sin Sorn want to be payed </span><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">$ 1500.00/month not to work her. This gives no guarrantee for medical costs covered, it is considered a private compensation to him and his family, for not having an income from Sambo.</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.elephant.se/images/siem_reap_sophib_ride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="http://www.elephant.se/images/siem_reap_sophib_ride.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"><a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=6366">Sophib in Siem Reap</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">SinSorn also has an income of renting out at least three other elephants, 2 in Mondulkirir, and <a href="http://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=6366">Sophib in Siem Reap</a>, where she is used as riding elephant at Angkor Wat.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"> My personal view of the latest weeks visit to Sambo, and discussions with </span>Vansoeun Song<span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://earsasia.org/why_we_need_to_help/Pages/Sambo_files/Sambo%27s%20feet1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.phnompenhpost.com/images/stories/news/national/2011/110106/110106_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<ul>
<a href="http://www.phnompenhpost.com/images/stories/news/national/2011/110106/110106_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>
<li><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">Sin Sorns family have limited medical knowledge and competence of elephants, and will probably never bother to invest what is need to take care of elephants professionably. </span></li>
<li><a href="http://earsasia.org/why_we_need_to_help/Pages/Sambo_files/Sambo%27s%20feet1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://earsasia.org/why_we_need_to_help/Pages/Sambo_files/Sambo%27s%20feet1.jpg" width="233" /></a><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">Although they receieved all
veterinary reports, the reports has not been understood, and the
information has not been assimilated, or they simply dont care.</span><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"> </span></li>
<li><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">They are not evil, they simply just make their economy a priority, and they lack a normal proffessional responsability for their animals. </span></li>
<li><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">Instead of realizing Sambos medical need, the word <i>love</i>, is repated over and over again.</span></li>
<li><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">Any future funding of Sambo, as long as she is with Sin Sorn, will probably find its way to his and his families pockets.</span><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"> </span></li>
<li><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">They will never be able to provide even a basic medical care for Sambo.</span></li>
<li><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">The idea of bringing more of Sin Sorns elephants to Phnom Penh, is a threat to their health.</span></li>
<li><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">It seems that Mr Sin Sorn is highly reluctant to let Sambo get a proper medical threatment.</span></li>
<li><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">It has to be remembered, that
no other elephant owner let their elephants stay on the stone pavement
at Wat Phnom, therefore Sambos suffering is directly linked to Mr Sin
Sorn, who has destroyed this elephants health, because of greed.</span><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"> </span></li>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.phnompenhpost.com/images/stories/news/national/2011/110106/110106_3.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.phnompenhpost.com/images/stories/news/national/2011/110106/110106_3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">swollen feet, wounds from the srtripes, both feet curved/screwed</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<li><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">Because of the above stated arguments, there seem to be a need have Sambo confiscated.</span></li>
<li><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">To guarantee a future health of Sin Sorns other elephants, it may be a need to confiscate them also. </span></li>
<li><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">The consequence of this is, that since Mr Sin Sorn and his family does not take resonsibility for Sambo, the Phnom Penh officials has to step in, and privdie that this elephant gets help. </span></li>
</ul>
<h3 class="r">
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Theres presently two places in Cambodia, that can take care of Sambo, the </span><a href="http://www.wildlifealliance.org/blog/tag/phnom-tamao-wildlife-rescue-center" style="font-family: inherit;">Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> outside Phnom Penh, and the <a href="http://www.elephantvalleyproject.org/">Elephant Valley Sanctuary</a>, run by Mr Jack Highwood, in Sen Moronom, Mondulkiri Province, in eastern Cambodia.</span></span></h3>
<h3 class="r">
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Anyhow, I think its good if the </span></span> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/supportsombo/posts/282790415105237?ref=notif&notif_t=feed_comment_reply#%21/supportsombo">Support Sombo</a><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Facebook page gets more visitors and comments, hopefully balanced, polite and correct, but consistent in their message. Visit </span></span> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/supportsombo/posts/282790415105237?ref=notif&notif_t=feed_comment_reply#%21/supportsombo">Support Sombo</a>!</h3>DanKoehlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245638586616063380noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7719911693377170022.post-38332700429359040772011-12-19T10:46:00.002+01:002011-12-21T13:19:03.431+01:00Retire Sambo on Facebook campaign and petition<h1 style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">
