Happy, a 51-year-old Asian elephant, was captured from the wild in the early 1970s. She was shipped to the US, arriving at the Bronx Zoo in 1977.

She is one of two Asian elephants living in captivity at the zoo – they are kept in separate enclosures and can only touch each other through a fence with their trunks. Throughout the ’80s, the elephants were forced to give rides at the zoo, perform tricks, and participate in tug-of-war competitions.

Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP) – a nonprofit defending the civil rights of elephants, dolphins, great apes, and whales – is campaigning for Happy’s release. The organization insists that Happy’s captivity mimics that of solitary confinement, and robs the animal of her right to express her natural instincts.

This is especially concerning given the species’ high intelligence and sociability, NhRP says. In the wild, Asian elephants form complex relationships that last a lifetime, often working together to raise their children.

In fact, female Asian elephants are considered “social butterflies” with numerous friendships that stay intact even after long periods of separation.

NhRP also notes that in 2005, Happy became the first elephant to pass a mirror self-recognition test, which researchers say indicates self-awareness.

Elephant rights

NhRP first filed a petition against the Bronx Zoo in 2018. The charity asked the court, on the grounds of habeas corpus, to grant Happy her “common law right to bodily liberty.”

This, according to the charity, would require the immediate release of the senior animal to an elephant sanctuary “so as to prevent future unlawful deprivations of her liberty and allow her to exercise her autonomy to the greatest degree possible.”

Elephant researcher Joyce Poole says keeping elephants confined “prevents them from engaging in normal, autonomous behavior and can result in the development of arthritis, osteoarthritis, osteomyelitis, boredom and stereotypical behavior.”

“Held in isolation elephants become bored, depressed, aggressive, catatonic and fail to thrive,” Poole added.

The Bronx Zoo responds

The Bronx Zoo, which opened its gates in 1899, has a different perspective. In a statement released on May 18, the zoo accused NhRP of “blatantly exploiting” Happy to “advance their coordinated agenda.”

And, that the nonprofit is “willing to sacrifice Happy’s health and psychological well-being to set precedent.” The zoo cautioned that should the NhRP win the case, there may be a surge of legal actions brought forward on behalf of animals in zoos.

The Bronx Zoo concludes that Happy – like all of its 4,000 animals – is, like her namesake, happy.

The facility is no stranger to controversy. In 2018, the Bronx Zoo ranked #1 on the 10 Worst Zoos for Elephants. It was the eighth time the zoo had appeared on the list.

Happy has received coverage of her own, featuring in a New York Post piece about her “sad life alone at the Bronx Zoo.” There, the publication said, “Happy spends most of her time indoors in a large holding facility lined with elephant cages, which are about twice the length of the animals’ bodies.

“The public never sees this.”

The New York Court of Appeals heard arguments for and against Happy’s release last week. The court is expected to announce its decision in the next four to six weeks.

The post Landmark Court Case Could Grant ‘Happy’ The Elephant Human Rights appeared first on Plant Based News.

Senator Marty Klyne formally introduced the bill, called the Jane Goodall Act, yesterday.

The proposed legislation seeks to completely phase out elephant captivity in Canada, including the import and breeding of the species.

This move could have a far-reaching impact, given elephant populations are struggling. In part, due to human interference, such as ivory trading.

Last year, the African savanna elephant and African forest elephant were classified as endangered and critically endangered, respectively. The Asian elephant is also classified as endangered, with its population halving in the last 75 years.

The Jane Goodall Act, if implemented, would also outlaw the ownership, breeding, and possession of a multitude of other exotic animals, thwarting the business models of many zoos.

The number of zoos operating in Canada today is unclear, but Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA) – a private organization representing animal entertainment facilities – has 26 animal parks, aquariums, and other attractions on its accreditation list at the time of writing.

Additionally, under the proposed act, private individuals who attempt to keep wild animals in captivity would also be greeted with legal obstacles.

Big cats, bears, great apes, whales, dolphins, coyotes, wolves, seals, sea lions, alligators, crocodiles, and several types of exotic lizards and snakes all receive protections under the act.

Further, the bill would allow the federal government to more easily restrict the captivity of additional species in the future.

“The Jane Goodall Act would protect a broad array of large, sentient animals like lions, tigers, bears, and apes from suffering unnatural conditions inside tiny enclosures,” said Camille Labchuk, lawyer and executive director of Animal Justice .

“Polls show that most Canadians are opposed to confining animals in zoos and aquariums, and this important new law takes a giant leap toward improving saving countless animals from a lifetime of suffering in captivity.”

Indeed, a poll conducted by Research Co. in 2019 found that more than half (52 percent) of Canadians were against keeping animals in zoos or aquariums. Moreover, 59 percent said they oppose animal involvement in rodeos.

