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THE 8,500 POUND QUESTION
by Charlotte Hsu
Where do elephants go when they die?
It was with the sorrow of losing a good friend that staff at the Buffalo Zoo said goodbye last month to Buki, the 52-year-old elephant who died on September 28. By all accounts, the 8,500-pound pachyderm, lauded for her intelligence and sweet disposition, was a charmer. She had a penchant for watermelons, loved a good rub behind the ears, and played the harmonica.
Given Buki’s winning nature and the affection her keepers and visitors felt for her, it might seem tacky—even crude—to ponder the mechanics of elephant disposal. Nevertheless, with her recent passing, one can’t help but wonder: How do you make arrangements for such a gargantuan friend?
For elephants in captivity, life after death typically begins with a necropsy, the animal equivalent of an autopsy. Once the examination is complete, workers use heavy equipment to transport the carcass to a burial site or a facility that can incinerate remains.
In 2002, after a female elephant died at the Bronx Zoo in New York City, a veterinarian close to that mammal explained her postmortem to the New York Times: “They lifted her on to a truck with a forklift and moved her to the burial area, where we did a complete necropsy.”
In 2006, another veterinarian commented to the University of Maryland student newspaper The Diamondback on the incineration of an elephant euthanized at Washingtion, DC’s National Zoo: “They bring it in and we cremate it. We are going to hoist it on a crane and drop it in a pit.”
September 28 was a Monday, and Buki died at 5:40am. That night, a pair of local veterinarians, one veterinary technician, and two members of Cornell University’s pathology department conducted her postmortem in the zoo’s Elephant House.
They followed the American Zoo and Aquarium Association Elephant Species Survivial Plan Elephant Necropsy Protocol, whose equipment checklist calls for items including “a continual supply of sharp knives,” a tape measure at least 2 meters long, hammers, chisels, handsaws, a hoist or crane or small tractor, and a chain saw, axe, or reciprocating saw to cut through the cranium.
Staff shielded Buki’s carcass from the view of two younger elephants, Jothi and Surapa from India, who had lived with the elder pachyderm since 1987, not long after Buki had arrived in Buffalo to retire following a quarter-century circus career. The pair, their keepers by their side, remained calm during the procedure.
With the necropsy complete, the zoo moved Buki to a storage site on the grounds. Officials had arranged to donate her carcass to East Tennessee State University. But, according to the zoo, when the school could not provide staff and a vehicle to pick up the body in a timely manner, the decision was made to bury her remains.
Ultimately, Buki was transported by truck to a burial site on private property. A forklift was used to lift her body.
Before her passing, Buki had fallen ill, losing her appetite. The postmortem will help ascertain why she died. The necropsy team discovered a large tumor in her abdomen along with several smaller ones elsewhere. Pathology tests will show whether the lumps were cancerous.
Besides helping to pinpoint a particular animal’s cause of death, elephant necropsies provide valuable information to scientists studying the creatures in broader context. Dalen Agnew, a comparative pathologist at Michigan State University who has helped perform more than a dozen of the procedures, says information gleaned from an elephant postmortem can provide insight into everything from physiology—the size and placement of organs in the body, where certain nerves run—to infectious diseases in elephants and elephant behavior.
According to Agnew, one researcher used necropsy data to argue that the pachyderms store water in a pharyngeal pouch in the throat, a finding that clarified the mystery of how elephants stay hydrated during long journeys across dry lands. In the wild, the mammals had often been seen reaching into their oral cavities with their trunks to extract water to pour on themselves, and observers had long wondered where that liquid originated.
In Buki’s case, the Buffalo Zoo supplied tissue and skeletal samples to local science institutions as well as researchers in and outside the region.
“Nobody is happy that a zoo animal dies…[But] it’s important we take advantage of that opportunity, even if it’s a tragic opportunity, to make the best of it,” Agnew said. “Those animals, their role in a zoo is as an ambassador of the wild and as an advocate for saving the wild. And even as a dead animal, they continue to serve their own species, their own habitat, their own world, by providing this knowledge that we can gain from necropsies.”
—charlotte hsu
http://artvoice.com/issues/v8n42/news_briefs/the_8500_pound_question
ELEPHANTS RELOCATED TO ZOO IMPROVING
By City News Service
The two elephants brought to the San Diego Zoo from a private collection in Texas have both gained about 300 pounds and are building trust with their handlers, zoo officials said Wednesday.
Jewel and Tina, who are believed to be in their mid-40s, were removed from their owner by the U.S. Department of Food and Agriculture and brought to San Diego in August.
Jewel now weighs 6,714 pounds and Tina tops the scale at 7,664 pounds.
The zoo's Dani Dodge Medlin said there really is no average weight for an elephant, but their handlers would like Tina and especially Jewel to gain a few more pounds.
They've been feasting on carrots, sweet potatoes, apples, alfalfa and beet pulp.
In recent examinations, the elephants willingly raised their legs to allow their feet to be cleaned and placed on a platform used for x-rays, a sign of increasing trust with their handlers.
"When they first arrived, Tina wouldn't let us near her rear end," said Victoria Zahn, a senior keeper. "Now she presents her back feet perfectly so we can scrub and care for them - this is all part of the trusting relationship we are building with them."
Both animals remain in quarantine, and won't be brought out for public viewing in the Elephant Odyssey exhibit until they clear all their health checks.
http://www.lajollalight.com/news/261692-elephants-relocated-to-zoo-improving
It was with the sorrow of losing a good friend that staff at the Buffalo Zoo said goodbye last month to Buki, the 52-year-old elephant who died on September 28. By all accounts, the 8,500-pound pachyderm, lauded for her intelligence and sweet disposition, was a charmer. She had a penchant for watermelons, loved a good rub behind the ears, and played the harmonica.
Given Buki’s winning nature and the affection her keepers and visitors felt for her, it might seem tacky—even crude—to ponder the mechanics of elephant disposal. Nevertheless, with her recent passing, one can’t help but wonder: How do you make arrangements for such a gargantuan friend?
For elephants in captivity, life after death typically begins with a necropsy, the animal equivalent of an autopsy. Once the examination is complete, workers use heavy equipment to transport the carcass to a burial site or a facility that can incinerate remains.
In 2002, after a female elephant died at the Bronx Zoo in New York City, a veterinarian close to that mammal explained her postmortem to the New York Times: “They lifted her on to a truck with a forklift and moved her to the burial area, where we did a complete necropsy.”
In 2006, another veterinarian commented to the University of Maryland student newspaper The Diamondback on the incineration of an elephant euthanized at Washingtion, DC’s National Zoo: “They bring it in and we cremate it. We are going to hoist it on a crane and drop it in a pit.”
September 28 was a Monday, and Buki died at 5:40am. That night, a pair of local veterinarians, one veterinary technician, and two members of Cornell University’s pathology department conducted her postmortem in the zoo’s Elephant House.
They followed the American Zoo and Aquarium Association Elephant Species Survivial Plan Elephant Necropsy Protocol, whose equipment checklist calls for items including “a continual supply of sharp knives,” a tape measure at least 2 meters long, hammers, chisels, handsaws, a hoist or crane or small tractor, and a chain saw, axe, or reciprocating saw to cut through the cranium.
Staff shielded Buki’s carcass from the view of two younger elephants, Jothi and Surapa from India, who had lived with the elder pachyderm since 1987, not long after Buki had arrived in Buffalo to retire following a quarter-century circus career. The pair, their keepers by their side, remained calm during the procedure.
