Thai Elephant Importation

A Jumbo problem, and not yet solved!

Recent events have once again drawn the nation�s attention to the plight of eight elephants currently en route to Melbourne Zoo and Taronga Zoo in Sydney.

The RSPCA, along with the International Fund for Animal Welfare and the Humane Society International, have opposed the plan to import elephants from Thailand into Australian zoos, because we don�t believe elephants should be kept in zoos at all.

Zoos do some good work in education and conservation, but while some animals can thrive in the captive environment, elephants in zoos suffer from a range of health problems, including serious and painful joint disorders as well as obesity and diabetes. Many of these result from lack of movement, as zoos can�t possibly provide for the space these large, nomadic animals need.

It�s especially important to remember - because this import plan is touted by the zoos as a conservation effort � that elephants in zoos also breed very poorly, with very high rates of miscarriage, still birth and infant mortality. In fact, despite keeping Asian elephants in captivity for around 100 years, not one single calf has ever been bred in an Australia zoo. Yet the tourist camp these elephants were taken from has had 25 successful births in the last 5 years, with any number of female elephants pregnant right now!

This captive breeding plan aims to try using invasive artificial insemination techniques, in a last ditch attempt to increase the local elephant population. That�s right - there is also no intention to ever release an elephant back into the wild.

An appeal launched by the welfare groups mentioned above succeeded in achieving significant improvements to the elephant enclosures at Taronga and Melbourne Zoos � but despite international condemnation from elephant and conservation experts, the importation looks set to proceed. Zoos describe the new exhibit as a �Four Seasons Hotel for elephants� - but how would you like to spend the rest of your life locked in a hotel room with four other people?

A gilded cage� would be a more accurate description.

Indeed, this latest protest activity confirms there are many in Thailand who are also not happy with these plans for the elephants� future, and who wish to consult further with their government on the matter.

Like the RSPCA, they believe conservation efforts to protect this endangered species must remain focused on the elephant�s homeland �wealthy overseas zoos paying big dollars to buy more elephants to keep in captivity just puts a price on their head that can only encourage more poaching from the wild.


The RSPCA strongly believes the elephants should be left where they are until all these problems are resolved, and that Australian zoos should consider following the example set by their counterparts overseas.

Zoos in America and Europe are accepting they cannot meet the complex physical social and behavioural needs of these incredible animals and are phasing out the keeping of elephants in zoos altogether.

Thai elephant importation: The facts

Australian zoos have imported 8 endangered elephants from Thailand to put on display and to participate in a planned captive breeding programme.

The RSPCA is strongly opposed to this plan because of serious concerns for the animal�s welfare.

Also, based on sound international research and scientific evidence, the RSPCA does not believe this plan will contribute to elephant conservation.

Sadly, on 20 July 2005, the Federal Environment Minister Senator the Hon. Ian Campbell approved the application. Which the RSPCA, along with the Humane Society International (HSI) and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) lodged an appeal.

The facts of the issue are as outlined below:

� Breeding rates of elephants in the Thai tourist camps are better than Australian zoos can realistically hope to achieve.

In the tourist camp these eight elephants came from, ten female elephants are pregnant right now.

Why risk bringing these elephants to Australia when they are breeding so well in their homeland, if not for commercial benefit?

� Australian zoos have no experience in breeding elephants.

Despite over 100 years of keeping Asian elephants, no Australian zoo has ever been able to breed one single animal.

The RSPCA believes this plan is simply a case of admitting they have failed to breed their existing elephants and getting some new ones so they can keep trying.

Furthermore, this breeding programme will require much closer and more frequent handling of these elephants than previously undertaken, in order to conduct the invasive artificial insemination procedures required.

The zookeepers responsible for this have little or no experience for these direct handling methods � in fact, Melbourne Zoo was recently advertising for a brand new elephant keeper!

� There is no plan by any of the zoos involved to ever release a single elephant back into the wild.

Even if the breeding plan was to somehow succeed, international evidence strongly suggests captive breeding does not contribute to wild animal conservation.

Breeding more elephants to keep in Australian zoos does not contribute to the conservation of the species in the wild.

If we continue to take elephants from their home in Asia to put on display in zoos - where we know they don�t breed well, suffer greatly and die at a younger age - then it�s true that the only elephants our children will know will be elephants in a zoo.

What a sad and sorry sight a zoo elephant is, and what a lesson to leave for our children!

� The RSPCA is NOT an animal rights group and is NOT opposed to zoos.

The RSPCA recognises the good work zoos have done in education and the conservation of many animal species.

However, based on a wealth of international scientific evidence, we know that some animals do not cope well in zoos and the elephant is one such animal.

� Elephants suffer in zoos.

Elephants in zoos suffer terribly � they experience a number of health problems, including painful foot and joint problems and obesity from lack of movement.

They also breed poorly with a high rate of miscarriage and still birth and a very high rate of calf rejection and infant mortality.

Elephants in zoos also die at a younger age than those in the wild or in the tourist camps these elephants have come from.

Here�s what you can do:

Write to the Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell and tell him you are strongly opposed to the decision he has made.

Write to Taronga Zoo and Melbourne Zoo and express your outrage that they would risk an endangered animal�s welfare to increase their profits.

See our fact sheet Importing and keeping of elephants in zoos or our media release

Further information

� Information Sheet on Keeping Elephants in Zoos

� Media Release: Public vigilance needed for elephant's sake
� Media Release: Date is set for Asian Elephant Appeal
� Media Release: Elephants Deserve Sanctuary in Thailand
� Media Release: Appeal results in improved conditions for Elephants
� Media Release: Tribunal Elephant ruling questions Elephant enclosure
� Media Release: Zoos admit 'Optimal' care for elephants not the priority
� Media Release: Elephants given a life sentence in a confined space, tribunal told
� Media Release: Welfare groups gear up for major legal challenge against government
� Media Release: Thai Elephant importation: The facts
� Media Release: Welfare groups launch last ditch efforts to save Thai Elephants