</h1>
<h1 style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">
</h1>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-ash2/277017_167055773326554_1657235_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-ash2/277017_167055773326554_1657235_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-ash2/277017_167055773326554_1657235_n.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="profileName fn fsxl fwb">On Facebook you can visit <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elephant-Asia-Rescue-and-Survival-foundation-EARS/167055773326554">Elephant Asia Rescue and Survival foundation - EARS retire Sambo campaign</a>, which is open for everyone. It does not only focus on Sambo, you have to scroll down to find relevant discussions about her.</span></span></div>
On facebook theres also a more radical <a href="http://www.facebook.com/atello#%21/groups/152444111507308/">Retire Sambo group</a>, which is only open for members, who choose to join the letter campaign.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://change-production.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/7/ih/ce/JqiHCebOgNjwryX-236x236-cropped.jpg?1321220034" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Another relevant page is <span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/retire-sambo-ban-elephants-in-phnom-pehn">Retire Sambo Ban Elephants in Phnom Pehn,</a> with petition letters to be signed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">It has to be remembered though that those campaigns are also linked to websites and persons who lack personal insight in elephants, but still are trying to do political pressure. Some are actually against almost anything, except for a couple of elephants sanctuaries who are accepted, due to their politically correct offical opinions. </span><br />
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<a href="http://change-production.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/7/ih/ce/JqiHCebOgNjwryX-236x236-cropped.jpg?1321220034" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://change-production.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/7/ih/ce/JqiHCebOgNjwryX-236x236-cropped.jpg?1321220034" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">They are totally unaware that you may actually in such sanctuaries find elephants that suffer under similair medical problems like Sambo, and their care are neglected due to various "political ideas" about using hooks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">So elephants are not only suffering because of Greed, but sometimes because of activists different "ethical" ideas about how elephants should be managed, altgough they never worked with one. We can all be happy that such movemnets has not entered hospitals, and that someone who works on 7-11 tells doctors how to perform advanced </span>surgeon operating, or how pilots hould fly airplanes.<br />
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Through Internet today, its very easy to belive that after some years of intensive discussions on welfare groups, you know everything about elephants.<br />
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An elephant like Sambo is also gold for many activist groups, such as PETA and likevise, who makes alot of money on expoliting animals which are claimed to suffer. Million dollar budgets are based on different reports of how animal suffers, and their "work" is constant protests against almost everything with animals, including peoples diet and clothes. Those are loud voiced minorities who wants to rule the majorities, often with almost terrorism activities as we have seen before WWII in Europe. I guess we dont find important tax payers withing those extreme groups.DanKoehlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245638586616063380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7719911693377170022.post-36056037812355463552011-12-17T11:24:00.002+01:002011-12-18T17:42:40.390+01:00What can be done for the elephant Sambo in Phnom Penh?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AnDg7r9eLEs/TuxkP8FdJDI/AAAAAAAABf0/HYdPY8knbCw/s1600/sin_sorn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AnDg7r9eLEs/TuxkP8FdJDI/AAAAAAAABf0/HYdPY8knbCw/s320/sin_sorn.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C9A7nF3IgNs/Tuxj0QN2mII/AAAAAAAABfs/zQDcJ5dHKaY/s1600/sambo_head.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Of course noone wants Sambo to suffer anymore, including her owner, Sin Sorn in Phnom Penh.<br />
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What can be done for Sambo?<br />
-I guess Sin Sorn just wants her bad feet to heal, so he can work her at the temple Wat Phnom again. Im sure he doesnt WANT her to suffer.<br />
-Some people would suggest she must come to a place where she can walk on sand and grass, under green trees.<br />
-Some animal welfare people, with good hearts but limited knowledge in elephants, surely would like her to come to sanctuary, where the management based on "love" and elephants are claimed not to be worked with hooks.<br />
-Some people would say she needs social life with other elephants.<br />