With the necropsy complete, the zoo moved Buki to a storage site on the grounds. Officials had arranged to donate her carcass to East Tennessee State University. But, according to the zoo, when the school could not provide staff and a vehicle to pick up the body in a timely manner, the decision was made to bury her remains.
Ultimately, Buki was transported by truck to a burial site on private property. A forklift was used to lift her body.
Before her passing, Buki had fallen ill, losing her appetite. The postmortem will help ascertain why she died. The necropsy team discovered a large tumor in her abdomen along with several smaller ones elsewhere. Pathology tests will show whether the lumps were cancerous.
Besides helping to pinpoint a particular animal’s cause of death, elephant necropsies provide valuable information to scientists studying the creatures in broader context. Dalen Agnew, a comparative pathologist at Michigan State University who has helped perform more than a dozen of the procedures, says information gleaned from an elephant postmortem can provide insight into everything from physiology—the size and placement of organs in the body, where certain nerves run—to infectious diseases in elephants and elephant behavior.
According to Agnew, one researcher used necropsy data to argue that the pachyderms store water in a pharyngeal pouch in the throat, a finding that clarified the mystery of how elephants stay hydrated during long journeys across dry lands. In the wild, the mammals had often been seen reaching into their oral cavities with their trunks to extract water to pour on themselves, and observers had long wondered where that liquid originated.
In Buki’s case, the Buffalo Zoo supplied tissue and skeletal samples to local science institutions as well as researchers in and outside the region.
“Nobody is happy that a zoo animal dies…[But] it’s important we take advantage of that opportunity, even if it’s a tragic opportunity, to make the best of it,” Agnew said. “Those animals, their role in a zoo is as an ambassador of the wild and as an advocate for saving the wild. And even as a dead animal, they continue to serve their own species, their own habitat, their own world, by providing this knowledge that we can gain from necropsies.”
—charlotte hsu
http://artvoice.com/issues/v8n42/news_briefs/the_8500_pound_question
ELEPHANTS RELOCATED TO ZOO IMPROVING
By City News Service
The two elephants brought to the San Diego Zoo from a private collection in Texas have both gained about 300 pounds and are building trust with their handlers, zoo officials said Wednesday.
Jewel and Tina, who are believed to be in their mid-40s, were removed from their owner by the U.S. Department of Food and Agriculture and brought to San Diego in August.
Jewel now weighs 6,714 pounds and Tina tops the scale at 7,664 pounds.
The zoo's Dani Dodge Medlin said there really is no average weight for an elephant, but their handlers would like Tina and especially Jewel to gain a few more pounds.
They've been feasting on carrots, sweet potatoes, apples, alfalfa and beet pulp.
In recent examinations, the elephants willingly raised their legs to allow their feet to be cleaned and placed on a platform used for x-rays, a sign of increasing trust with their handlers.
"When they first arrived, Tina wouldn't let us near her rear end," said Victoria Zahn, a senior keeper. "Now she presents her back feet perfectly so we can scrub and care for them - this is all part of the trusting relationship we are building with them."
Both animals remain in quarantine, and won't be brought out for public viewing in the Elephant Odyssey exhibit until they clear all their health checks.
http://www.lajollalight.com/news/261692-elephants-relocated-to-zoo-improving
ELECTROCUTED JUMBO DIES IN ASSAM TEA GARDEN
GUWAHATI: An elephant was electrocuted near a tea garden in the Kathiatoli area of Nagaon district, about 140 km from here, on Saturday.
The carcass of the pachyderm was found near Kandoli tea estate. Forest officials said it was an accident and not a case of retaliatory killing. "The elephant died after its trunk touched a livewire near the tea estate. It was not killed by human beings," Nagaon divisional forest officer A Ahmed said. "There has been an increase in the movement of elephants between Karbi Anglong and Nagaon since the past few days. But there has been no untoward incident," he added.
The Burapahar forest range of Kaziranga National Park is in Nagaon district. On the south, it is bordered by the hilly and forested Karbi Anglong district. The man-elephant conflict has been on the rise in Nagaon. But the situation has not yet become as alarming as it is in Sonitpur, Golaghat and Udalguri. In Nagaon, most of the cases of man-animal conflict are reported from the Chapanala and Salna areas.
Shimanta Goswami, president of local NGO Green Guard said, "Elephants from Karbi Anglong come down to Chapanala, Salna and its adjoining areas almost everyday. Though there has been no man-elephant conflict in the recent past, herds of wild jumbos have damaged many houses and crops." He added, "Elephants are increasingly straying into human settlements as they don't find enough food in the forests after scanty rainfall. Though jumbos from Karbi Anglong often come down to Nagaon, the cases of man-elephant conflict has been lesser this time."
Statistics reveal Sonitpur recorded the highest human casualties with eight deaths till May 24 this year, while Dhubri comes second with five, followed by Udalguri (3). Two persons had been killed by wild elephants in the Chirang wildlife division in the same period. On the other hand, the Sivasagar Wildlife Division, Jorhat Wildlife Division, North Lakhimpur Wildlife Division, Dhemaji Wildlife Division and Goalpara Wildlife Division had recorded one human death each till May 24 this year.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Electrocuted-jumbo-dies-in-Assam-tea-garden/articleshow/5110652.cms
ELEPHANT FOUND DEAD IN CHAMARAJANAGAR
CHAMARAJNAGAR: A 25-year-old female elephant was found dead at a farm owned by Rangya Nayaka of Kotkere village under Omkar forest range in Gundlupet taluk.
Sources said that the animal had died in 'mysterious circumstances'.
A post-mortem was conducted.
Meanwhile, villagers in the area staged a protest against the increased movement of wildlife and subsequent crop loss in villages near the forest.
They alleged that forest officials— who refuse to assess reports of crop loss— turn up only to look into the death of wild animals; and harass innocent villagers by accusing them of killing animals.
The protestors further alleged that the department had not compensated the farmers who had lost their crop due to the growing menace created by the elephants.
The villagers called off their stir after intervention of Circle Inspector Deepak, Bandipur District Forest Officer Hanumanthappa , Forest Officer B K Singh and others.
3 held for poaching
Chamrajnagar ACF Ashwathnarayan Gowda arrested three people from Mandya district and seized skin of otters.
The accused are Suheel Pasha , Shikander and Mujaheed -- all residents of Mandya.
The accused had allegedly killed the otters and were transporting the skin to Malvali through Santhemrahhali.
The accused were produced before a court and sent to judicial custody.
http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Elephant+found+dead+in+Chamarajanagar&artid=SBr6fFdJcbE=&SectionID=7GUA38txp3s=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=
&SectionName=zkvyRoWGpmWSxZV2TGM5XQ==&SEO
ELEPHANTS GO ON RAMPAGE IN WEST BENGAL TEA ESTATE
From ANI
Jalpaiguri: A herd of elephants from the jungles of Baikunthapur strayed into a tea estate in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district and destroyed shrubs at the tea gardens.
The herd entered the Dumdim Tea Estate located in Dooars region from the nearby forest during the night.
On losing their way in the gardens, the elephants could not move out before dawn.ith the break of dawn, the workers came out and found the animals stranded in the middle of the garden area.
Gradually as the news spread, a huge crowd gathered among whom many were armed with stones chips and other handy things to drive away the herd so as to avoid any further destruction.