A ‘global leader’ in animal protection

Labchuk continued: “The bill would also offer animals limited legal standing to animals in some court proceedings. If adopted, this precedent-setting move would make Canada a global leader in ensuring the courts are able to consider the best interests of individual animals.”

The bill, backed by Dame Goodall herself, was first introduced in November 2020, and has since been updated to include more species.

The proposed legislation takes inspiration from the Free Willy Act (Bill S-203). That act, passed in 2019, aimed to phase out the captivity, breeding, and trade of whales and dolphins.

Staff lawyer at Animal Justice, Kaitlyn Mitchell, expects that the Jane Goodall Act will move through the legislative process in the coming months. Amendments may be made during the committee stage, she said to Plant Based News, and if all goes to plan, the bill will then be considered in the House of Commons.

Mitchell told us: “We believe that just like the ‘Free Willy bill’ before it, which aimed to phase out whale and dolphin captivity across Canada, the Jane Goodall Act will have the support of the Canadian public, and are optimistic that it will ultimately become law in Canada.”

Those interested can show their support for the Jane Goodall Act by signing this online petition.

The post New Bill Seeks To Protect Wild Animals From Captivity In Canada appeared first on Plant Based News.

Lowe took over of the facility, the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park, in 2016, according to National Geographic.

Prior to this, the zoo was run by Joe Exotic, who rose to infamy after the 2020 release of Tiger King. The true crime docuseries was watched by more than 34 million people in its first ten days of release.

Tiger King details the chaotic life of Exotic and the operations at his zoo (which primarily housed big cats). Further, it also highlights numerous animal welfare concerns and violations linked to the facility.

The same year the series was released, Lowe’s license to publicly exhibit animals was suspended for 21 days. In response, Lowe voluntarily forfeited his license. But announced he would keep profiting off the animals by showcasing them online and on television instead.

Lowe then transported the animals to a new facility, Tiger King Park, also in Oklahoma.

He claimed he would use the park as a private film set to produce “Tiger King-related content.” He was already featuring the animals in paid shout-out videos via Cameo. But he revealed plans to release two reality tv shows as well.

Civil complaint

In November 2020, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a civil complaint against Lowes, his wife Lauren, and their animal park.

The DOJ accused the couple of violating the Endangered Species Act and the Animal Welfare Act, and “placing the health of animals in serious danger.”

The Lowes reportedly denied animals proper veterinary care, failed to provide adequate food, and kept animals in unhygienic, inappropriate enclosures.

Investigators found arthritic wolves in cages without bedding, living on concrete floors. A grizzly bear whose bones could be clearly seen beneath her skin was also seized, as well as a lion cub named Nala who was lying unresponsive in the mud.

Moreover, two tigers’ bodies were discovered underneath a pile of burned rubble. National Geographic noted that the animals’ corpses were attracting biting flies that left “bloody wounds” on nearby tigers, bears, and wolves.

Profiting off showcasing animals online

Last week, a federal judge in the Eastern District of Oklahoma approved a consent decree for the Lowes. The decree bans the couple from ever exhibiting animals – in person or online – again.

It marks the first time that the Animal Welfare Act has specifically included animals being shown online for money. Animal law attorney Carney Anne Nasser told National Geographic it was the “most aggressive civil enforcement action against an animal exhibitor in the history of the Animal Welfare Act.”

Delcianna Winders, director of the animal law program at Vermont Law School, says the decree could have a far-reaching impact.

“This is significant,” she said. “If someone else were to try to exhibit online without a license, the USDA or DOJ could swiftly enforce and say, here is the precedent. It’s unequivocal. There is no loophole.”

Dropped civil charges

Moreover, the decree dismisses all civil charges made against the Lowes, but does not outlaw the department from pressing criminal charges.

Lowe was pleased by the result. “The DOJ had no option but to drop all charges against us,” he said, per National Geographic. “That’s what happens when the evidence doesn’t support the allegations.”

He also stated that “the DOJ was fed a pack of salacious lies to justify stealing my animals.”

Between January and August of this year, 146 animals were removed from the couple, National Geographic says. It was the justice department’s largest ever zoo animal seizure.

The animals now live in multiple sanctuaries across the US, including Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Arkansas, and Lions, Tigers and Bears in California.

The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado took in 81 big cats as well as other animals.

The post Tiger King Zoo Owner Banned From Exhibiting Animals, But Avoids All Civil Charges appeared first on Plant Based News.

The zoo, which is one of the country’s oldest, reported that “a number” of its gorillas and lions have contracted the virus. In a statement, the company said the animals are experiencing a lowered appetite and cough, and are behaving “listlessly.” 

The gorillas also have stomach and intestinal problems. 