-Ands some would may say that it would be better to put an and of her pain by <span style="font-size: small;">euthanasia.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">-I personally think she must come to place where her medical needs are priority one, a place that can act like an elephant hospital.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C9A7nF3IgNs/Tuxj0QN2mII/AAAAAAAABfs/zQDcJ5dHKaY/s1600/sambo_head.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C9A7nF3IgNs/Tuxj0QN2mII/AAAAAAAABfs/zQDcJ5dHKaY/s320/sambo_head.jpg" width="320" /></a>Social:<br />
It has to be remembered, that Sambo was away from other elephants for many years. Such elephants gets closer bounds to humans, and doesnt always get long with other elephants, they become like kids that doesnt want to share their environment and food with other elephants. They also get unused to fit in herd, accepting that they may not be the leader. When mixed with other elephants, in her poor weakened condition, could mean death for her, if done wrong. One single attack from another elephant, could make her fall down, and damage her joints so bad, that she may not rise again. Therefore, any social contact with other elephants must follow a competent careful introducation programme, with very obedient elephants, that can be controlled, so a fight can be avoided. At the moment, I think her social needs of other elephants is secondary to her medical needs. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VXBUpgI44lg/TuxlJ_bbJEI/AAAAAAAABf8/seU-ZNW_tyI/s1600/sambo_foot_inspection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VXBUpgI44lg/TuxlJ_bbJEI/AAAAAAAABf8/seU-ZNW_tyI/s320/sambo_foot_inspection.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C9A7nF3IgNs/Tuxj0QN2mII/AAAAAAAABfs/zQDcJ5dHKaY/s1600/sambo_head.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Management:<br />
This elephant is in desperate need of medical care and threatment. This could never be performed effectively with "love elephants philosphy" or abstract ideas on alternative training. A good medical treatment can ONLY be performed with traditional methods, including dominance and use of elephant hook. Im pretty sure though, that when in good hands, with good mahouts, the use of hook could be reduced to a minimum. In her situation, being used to her owner and her nephew for many years, its also important that good mahouts could spend a lot of time time looking after her, so she would feel cared for. Only after some time, when she has confidence in new care takers, could she eventually be introduced to other elephants. But she will probably always be dependant on free contact with an elephant keeper that also gives her support.<br />
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Environment:<br />
Green grass, and soft sand is surely not bad for an elephant.<br />
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But she already has that during the nights, and she hardly walks and move around. Most of the time shes just standing under a tree, seeking shadow from the sun. When she walks, its so slow, as if she would be a 60 year old elephant, close to death.With one frontlegs stiff from arthritis and other problems which makes it difficault for her to bend it, she moves a s less as possible.<br />
I doubt she lay down in the night for sleep. many elephants with legs problems sleep in standing position, because they afraid of the problems of getting up.<br />
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<a href="http://www.earsasia.org/why_we_need_to_help/Pages/Sambo_files/abscess2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.earsasia.org/why_we_need_to_help/Pages/Sambo_files/abscess2.jpg" /></a></div>
Standing on grass is surely much better than standing on stones at the temple Wat
Phnom, but I dont think its enough for her. It doesnt cure her feet, its
just softer to walk on.<br />
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And even on grass, she constantly release the body weight pressure on her right foot, by keeping it up in the air.<br />
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This probabaly reduces some pain, but at the same time, it actually damage the other foot more, since that foot must single support her front body weight. <br />
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<a href="http://www.earsasia.org/why_we_need_to_help/Pages/Sambo_files/abscess1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.earsasia.org/why_we_need_to_help/Pages/Sambo_files/abscess1.jpg" /></a></div>
I want to stress, that she can not be viewed only as an elephant, shes a vicitm of so many pathological issues, that shes in need of intensive medical care.<br />
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And her feet are in such a bad condition, that they have to be priority over general management issues.<br />
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She is in acute needs of something like an elephant hospital, where she would be treated as a patient, by medically competent people.<br />
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Only later, IF and when she gets better, general views of a location with blue skies, white clouds, green grass and shading trees could be of value.<br />
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<a href="http://www.earsasia.org/why_we_need_to_help/Pages/Sambo_files/Sambo%27s%20feet1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.earsasia.org/why_we_need_to_help/Pages/Sambo_files/Sambo%27s%20feet1.jpg" width="233" /></a></div>
She needs to come to a place which:<br />
<ul>
<li>Is not under supervision by her present owner, since he would probably start to work her commercially, after any minor sign of recovery. </li>
<li>Is not to far away from her, because she is weak, and Im not sure how she could deal with a long transport. </li>
<li>Is preferably an institution that is supervised scientifically.</li>
<li>Has sufficiant man power recources, including good mahouts and veterinarians.</li>