"These elephants come regularly and disturb us a lot," said Ratan Karki, a worker.
When their endeavours failed to give any positive results, residents had to summon the forest officials from the Targhera Range of the Baikunthapur Wildlife-II Sanctuary.
The forest officials came in and tried to drive away the animals from the tea garden to the forest habitat.
The officials fired blank shots to frighten the pachyderms but their efforts too went in vain.
"We have come here to drive these animals back to the forests, but residents are not supporting us.
There is a problem of law and order and so we have informed the police," said Dulal Chandra Das, Targhera Range Forest Officer, Baikunthapur Wildlife-II Sanctuary.
Later, the herd on its own moved towards the forest region, bringing much relief to the forest rangers and the residents as well.
Experts have repeatedly opined that massive deforestation, poaching and people encroaching upon forest corridors have forced the elephants to move out of their natural habitats in search of food and water.
India has over 50 per cent of Asiatic elephants, considered to be among the most intelligent animals but its population has dwindled over the recent years.
Copyright Asian News International/DailyIndia.com
http://www.dailyindia.com/show/338699.php
ALARMING FALL IN ELEPHANT NUMBERS
SIVASISH THAKUR
GUWAHATI – The elephant population in the North-east – among the last bastions of the Asian elephant – has recorded an alarming decrease since the past one-and-a-half decade. As per official data, Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal which make up the bulk of the elephant population in the North-east, have now (2008 census) a combined population of 8,782 as against 10,498 in 1993; 8,952 in 1997 and 8,721 in 2002. Compared to 2002 figures, there has been a marginal increase in the number in Assam (35) and Arunachal (83) but the situation is worse in Meghalaya which now has 1,811 elephants as against 1,868 in 2002, 1,840 in 1997 and 2,872 in 1993. Even the present populations in Assam and Arunachal are much less than what they were in 1993.?
The break-up for Assam during the last four censuses is 5,524 (1993), 5,312 (1997), 5,246 (2002) and 5,281 (2008), while the Arunachal counting reads as 2,102 (1993), 1,800 (1997), 1,607 (2002) and 1,690 (2008).
Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura have little to cheer about, with the pachyderms fast losing out on the number game. From 50 elephants in 1993, Manipur does not have a single left; Mizoram has a dozen left from the 33 it had in 2002; Nagaland has 152 from 178 in 1993; and Tripura’s share is 59 from a sizeable 100 in 1993. It, however, has witnessed a marginal increase from 40 in 2002.
Experts attribute this decline in elephant population to rapid depletion of elephant habitat and encroachment on elephant corridors, resulting in a serious man-elephant conflict besides a spurt in accidental deaths as the animals have increasingly been forced to stray into human settlements.
Assam has been the worst hit by the escalating man-elephant conflict, with mounting fatalities on either side.
“The North Bank of the Brahmaputra comprising a sprawling 40,000 sq km in Assam and Arunachal including 14,000 sq km notified forest – once a pristine elephant habitat – has been at the centre of the intensifying conflict, thanks to the alarming loss in forest cover, especially along the border on the Assam side,” Anupam Sarmah, coordinator of North Bank Landscape Programme, WWF-India, said.
According to Sarmah, the situation has been aggravated by the unabated encroachment on elephant corridors in the form of human settlements, industrial activities, plantations, etc.
“For instance, a major elephant corridor at Tipi near Bhalukpong is non-existent now following setting up of industries and emerging settlements,” he said.
Vast tracts of reserve forests on the North Bank that provided a contiguous belt necessary for migrating elephants have completely been wiped out. Reserve forests of Naduar, Biswanath, etc., have suffered hundred per cent destruction, while Chariduar, Balipara and even the Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary have witnessed as much as 50 per cent damage. “Degradation and fragmentation of habitat is at the root of the problem, and the twin issue needs to be addressed at the earliest, ” Sarmah said. ?
Acknowledging the problem, Suresh Chand, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Assam, said that both short-term and long-term measures were being initiated to mitigate the man-elephant conflict. “While short-term measures are essential as an immediate step, we are also working on long-term measures such as restoration of elephant corridor and habitat,” he said.
Chand said that reclaiming elephant corridors was tough, as not all such corridors fell in forest areas. “Some corridors fall on private land and plantation and therefore difficult to restore. But still we have a plan to acquire the land in such corridors and facilitate unhindered movement of the elephants. We are also doing plantation in the Elephant Reserves,” he added.
http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=oct1109/at03
GUWAHATI: An elephant was electrocuted near a tea garden in the Kathiatoli area of Nagaon district, about 140 km from here, on Saturday.
The carcass of the pachyderm was found near Kandoli tea estate. Forest officials said it was an accident and not a case of retaliatory killing. "The elephant died after its trunk touched a livewire near the tea estate. It was not killed by human beings," Nagaon divisional forest officer A Ahmed said. "There has been an increase in the movement of elephants between Karbi Anglong and Nagaon since the past few days. But there has been no untoward incident," he added.
The Burapahar forest range of Kaziranga National Park is in Nagaon district. On the south, it is bordered by the hilly and forested Karbi Anglong district. The man-elephant conflict has been on the rise in Nagaon. But the situation has not yet become as alarming as it is in Sonitpur, Golaghat and Udalguri. In Nagaon, most of the cases of man-animal conflict are reported from the Chapanala and Salna areas.
Shimanta Goswami, president of local NGO Green Guard said, "Elephants from Karbi Anglong come down to Chapanala, Salna and its adjoining areas almost everyday. Though there has been no man-elephant conflict in the recent past, herds of wild jumbos have damaged many houses and crops." He added, "Elephants are increasingly straying into human settlements as they don't find enough food in the forests after scanty rainfall. Though jumbos from Karbi Anglong often come down to Nagaon, the cases of man-elephant conflict has been lesser this time."
Statistics reveal Sonitpur recorded the highest human casualties with eight deaths till May 24 this year, while Dhubri comes second with five, followed by Udalguri (3). Two persons had been killed by wild elephants in the Chirang wildlife division in the same period. On the other hand, the Sivasagar Wildlife Division, Jorhat Wildlife Division, North Lakhimpur Wildlife Division, Dhemaji Wildlife Division and Goalpara Wildlife Division had recorded one human death each till May 24 this year.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Electrocuted-jumbo-dies-in-Assam-tea-garden/articleshow/5110652.cms
ELEPHANT FOUND DEAD IN CHAMARAJANAGAR
CHAMARAJNAGAR: A 25-year-old female elephant was found dead at a farm owned by Rangya Nayaka of Kotkere village under Omkar forest range in Gundlupet taluk.
Sources said that the animal had died in 'mysterious circumstances'.
A post-mortem was conducted.
Meanwhile, villagers in the area staged a protest against the increased movement of wildlife and subsequent crop loss in villages near the forest.
They alleged that forest officials— who refuse to assess reports of crop loss— turn up only to look into the death of wild animals; and harass innocent villagers by accusing them of killing animals.
The protestors further alleged that the department had not compensated the farmers who had lost their crop due to the growing menace created by the elephants.
The villagers called off their stir after intervention of Circle Inspector Deepak, Bandipur District Forest Officer Hanumanthappa , Forest Officer B K Singh and others.
3 held for poaching
Chamrajnagar ACF Ashwathnarayan Gowda arrested three people from Mandya district and seized skin of otters.