Rotterdam Zoo says it isn’t certain how the animals became infected, and assured that it has been following a “special corona protocol.”

The facility suspects that an asymptomatic employee passed the virus on. The animals have been moved to a more discrete enclosure that cannot be viewed by visitors.

“We are now giving the animals plenty of rest to recover. The zoo keepers and the vet are keeping an extra eye on the gorillas and lions. They support them with medication where necessary,” the zoo said. 

Zoo animals and COVID-19

The Dutch zoo is the latest to report that its animals have contracted the infectious disease, but not the only. 

The first known case of an ape catching COVID-19 was reported in January, when eight gorillas at San Diego Zoo Safari Park caught COVID-19 from a zookeeper. 

Since then, Zoo Atlanta in Georgia, the Bronx Zoo in New York, the San Diego Zoo in California, Denver Zoo in Colorado, and St. Louis Zoo in Missouri, among others, have all reported animals catching the disease. Like Rotterdam Zoo, these facilities have typically chalked the infections up to asymptomatic employees. 

Earlier this month, three snow leopards lost their lives at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo in Nebraska after catching COVID-19.

Tigers, lions, hyenas, and critically endangered western lowland gorillas have all caught the virus, too.

Consequently, a growing number of zoos are now vaccinating their animals with experimental COVID-19 vaccines.

Animal rights organizations have questioned whether these species would be contracting the virus if they were not captive.

Wendy Higgins of Humane Society International/UK spoke to Plant Based News about the matter.

“Zoos are responsible for ensuring the health of the animals under their care, and that must also include protection from diseases that they can catch from their human handlers, including the COVID-19 virus,” she said. “In their natural habitats in the wild, these animals would have extremely limited to zero close contact with humans, and so it is imperative that proper precautions are taken to protect them.”

The post Captive Gorillas And Lions At Netherlands Zoo Catch COVID-19 From Zookeeper appeared first on Plant Based News.

Animal protection organization Wild Welfare published the report. The global charity works to find sustainable ways to improve animal welfare for those living in captivity.

COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic and its corresponding lockdowns resulted in the temporary closure of animal entertainment venues, as well as wildlife parks and sanctuaries. 

Subsequently, these facilities experienced a loss of visitor-derived income, of which these venues are heavily reliant.   

Some other businesses were able to reduce overheads and staff in the face of the pandemic, the report says. However, animal facilities have a ‘limited ability’ to do the same. 

This is because regardless of visitor numbers, the animals require the same level of care and therefore financial investment.

“The ability to provide adequate care is directly linked to the number and quality of animal care staff available and the provision of suitably maintained environments or enclosures,” the report reads. 

Additionally, certain species and individual animals require specialist care.

Widespread impact

Wild Welfare estimates that there are tens of thousands of zoos and aquariums around the world. And, only a ‘small percentage’ of these fall under country-wide animal welfare legislation or guiding principles from a zoological association.

Given this, the charity predicts that hundreds of thousands of animals have experienced reduced animal welfare practices during the pandemic, contributing to anxiety and stress in the animals.

“What we saw when COVID-19 hit was the temporary closure of thousands of wildlife facilities across the globe, resulting in their revenues plummeting,” said Wild Welfare’s acting UK director, Simon Marsh.

“This revenue loss caused huge animal welfare issues for some of the facilities we work with, many of which are already struggling to address animal welfare standards, so it was vital that we took a look at those issues and how facilities could better prepare themselves for similar events in the future.”

Captive wildlife needs, ‘at the very least’, basic animal care like food, heating, and lighting, Marsh said.

“So overheads cannot simply be frozen, despite revenues declining massively,” he added.

But the issues are ‘much more complicated’ than ‘starving animals and lack of food’, said the acting UK director. 

“We knew of many facilities whose staffing levels dropped, either through illness or because the costs of paying all staff became too much, and in both cases, we had concerns for the removal of those subsequent relationship ties with animals such as elephants, apes and other highly intelligent species that form close bonds with their animal carers,” Marsh explained.

“But whatever the issue, many times the outcome was the same – a deterioration in care and welfare for animals – and that is something we must address.”

Zoo animals catching COVID-19

Similar concerns were voiced when captive zoo animals began catching the coronavirus themselves. 

In September, it was reported that 13 captive western lowland gorillas, which are critically endangered, had caught the virus from an infected zookeeper. 

And it wasn’t the first time it had happened. Gorillas, lions, and tigers living in multiple zoos have contracted the illness, usually from close contact with infected humans.

As a result, animals in nearly 70 zoos are receiving experimental COVID-19 vaccines.

The post COVID-19 Pandemic Put Thousands Of Zoo Animals At Risk Due To Limited Care, Says Report appeared first on Plant Based News.