<li>Has good housing, including sun protection and where hygiene is good.</li>
<li>Has possibilities to separate elephants from each other, preferably without chains.</li>
<li>Has boxes, where she could stay during the nights in clean areas.</li>
<li>Has a rather flat enclosure where she could walk free during days now and then, without that she needs to climb over objects, or have risks risks of falling, because of sloaps.</li>
<li>Has previous experience of rehabilitation of elephants with pathology issues.</li>
<li>Has a good reputation, so supporters/public would feel assured abouth the correct use of their money, in case of fundings. </li>
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I think she need something like a hospital environment, that was developed in Thailand for elephants, which was victims of exploding land mines.<br />
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In March, I visited the elephant hospital in Lampang, Thailand, and met he resonsible vetrinarian there, Dr Preecha Pongkuam, who I had not seen since 1988, when I visited the Thai Forest Industry Organisation young elephant training center in Ngao, Lampang.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dmb9M60hUZU/TuxuYrNXVkI/AAAAAAAABgU/XUU2t-t6bVU/s1600/mine_victim_box_close.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dmb9M60hUZU/TuxuYrNXVkI/AAAAAAAABgU/XUU2t-t6bVU/s320/mine_victim_box_close.jpg" width="320" /></a>Together with Friends of the Asian elephant, founded by Mrs Soraida Salwala, Dr Preecha Pongkaum and his collegues developed methods of taking care of elephants with severe wounds, of which hardly any Zoo in Europe or America would dream of trying to cure.<br />
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And as you see, we are not speaking grass and sand, blue skies and bananas hanging from trees.<br />
The priority is hygiene, as fast and effective cure of infections as possible, and reduce of pain as much as possible.<br />
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A foot that has been hit by a land mine is not very beatiful.<br />
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This elephant was happy, his leg has not been amputated.<br />
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Still, the foot is in great need of a flooring substrate that is easy to keep clean, is soft to stand on, while still giving support to the weight of the elephant, and that can reduce bacterial growth. And the medical treatment, and curing, is the priority number one.<br />
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To make this possible, is in the hands of her owner Sin Sorn. He earned many dollars from her during the years, and now its time to take the responsibilty for her medical problems, and her pain.<br />
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He is a rich man, owning many elephants. <br />
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The wise thing for him to do, is to cooperate with people who want to help his elephant. By such a decision, people would honor and thank him, and then he would also give evidence to his statement that he loves Sambo.<br />
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The present way of showing it, by the extreme abuse, is not thrust worthy. <br />
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<br />DanKoehlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245638586616063380noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7719911693377170022.post-5391984829478467392011-12-16T22:59:00.004+01:002011-12-18T16:39:04.143+01:00Visit to Sambo in Phnom Penh 14 December 2011<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hnxKb64gdOY/TuvIWGipuSI/AAAAAAAABfk/Yv_ncWGYh10/s1600/sambo_field.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hnxKb64gdOY/TuvIWGipuSI/AAAAAAAABfk/Yv_ncWGYh10/s320/sambo_field.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I also met Mariam Arthur again, and
explained my point of view, that Sambo should not only be retired, but
also hospitalized, and seen as a patient, which also means stopped
worked, and away from Phnom Penh. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I also told her that I think further ridings in Phnom Penh should be stopped. Cambodia
can not be compared with europe or America, concearning laws for animal
protection and prevention of animal abuse. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">New elephants at Wat Phnom
will only result in more elephants getting permanent damages in their
joints and feet, since it appears that Sin Sorn does not take normal professional consideration in regards to his animals, and neglect her health, in order to get more income from her.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mariam wanted to see Sambo again, and asked if I cared to join her, which I did, and we went to the area opposite the Australian Embassy and met Sin Sorn and Sambo.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When you see Sambo on distance under a tree, it looks almost idyllic. But when you get close, the picture changes.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rYFMgIozM5g/Tuu8Vl3ppwI/AAAAAAAABeQ/Er8FbcENMwE/s1600/sambo_left_front.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rYFMgIozM5g/Tuu8Vl3ppwI/AAAAAAAABeQ/Er8FbcENMwE/s320/sambo_left_front.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Her nails had really been shortened, but the laength of the nails is now a secondary problem, as can be seen here and on close-ups. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The left front foot has abcesses between the nails, and is completely dry. Skin has dropped of from several areas. That legs is completely stiff, she does not bend it it when she walks, probably comination of the abcesses, general infection in the foot, and </span></span>arthritis, which is often side effect of hard flooring, and unsufficiant diet.