The accused are Suheel Pasha , Shikander and Mujaheed -- all residents of Mandya.
The accused had allegedly killed the otters and were transporting the skin to Malvali through Santhemrahhali.
The accused were produced before a court and sent to judicial custody.
http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Elephant+found+dead+in+Chamarajanagar&artid=SBr6fFdJcbE=&SectionID=7GUA38txp3s=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=
&SectionName=zkvyRoWGpmWSxZV2TGM5XQ==&SEO
ELEPHANTS GO ON RAMPAGE IN WEST BENGAL TEA ESTATE
From ANI
Jalpaiguri: A herd of elephants from the jungles of Baikunthapur strayed into a tea estate in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district and destroyed shrubs at the tea gardens.
The herd entered the Dumdim Tea Estate located in Dooars region from the nearby forest during the night.
On losing their way in the gardens, the elephants could not move out before dawn.ith the break of dawn, the workers came out and found the animals stranded in the middle of the garden area.
Gradually as the news spread, a huge crowd gathered among whom many were armed with stones chips and other handy things to drive away the herd so as to avoid any further destruction.
"These elephants come regularly and disturb us a lot," said Ratan Karki, a worker.
When their endeavours failed to give any positive results, residents had to summon the forest officials from the Targhera Range of the Baikunthapur Wildlife-II Sanctuary.
The forest officials came in and tried to drive away the animals from the tea garden to the forest habitat.
The officials fired blank shots to frighten the pachyderms but their efforts too went in vain.
"We have come here to drive these animals back to the forests, but residents are not supporting us.
There is a problem of law and order and so we have informed the police," said Dulal Chandra Das, Targhera Range Forest Officer, Baikunthapur Wildlife-II Sanctuary.
Later, the herd on its own moved towards the forest region, bringing much relief to the forest rangers and the residents as well.
Experts have repeatedly opined that massive deforestation, poaching and people encroaching upon forest corridors have forced the elephants to move out of their natural habitats in search of food and water.
India has over 50 per cent of Asiatic elephants, considered to be among the most intelligent animals but its population has dwindled over the recent years.
Copyright Asian News International/DailyIndia.com
http://www.dailyindia.com/show/338699.php
ALARMING FALL IN ELEPHANT NUMBERS
SIVASISH THAKUR
GUWAHATI – The elephant population in the North-east – among the last bastions of the Asian elephant – has recorded an alarming decrease since the past one-and-a-half decade. As per official data, Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal which make up the bulk of the elephant population in the North-east, have now (2008 census) a combined population of 8,782 as against 10,498 in 1993; 8,952 in 1997 and 8,721 in 2002. Compared to 2002 figures, there has been a marginal increase in the number in Assam (35) and Arunachal (83) but the situation is worse in Meghalaya which now has 1,811 elephants as against 1,868 in 2002, 1,840 in 1997 and 2,872 in 1993. Even the present populations in Assam and Arunachal are much less than what they were in 1993.?
The break-up for Assam during the last four censuses is 5,524 (1993), 5,312 (1997), 5,246 (2002) and 5,281 (2008), while the Arunachal counting reads as 2,102 (1993), 1,800 (1997), 1,607 (2002) and 1,690 (2008).
Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura have little to cheer about, with the pachyderms fast losing out on the number game. From 50 elephants in 1993, Manipur does not have a single left; Mizoram has a dozen left from the 33 it had in 2002; Nagaland has 152 from 178 in 1993; and Tripura’s share is 59 from a sizeable 100 in 1993. It, however, has witnessed a marginal increase from 40 in 2002.
Experts attribute this decline in elephant population to rapid depletion of elephant habitat and encroachment on elephant corridors, resulting in a serious man-elephant conflict besides a spurt in accidental deaths as the animals have increasingly been forced to stray into human settlements.
Assam has been the worst hit by the escalating man-elephant conflict, with mounting fatalities on either side.
“The North Bank of the Brahmaputra comprising a sprawling 40,000 sq km in Assam and Arunachal including 14,000 sq km notified forest – once a pristine elephant habitat – has been at the centre of the intensifying conflict, thanks to the alarming loss in forest cover, especially along the border on the Assam side,” Anupam Sarmah, coordinator of North Bank Landscape Programme, WWF-India, said.
According to Sarmah, the situation has been aggravated by the unabated encroachment on elephant corridors in the form of human settlements, industrial activities, plantations, etc.
“For instance, a major elephant corridor at Tipi near Bhalukpong is non-existent now following setting up of industries and emerging settlements,” he said.
Vast tracts of reserve forests on the North Bank that provided a contiguous belt necessary for migrating elephants have completely been wiped out. Reserve forests of Naduar, Biswanath, etc., have suffered hundred per cent destruction, while Chariduar, Balipara and even the Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary have witnessed as much as 50 per cent damage. “Degradation and fragmentation of habitat is at the root of the problem, and the twin issue needs to be addressed at the earliest, ” Sarmah said. ?
Acknowledging the problem, Suresh Chand, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Assam, said that both short-term and long-term measures were being initiated to mitigate the man-elephant conflict. “While short-term measures are essential as an immediate step, we are also working on long-term measures such as restoration of elephant corridor and habitat,” he said.
Chand said that reclaiming elephant corridors was tough, as not all such corridors fell in forest areas. “Some corridors fall on private land and plantation and therefore difficult to restore. But still we have a plan to acquire the land in such corridors and facilitate unhindered movement of the elephants. We are also doing plantation in the Elephant Reserves,” he added.
http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=oct1109/at03
BABY ELEPHANT DIES AT TATA ZOO
JAYESH THAKER
Jamshedpur: When everyone at Tata zoo had lost hope of his survival, Raja had pulled through. But when they thought the worst was over, he bade adieu.
The injured elephant calf, rescued from Rajabasa forest in Ghatshila and recuperating at Tata Steel Zoological Park in Jamshedpur, breathed his last around 1.30am last night at the park’s clinic. It was buried on the zoo premises this morning.
According to the post-mortem report, the three-week-old calf fondly named Raja by the zoo staff, succumbed to internal chest and intestine injuries.
Veterinary doctor of the zoo, M. Palit, who conducted the autopsy in the presence of forest officials, told The Telegraph that Raja was also suffering from a fresh bout of diarrhoea. However, zoo director Bipul Chakravarty said that it appeared that more than injuries, psychological trauma played a crucial role in the baby elephant’s death.
“We think Raja died because of mental trauma than physical injuries. Elephants are very sensitive and cannot stay without their mothers for long. Raja got estranged from his family and could not cope with the pain. We tried our best to save it but failed,” Chakravarty added.
He further said that the calf must have suffered from complications after its birth. “This could have led its family to abandon it as normally calves are not left to fend for themselves. Separation proved dear for Raja as he sustained injuries after accidentally falling off a hill in the forest. He was very weak when brought to us. But then he started recovering,” Chakravarty said. “However, he had reduced food intake in the past couple of days. He was on saline drip,” he added.
Zoo employees said the animal was okay till last evening. “He strolled inside the small clinic but suddenly fell ill and never looked up again. He lay on the hay and began slapping his trunk before trumpeting for one last time,” a zoo worker said.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1091010/jsp/jharkhand/story_11596992.jsp#
RESCUED ELEPHANT CALF SUCCUMBS TO INJURY
STAFF WRITER
Jamshedpur A three-week-old injured elephant calf, rescued from Dhalbhum forest range in East Singhbhum district last month, has died at the Tata Zoological Park here.
