IN DEFENSE OF ANIMALS SLAMS PLANS TO SHIP 100 WILD AFRICAN ELEPHANTS TO CHINA

Contact: Toni Frohoff, Ph.D., toni@idausa.org, 805-836-0496

San Rafael, California (September 29, 2016) – In Defense of Animals has blasted Zimbabwe’s plans to sell live baby elephants to China, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The national parks authority has already captured 40 young elephants, and plans to relocate about 100 elephants in total.

“Inconsistencies in Zimbabwe’s story show that it is not being honest about its plans for the elephants,” said In Defense of Animals President Dr. Marilyn Kroplick. “The government has no excuse to take baby elephants from their families. We urge authorities to give the babies back immediately.”

Zimbabwe’s national parks authority, ZimParks, denied that it plans to sell the captured elephants to China. However, the Zimbabwe Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has confirmed that it is assessing captive elephant facilities in China on behalf of ZimParks. Zimbabwe Water and Climate Minister Oppah Muchinguri has now announced that the government is considering elephant sales.

“African governments have seen the vast sums paid by U.S. zoos to Swaziland for wild elephants, and now they all want a slice of the pie,” says Toni Frohoff, Ph.D., Elephant Scientist for In Defense of Animals. “The USFWS set a terrible precedent when it allowed the elephant transfer earlier this year, and wild elephants are paying the price. Elephants in zoos are condemned to a miserable life sentence and all the suffering and health problems inherent to captivity.”

Earlier this year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service allowed 18 young African elephants kidnapped from their wild families to be shipped to U.S. zoos for lifetime imprisonment. Dallas, Henry Doorly and Sedgwick County zoos spent at least $39 million on exhibits, and an additional $450,000 over five years to a Swaziland vendor.

As with the Swaziland transfer, the Zimbabwe government is claiming to be saving elephants from drought. However, viable plans to translocate the animals in their natural habitat should be carried out.

“It is no coincidence that Minister Muchinguri called for Zimbabwe to be allowed to sell ivory at the same conference,” said Dr. Frohoff. “Elephants are worth much more alive than they are dead. We urge the government to keep the elephants on African soil where they belong. The world is watching Zimbabwe.”

If the sale goes ahead, the elephants will face the trauma of capture and cross continent relocation and risk developing chronic and often fatal physical ailments that afflict captive elephants, including foot disease, arthritis, TB exposure and herpes infection. A recent Gallup poll showed 57% of Americans are concerned by animal treatment in zoos.

In Defense of Animals is a recognized authority on elephants and produces the widely-respected list of the Ten Worst Zoos for Elephant in North America. For more information, please visit http://www.idausa.org/2015tenworstzoos

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In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization with over 250,000 supporters and a 30-year history of protecting animals’ rights, welfare, and habitats through education, campaigns, and hands-on rescue facilities in India, Africa, and rural Mississippi.

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