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KVu3sZw1XVU/Tuu8WsagpsI/AAAAAAAABeY/Q0FiAroJpCY/s1600/sambo_left_front_close.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KVu3sZw1XVU/Tuu8WsagpsI/AAAAAAAABeY/Q0FiAroJpCY/s320/sambo_left_front_close.jpg" width="285" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A close-up from the picture above, between the two large nails, where you can see an abcess. The rest of surrounding skin is in very bad shape, and the area where the skin meets the nails, is completely dry.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Above the nails are sweat glands, and if the get to dry, they may close and later sometimes turned into an abcess. When I work elephants in Zoos, I often use high pressure washing on this area, in order to keep it clean, and give stimulation to those spots.</span></span><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rYFMgIozM5g/Tuu8Vl3ppwI/AAAAAAAABeQ/Er8FbcENMwE/s1600/sambo_left_front.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><br />
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Heres a close-up from the picture above, showing an abcess right of the large nail, and apart from that, skin dry, skin fell off, the foot is in very bad general condition.<br />
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<img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kkhfOyUwktY/Tuu8bdQ4tXI/AAAAAAAABfA/wVVtp9_B-FM/s320/sambo_right_front.jpg" width="320" /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The left front foot, also dry, dead skin above the nails, and between the nails you see like a small ball with pus, the his foot has also abccesses.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pathetically, some violet spray has been used on the skin, which likely can be compared to painting iodine on the skin of a cancer patient...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can see how the accesses looks like balls, coming from the pressure of the inside infection.</span></span><br />
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The abcess under her foot has now closed much more, and the dirt is stucked inside the cracks...<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The whole foot is swollen like a balloon.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is how her sole looked like some months ago:</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.earsasia.org/why_we_need_to_help/Pages/Sambo_files/abscess1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.earsasia.org/why_we_need_to_help/Pages/Sambo_files/abscess1.jpg" width="299" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Theres no chance that the abcess is cured, what happened is that the commuicaton to the abcess is reduced or closed, and this means that the infection is getting more pressure from below, and developes higher up in her bones.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f-BNFgUcmWA/Tuu8U1Rj8TI/AAAAAAAABeI/qKUF1TWW_jU/s1600/sambo_backfeet.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f-BNFgUcmWA/Tuu8U1Rj8TI/AAAAAAAABeI/qKUF1TWW_jU/s320/sambo_backfeet.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Her back feet soles looks pretty OK</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J8RJgYm-Wck/Tuu8PuMF2hI/AAAAAAAABdk/qAO26zPIwyM/s1600/backfoot.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="189" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J8RJgYm-Wck/Tuu8PuMF2hI/AAAAAAAABdk/qAO26zPIwyM/s320/backfoot.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But also her back feet show stress symptoms, and are very dry.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6yHKlT3JI-o/Tuu8QjkbjMI/AAAAAAAABdo/k2OrKb1nRv0/s1600/backfoot_close.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6yHKlT3JI-o/Tuu8QjkbjMI/AAAAAAAABdo/k2OrKb1nRv0/s320/backfoot_close.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skin dry and has fallen off the foot, and eventually an abcess opening between the nails.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zYqJXdJA00U/Tuu7Rb_QzrI/AAAAAAAABdc/YMPxIupCqgg/s1600/sin_sorn.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zYqJXdJA00U/Tuu7Rb_QzrI/AAAAAAAABdc/YMPxIupCqgg/s320/sin_sorn.jpg" width="198" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sambo and Sin Sorn</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I want to point out that Sin Sorn is very polite and sympathic. He doesnt seem to be an evil man at all. But in his deeds he has now become an extre animal abuser, which I dont think he understands. He probably just sees that his income gets reduced, because of Sambos feet and all discussions around her. And he is probably totally unaware how people in other countries think when they see and hear about his elephant Sambo. He just want her feets to "heal" so she can work again. And he is afraid of loosing his place for an elephant in Wat Phnom. Which i think he should, I agree with Louise that there shall be no more elephants inside Phnom Penh town, considering the poor legal protection for animals, and the low degree of resonsibility taken by animal owners like Sin Sorn.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Before I left I put my hand on his shoulder, looked him deep into his eyes, and I asked to him to please send her to a hospital. He smiled, and said nothing. I could not evaluate his thoughts...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I hope he may consider taking a vise decision, and let Sambo go to to people who can give her an adequate medical threatment. </span></span>DanKoehlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245638586616063380noreply@blogger.com0