The calf, which was undergoing treatment at the Tata park, was recovering fast but had become weak as it was not taking adequate food, A T Mishra, divisional forest officer, Dalbhum, said today.
The calf, weighing about 90 kg, was taking only three to four litres of milk and probably died of dehydration last night, he said.
The calf, which got separated from the herd had fallen accidentally from a hill near the Rajabasa forest in Ghatsila a day before it was rescued on September 26 and suffered injuries.
http://www.ptinews.com/news/322782_Rescued-elephant-calf-succumbs-to-injury
The injured elephant calf, rescued from Rajabasa forest in Ghatshila and recuperating at Tata Steel Zoological Park in Jamshedpur, breathed his last around 1.30am last night at the park’s clinic. It was buried on the zoo premises this morning.
According to the post-mortem report, the three-week-old calf fondly named Raja by the zoo staff, succumbed to internal chest and intestine injuries.
Veterinary doctor of the zoo, M. Palit, who conducted the autopsy in the presence of forest officials, told The Telegraph that Raja was also suffering from a fresh bout of diarrhoea. However, zoo director Bipul Chakravarty said that it appeared that more than injuries, psychological trauma played a crucial role in the baby elephant’s death.
“We think Raja died because of mental trauma than physical injuries. Elephants are very sensitive and cannot stay without their mothers for long. Raja got estranged from his family and could not cope with the pain. We tried our best to save it but failed,” Chakravarty added.
He further said that the calf must have suffered from complications after its birth. “This could have led its family to abandon it as normally calves are not left to fend for themselves. Separation proved dear for Raja as he sustained injuries after accidentally falling off a hill in the forest. He was very weak when brought to us. But then he started recovering,” Chakravarty said. “However, he had reduced food intake in the past couple of days. He was on saline drip,” he added.
Zoo employees said the animal was okay till last evening. “He strolled inside the small clinic but suddenly fell ill and never looked up again. He lay on the hay and began slapping his trunk before trumpeting for one last time,” a zoo worker said.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1091010/jsp/jharkhand/story_11596992.jsp#
RESCUED ELEPHANT CALF SUCCUMBS TO INJURY
STAFF WRITER
Jamshedpur A three-week-old injured elephant calf, rescued from Dhalbhum forest range in East Singhbhum district last month, has died at the Tata Zoological Park here.
The calf, which was undergoing treatment at the Tata park, was recovering fast but had become weak as it was not taking adequate food, A T Mishra, divisional forest officer, Dalbhum, said today.
The calf, weighing about 90 kg, was taking only three to four litres of milk and probably died of dehydration last night, he said.
The calf, which got separated from the herd had fallen accidentally from a hill near the Rajabasa forest in Ghatsila a day before it was rescued on September 26 and suffered injuries.
http://www.ptinews.com/news/322782_Rescued-elephant-calf-succumbs-to-injury
ROGUE ELEPHANT CAPTURED
By Mohammad Ishak
JERTIH: A rogue elephant that has been causing havoc in Pelagat for almost a week was finally captured by wildlife authorities on Wednesday.
The 12-year-old wild elephant walked into a trap set up three days ago by the State Wildlife department with the help of locals.
For almost seven days before that, the elephant had caused havoc in three villages — Pelagat, Paroh and Padang Tapung — by destroying their crops.
The rampage took place especially at nights, causing widespread fear among villagers for their safety.
After successfully trapping it, the elephant was calmed down by two tamed elephants — “Che Mek“ and “ Lokimala” — from the Kuala Gandah sanctuary in Lanchang, Pahang, before it was transported to the department’s elephant sanctuary in Kampung Sungai Ketiar in Hulu Terengganu the next day.
The operation involved 21 members from Terengganu and Pahang wildlife departments, said Besut Perhilitan chief Edley A Jailium.
The Pelagat area is notorious for rampages by wild elephant, Many of them come from the Terengganu-Kelantan border.
Villagers are constantly living in fear, and there have been reports of elephant herds, some as many as 10-12, roaming the plains where their crops are cultivated.
However, there have been no attacks on the villagers so far.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/20091009182703/Article/index_html
The 12-year-old wild elephant walked into a trap set up three days ago by the State Wildlife department with the help of locals.
For almost seven days before that, the elephant had caused havoc in three villages — Pelagat, Paroh and Padang Tapung — by destroying their crops.
The rampage took place especially at nights, causing widespread fear among villagers for their safety.
After successfully trapping it, the elephant was calmed down by two tamed elephants — “Che Mek“ and “ Lokimala” — from the Kuala Gandah sanctuary in Lanchang, Pahang, before it was transported to the department’s elephant sanctuary in Kampung Sungai Ketiar in Hulu Terengganu the next day.
The operation involved 21 members from Terengganu and Pahang wildlife departments, said Besut Perhilitan chief Edley A Jailium.
The Pelagat area is notorious for rampages by wild elephant, Many of them come from the Terengganu-Kelantan border.
Villagers are constantly living in fear, and there have been reports of elephant herds, some as many as 10-12, roaming the plains where their crops are cultivated.
However, there have been no attacks on the villagers so far.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/20091009182703/Article/index_html
ON THE BACKS OF ELEPHANTS, TRAINER RODE TO HIS NICHE
By Andrew Meacham, Times Staff Writer
RUSKIN — The crowd hunkered in the dark as smells of cotton candy and peanuts filled the air.
"And now, please welcome …" the ringmaster intoned over a drumroll before the payoff: "Ben Williams and Anna May!"
The curtain opened, and in trotted an elephant carrying a blond man in a loincloth.
"The crowd would scream," recalled Michael Christensen, a co-founder of Big Apple Circus, where Mr. Williams and his elephants performed.
Mr. Williams was a star, and the act never failed. He was so attached to Anna May, an Indian elephant several years his senior, he nearly went to prison for her in 1982 after the animal killed a woman.
Mr. Williams, who combined his training ability with acrobatic skill for Ringling and Big Apple circuses, died Friday at Tampa General Hospital of gastrointestinal cancer. He was 56.
His mother and stepfather, Barbara and William "Buckles" Woodcock, were well-known circus performers. "The Woodcock family is to the world of circuses what the Fonda family is to acting," Christensen said.
Young Ben, who grew up in Ruskin, took his first elephant ride at age 4 months. He played with the large animals as a toddler, jumping from one leathery back to another.
"They raised him," said Barbara Woodcock, 75, a former aerialist. "He knew their moves, and they knew his moves." He bathed them, trimmed their toenails, talked to them.
Mr. Williams' father, Rex, was also a circus performer. When Ben was 5, his mother married Buckles Woodcock, whose family had been training elephants since 1853.
Mr. Williams was president of the National Honor Society at East Bay High School and passed up multiple academic scholarship offers, his mother said.
"It broke my heart," she said. "He said, 'Mom, I know what I want to do, and I can't waste the time.' "
Buckles, Barbara, Ben and his siblings, Dalilah and Shannon, all performed together with Marlowe's Mighty Hippodrome Circus, started by Barbara's parents. But Ben quickly emerged as a crowd favorite.
"He entered on the back of a very large elephant in a Tarzan costume," said Bill Powell, a longtime friend whose family also trained elephants. "He was physically imposing, he had a long mane of hair. He did this incredible act with this wonderful elephant that was literally a family member. It was an act people remembered and talked about."
The family worked with the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey circus in the 1970s, and with the Big Apple Circus in New York in the 1980s and 1990s.
Before audiences ranging from Madison Square Garden to the Ed Sullivan Show and the Hollywood Palace, Mr. Williams coaxed Anna May — billed as the "world's smartest performing elephant" — through hoof- and headstands, playing the tambourine, carrying people in her mouth or serving as a springboard for leopards. It was a bond for the ages. But in 1982, a bizarre incident nearly dissolved the partnership with Anna May and ended Mr. Williams' career.
The body of Mary Herman, 30, a friend of Mr. Williams', was found dead of a "crushing-type injury," authorities in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., said. Authorities charged Mr. Williams and another trainer with first-degree murder.
They later found the real culprit was Anna May, who had been startled by Herman's visit to her trailer. Anna May swatted the woman with her trunk, killing her. Authorities dropped the charges, even though Mr. Williams admitted hiding the body.
"He was afraid they were going to kill the elephant," said Buckles Woodcock, 74. "He carried that with him."
Later, Mr. Williams brought his daughters, Stormy and Skye, into his act, and they proved just as fearless as he had been.
The family retired the elephants to an Arkansas farm several years ago. Anna May died in 2002; she was nearly 60.
The entertainment form she starred in may also be dying. Ringling Bros. is defending an animal-cruelty lawsuit brought by several animal-rights groups. Meanwhile, protesters stand outside circuses, making arenas skittish of bad publicity.
The Big Apple Circus stopped using them after Mr. Williams and his family left in 2000. "We knew we weren't going to get elephant training like the Woodcocks again, ever," Christensen said. "We were saddened by the end of an era."
Andrew Meacham can be reached at (727) 892-2248 or ameacham@sptimes.com.
BIOGRAPHY
Ben Harold Williams
Born: Jan. 18, 1953.
Died: Oct. 2, 2009.
Survivors: Wife, Darlene; daughters, Stormy and Skye; mother, Barbara and stepfather William "Buckles" Woodcock; sister, Dalilah; brother, Shannon. Ben is also survived by his sisters Darlene Ava Williams, Renee Williams Senn, his other daughter Jennifer Williams Doby; three grandchildren; one great-grandson.
Memorial gathering: 4 p.m. Nov. 14; Showfolks Club of Sarasota, 5204 N Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/obituaries/famous-elephant-trainer-ben-williams-dies-at-56/1042098
ELEPHANT ELECTROCUTED IN CHAMPUA
KEONJHAR: A 45-year-old tuskar was electrocuted in the Champua forest range area. The carcass was seized on Wednesday and buried after postmortem. The tusker died after it came in contact with an 11 KV power line that was hanging at a low-level.
Assistant conservator of forest (Keonjhar) Trilochan Mohanty said, "The full-grown tusker was killed when it came in contact with 11 KV line. It was supposed to be at 13 feet but was hanging at 10 ft." There were burns on the trunk, left leg and near the left tusk.
The lone tusker was moving in those area since the past few days in search of food. The local villagers gathered near the dead tusker and worshipped it. The electricity cables drawn in these areas are very old.
Hence, most of the lines hang at lower levels. There had been several instances of elephants dying of electrocution. Two were killed in Lahanda-Mutuda village in the said forest range.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/Elephant-electrocuted-in-Champua/articleshow/5103271.cms
ORISSA SEEKS PEOPLES SUPPORT IN WILDLIFE PROTECTION
STAFF WRITER
Bhubaneswar, Seeking public support in its bid to protect wildlife in Orissa, the state government today said it had been able to raise Rs 1,300 crore for protection of forest and wildlife in the state.
"The fund raised for protection of forests and wildlife has been kept in CAMPA account", Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said while addressing a function held on the occasion of 55th Wildlife week celebration here.
Patnaik, however, expressed concern over the Centre's alleged reluctance in releasing funds from CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority) account.
While handing over Biju Patnaik Award for Wildlife Conservation for the year 2008-09 to U N Dev and S N Patro, the chief minister said the state has more than 3,000 species of wildlife.
On man-elephant conflict, particularly involving elephants, he said the state government was drawing an elephant management plan.
http://www.ptinews.com/news/321636_Orissa-seeks-peoples-support-in-wildlife-protection
PETA TAKING CLAIMS OF CIRCUS ELEPHANT ABUSE TO CLEVELAND SCHOOL
By James Ewinger
CLEVELAND, Ohio — There's plenty of outrage to go around today as Cleveland school officials prepare to blunt plans to present children with images of what an animal rights group says are abused circus elephants.
Angela Buford, a district spokeswoman, said extra security will be on hand this afternoon at Marion-Sterling Elementary School to keep activists from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals away from students leaving the building on Central Avenue.
PETA plans to have someone costumed as an injured, bandaged elephant handing out informational booklets about the group's claims that Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus mistreats animals.
The circus is scheduled to be in Cleveland Oct. 21-26.
"It's particularly the younger children we're concerned about," Buford said. "It could be particularly traumatic seeing a bloody elephant and being told that's what circuses do."
PETA spokeswoman Ashley Byrne said that if the youngsters are traumatized, it's by their knowledge of what the circus does to the animals. She said the group has used the tactic off and on for several years.
Steve Payne, a circus spokesman, said Wednesday that PETA "pulled the same cheap stunt in Buffalo and Long Island. It's really unfortunate that they would stoop to accosting schoolchildren with their animal rights message."
Payne said the circus opened the Center for Elephant Conservation in Florida in 1995, and is committed to preserving the Asian elephant, which the circus has used throughout its 139-year history.
PETA maintains that circus elephant handlers routinely use barbed hooks, called bullhooks, to painfully guide the animals, sometimes causing injuries.
PETA's Byrne said undercover video shot earlier this year clearly shows handlers abusing the animals.
But Janice Aria, Ringling Bros. director of animal stewardship training, said the video was "drastically edited down to three minutes," misrepresented incidents, and included clearly enhanced sound for dramatic effect.
Aria said the elephants are not injured or abused.
Payne said the circus is subject to inspections by local, state and federal authorities as its three units crisscross the nation, and that it has never been found in violation of the Federal Animal Welfare Act.
© 2009 cleveland.com. All rights reserved.
http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/10/peta_taking_claims_of_circus_e.html
"And now, please welcome …" the ringmaster intoned over a drumroll before the payoff: "Ben Williams and Anna May!"
The curtain opened, and in trotted an elephant carrying a blond man in a loincloth.
"The crowd would scream," recalled Michael Christensen, a co-founder of Big Apple Circus, where Mr. Williams and his elephants performed.
Mr. Williams was a star, and the act never failed. He was so attached to Anna May, an Indian elephant several years his senior, he nearly went to prison for her in 1982 after the animal killed a woman.
Mr. Williams, who combined his training ability with acrobatic skill for Ringling and Big Apple circuses, died Friday at Tampa General Hospital of gastrointestinal cancer. He was 56.
His mother and stepfather, Barbara and William "Buckles" Woodcock, were well-known circus performers. "The Woodcock family is to the world of circuses what the Fonda family is to acting," Christensen said.
Young Ben, who grew up in Ruskin, took his first elephant ride at age 4 months. He played with the large animals as a toddler, jumping from one leathery back to another.
"They raised him," said Barbara Woodcock, 75, a former aerialist. "He knew their moves, and they knew his moves." He bathed them, trimmed their toenails, talked to them.
Mr. Williams' father, Rex, was also a circus performer. When Ben was 5, his mother married Buckles Woodcock, whose family had been training elephants since 1853.
Mr. Williams was president of the National Honor Society at East Bay High School and passed up multiple academic scholarship offers, his mother said.
"It broke my heart," she said. "He said, 'Mom, I know what I want to do, and I can't waste the time.' "
Buckles, Barbara, Ben and his siblings, Dalilah and Shannon, all performed together with Marlowe's Mighty Hippodrome Circus, started by Barbara's parents. But Ben quickly emerged as a crowd favorite.
"He entered on the back of a very large elephant in a Tarzan costume," said Bill Powell, a longtime friend whose family also trained elephants. "He was physically imposing, he had a long mane of hair. He did this incredible act with this wonderful elephant that was literally a family member. It was an act people remembered and talked about."
The family worked with the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey circus in the 1970s, and with the Big Apple Circus in New York in the 1980s and 1990s.
Before audiences ranging from Madison Square Garden to the Ed Sullivan Show and the Hollywood Palace, Mr. Williams coaxed Anna May — billed as the "world's smartest performing elephant" — through hoof- and headstands, playing the tambourine, carrying people in her mouth or serving as a springboard for leopards. It was a bond for the ages. But in 1982, a bizarre incident nearly dissolved the partnership with Anna May and ended Mr. Williams' career.
The body of Mary Herman, 30, a friend of Mr. Williams', was found dead of a "crushing-type injury," authorities in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., said. Authorities charged Mr. Williams and another trainer with first-degree murder.
They later found the real culprit was Anna May, who had been startled by Herman's visit to her trailer. Anna May swatted the woman with her trunk, killing her. Authorities dropped the charges, even though Mr. Williams admitted hiding the body.
"He was afraid they were going to kill the elephant," said Buckles Woodcock, 74. "He carried that with him."
Later, Mr. Williams brought his daughters, Stormy and Skye, into his act, and they proved just as fearless as he had been.
The family retired the elephants to an Arkansas farm several years ago. Anna May died in 2002; she was nearly 60.
The entertainment form she starred in may also be dying. Ringling Bros. is defending an animal-cruelty lawsuit brought by several animal-rights groups. Meanwhile, protesters stand outside circuses, making arenas skittish of bad publicity.
The Big Apple Circus stopped using them after Mr. Williams and his family left in 2000. "We knew we weren't going to get elephant training like the Woodcocks again, ever," Christensen said. "We were saddened by the end of an era."
Andrew Meacham can be reached at (727) 892-2248 or ameacham@sptimes.com.
BIOGRAPHY
Ben Harold Williams
Born: Jan. 18, 1953.
Died: Oct. 2, 2009.
Survivors: Wife, Darlene; daughters, Stormy and Skye; mother, Barbara and stepfather William "Buckles" Woodcock; sister, Dalilah; brother, Shannon. Ben is also survived by his sisters Darlene Ava Williams, Renee Williams Senn, his other daughter Jennifer Williams Doby; three grandchildren; one great-grandson.
Memorial gathering: 4 p.m. Nov. 14; Showfolks Club of Sarasota, 5204 N Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/obituaries/famous-elephant-trainer-ben-williams-dies-at-56/1042098
ELEPHANT ELECTROCUTED IN CHAMPUA
KEONJHAR: A 45-year-old tuskar was electrocuted in the Champua forest range area. The carcass was seized on Wednesday and buried after postmortem. The tusker died after it came in contact with an 11 KV power line that was hanging at a low-level.
Assistant conservator of forest (Keonjhar) Trilochan Mohanty said, "The full-grown tusker was killed when it came in contact with 11 KV line. It was supposed to be at 13 feet but was hanging at 10 ft." There were burns on the trunk, left leg and near the left tusk.
The lone tusker was moving in those area since the past few days in search of food. The local villagers gathered near the dead tusker and worshipped it. The electricity cables drawn in these areas are very old.
Hence, most of the lines hang at lower levels. There had been several instances of elephants dying of electrocution. Two were killed in Lahanda-Mutuda village in the said forest range.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/Elephant-electrocuted-in-Champua/articleshow/5103271.cms
ORISSA SEEKS PEOPLES SUPPORT IN WILDLIFE PROTECTION
STAFF WRITER
Bhubaneswar, Seeking public support in its bid to protect wildlife in Orissa, the state government today said it had been able to raise Rs 1,300 crore for protection of forest and wildlife in the state.
"The fund raised for protection of forests and wildlife has been kept in CAMPA account", Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said while addressing a function held on the occasion of 55th Wildlife week celebration here.
Patnaik, however, expressed concern over the Centre's alleged reluctance in releasing funds from CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority) account.
While handing over Biju Patnaik Award for Wildlife Conservation for the year 2008-09 to U N Dev and S N Patro, the chief minister said the state has more than 3,000 species of wildlife.
On man-elephant conflict, particularly involving elephants, he said the state government was drawing an elephant management plan.
http://www.ptinews.com/news/321636_Orissa-seeks-peoples-support-in-wildlife-protection
PETA TAKING CLAIMS OF CIRCUS ELEPHANT ABUSE TO CLEVELAND SCHOOL
By James Ewinger
CLEVELAND, Ohio — There's plenty of outrage to go around today as Cleveland school officials prepare to blunt plans to present children with images of what an animal rights group says are abused circus elephants.
Angela Buford, a district spokeswoman, said extra security will be on hand this afternoon at Marion-Sterling Elementary School to keep activists from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals away from students leaving the building on Central Avenue.
PETA plans to have someone costumed as an injured, bandaged elephant handing out informational booklets about the group's claims that Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus mistreats animals.
The circus is scheduled to be in Cleveland Oct. 21-26.
"It's particularly the younger children we're concerned about," Buford said. "It could be particularly traumatic seeing a bloody elephant and being told that's what circuses do."
PETA spokeswoman Ashley Byrne said that if the youngsters are traumatized, it's by their knowledge of what the circus does to the animals. She said the group has used the tactic off and on for several years.
Steve Payne, a circus spokesman, said Wednesday that PETA "pulled the same cheap stunt in Buffalo and Long Island. It's really unfortunate that they would stoop to accosting schoolchildren with their animal rights message."
Payne said the circus opened the Center for Elephant Conservation in Florida in 1995, and is committed to preserving the Asian elephant, which the circus has used throughout its 139-year history.
PETA maintains that circus elephant handlers routinely use barbed hooks, called bullhooks, to painfully guide the animals, sometimes causing injuries.
PETA's Byrne said undercover video shot earlier this year clearly shows handlers abusing the animals.
But Janice Aria, Ringling Bros. director of animal stewardship training, said the video was "drastically edited down to three minutes," misrepresented incidents, and included clearly enhanced sound for dramatic effect.
Aria said the elephants are not injured or abused.
Payne said the circus is subject to inspections by local, state and federal authorities as its three units crisscross the nation, and that it has never been found in violation of the Federal Animal Welfare Act.
© 2009 cleveland.com. All rights reserved.
http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/10/peta_taking_claims_of_circus_e.html
BUFFALOES INTRUDE INTO ELEPHANTS HABITAT IN WAY KAMBAS NATIONAL PARK
WIB | Environment
Labuhan Ratu, Lampung Timur (ANTARA News) - Scores of local residents` buffaloes have intruded into elephant habitat in Way Kambas National Park (TNWK), East Lampung, causing many elephants to leave the region and enter areas inhabited by humans.
"We saw scores of buffaloes roaming freely in the park. It`s a very unwelcome disturbance in the elephants` habitat," said elephant trainer in TNWK Lampung, Nazarudin, in Labuhan Ratu, East Lampung, Wednesday.
He said the TNWK had written to local government officials about the buffaloes` presence in the national park. However, so far no concrete action had been taken to address the problem.
Scores of elephants had now left the park area and entered human populated areas where they destroyed people`s crops, he said.
"We did a calculation while herding the elephants back into the park. There are only about 30-40 buffaloes, not 80," he said.
He added that the wild elephants` herding was done from morning to evening, due to the hard terrain and the long distance, which required more time to get them back into the park.
"However, at night time we are still on guard, along with people from neighboring villages," he said.
The elephants in the national park were wild ones , therefore the herding process had to be done carefully, he said.
"We`re engaged 18 `mahouts` or elephant tamers , three officers from the forestry office and forest ecosystem control agency," he said.
TNWK head Jhon Kenedie said the buffaloes that had been deliberately released into the national park were disturbing the elephants because the buffaloes were also eating the food reserved for the elephants.
"The elephants habitat is threatened if people`s buffaloes are left alone in the park," he said.
Meanwhile, the elephant population in Way Kambas National Park which covers a total area of 135,000 hectares was now only 200-250 while 26 others were at the Way Kambas Elephant Training Center (PLG). (*)
COPYRIGHT © 2009
http://www.antara.co.id/en/news/1254961972/buffaloes-intrude-into-elephants-habitat-in-way-kambas-national-park
TUSKERS KILL ONE IN GUMLA VILLAGE
GUMLA: A herd of wild elephants trampled one person to death and created havoc at Kharka village about 13 kms from here on Tuesday afternoon. Jaggu Sahu (65) was working in his paddy field when a huge tusker rushed towards him, lifted him by the trunk and repeatedly smashed him to the ground. The critically injured Sahu was rush to Gumla Sadar hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
The herd comprising 22 elephants also damaged standing paddy and other crops at Kharka village and adjoining area causing heavy loss to farmers.
The elephants moved towards Totambi at around 8 am, broke into a house and ate rice and paddy kept inside, the house, a villager said.
Gumla DFO Santosh Kumar Gupta said the herd came to Kharka from Kurumgarh forest area via Madapani in the district earlier in the day.
The herd had arrived at Kurumgarh forest from the jungles of Chhattisgarh about a month back, the DFO said. When villagers chased the elephants from Kurumgarh they wrecked havoc at Kharka and adjoining areas of Gumla, he said.
"Forest officials are trying to shoo away herd comprising two tuskers, four baby eleplants and the remaining adults," said Prajapati Sahu, a Kharka villager.
The DFO said the herd was pushed back to the nearby Nauni Pahar under Ghaghra block of the district.
Wild elephants generally arrive in the district from Chhattisgarh during winter and unleashed terror in the hinterland. A few months ago a small herd of elephants had killed a retired army man in Raidih block of the district. Their arrival here during rainy has surprised locals, sources said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-5099517,prtpage-1.cms
WOUNDED 'ELEPHANT' TO WORCESTER SCHOOLCHILDREN: CIRCUSES HURT ANIMALS
PETA Pachyderm Ellie to Hand Out Activity Books in Worcester
Worcester, Mass. -- An "elephant" with a bloody bandage wrapped around a bullhook wound on her head will greet students leaving the Elm Park Community School on Thursday. The elephant will hand out activity booklets and explain to kids and their parents that animals used by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus--which is scheduled to visit Worcester soon--are jabbed with spiked, metal bullhooks and beaten to make them perform difficult tricks that are confusing and sometimes painful to them.
When: Thursday, October 8, 2:20 p.m.
Where: Elm Park Community School, 23 N. Ashland St. (near the intersection of N. Ashland and Home streets), Worcester
"If children knew how animals suffer behind the scenes, their smiles would quickly turn to frowns," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman.
A recent PETA undercover investigation of Ringling Bros. revealed that circus employees--including an animal superintendent and a head elephant trainer--used sharp, metal-tipped bullhooks to strike elephants on the head, ears, and trunk and to yank them with steel barbs.
For more information, please visit PETA's Web site RinglingBeatsAnimals.com.
http://www.peta.org/mc/NewsItem.asp?id=13642
WIB | Environment
Labuhan Ratu, Lampung Timur (ANTARA News) - Scores of local residents` buffaloes have intruded into elephant habitat in Way Kambas National Park (TNWK), East Lampung, causing many elephants to leave the region and enter areas inhabited by humans.
"We saw scores of buffaloes roaming freely in the park. It`s a very unwelcome disturbance in the elephants` habitat," said elephant trainer in TNWK Lampung, Nazarudin, in Labuhan Ratu, East Lampung, Wednesday.
He said the TNWK had written to local government officials about the buffaloes` presence in the national park. However, so far no concrete action had been taken to address the problem.
Scores of elephants had now left the park area and entered human populated areas where they destroyed people`s crops, he said.
"We did a calculation while herding the elephants back into the park. There are only about 30-40 buffaloes, not 80," he said.
He added that the wild elephants` herding was done from morning to evening, due to the hard terrain and the long distance, which required more time to get them back into the park.
"However, at night time we are still on guard, along with people from neighboring villages," he said.
The elephants in the national park were wild ones , therefore the herding process had to be done carefully, he said.
"We`re engaged 18 `mahouts` or elephant tamers , three officers from the forestry office and forest ecosystem control agency," he said.
TNWK head Jhon Kenedie said the buffaloes that had been deliberately released into the national park were disturbing the elephants because the buffaloes were also eating the food reserved for the elephants.
"The elephants habitat is threatened if people`s buffaloes are left alone in the park," he said.
Meanwhile, the elephant population in Way Kambas National Park which covers a total area of 135,000 hectares was now only 200-250 while 26 others were at the Way Kambas Elephant Training Center (PLG). (*)
COPYRIGHT © 2009
http://www.antara.co.id/en/news/1254961972/buffaloes-intrude-into-elephants-habitat-in-way-kambas-national-park
TUSKERS KILL ONE IN GUMLA VILLAGE
GUMLA: A herd of wild elephants trampled one person to death and created havoc at Kharka village about 13 kms from here on Tuesday afternoon. Jaggu Sahu (65) was working in his paddy field when a huge tusker rushed towards him, lifted him by the trunk and repeatedly smashed him to the ground. The critically injured Sahu was rush to Gumla Sadar hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
The herd comprising 22 elephants also damaged standing paddy and other crops at Kharka village and adjoining area causing heavy loss to farmers.
The elephants moved towards Totambi at around 8 am, broke into a house and ate rice and paddy kept inside, the house, a villager said.
Gumla DFO Santosh Kumar Gupta said the herd came to Kharka from Kurumgarh forest area via Madapani in the district earlier in the day.
The herd had arrived at Kurumgarh forest from the jungles of Chhattisgarh about a month back, the DFO said. When villagers chased the elephants from Kurumgarh they wrecked havoc at Kharka and adjoining areas of Gumla, he said.
"Forest officials are trying to shoo away herd comprising two tuskers, four baby eleplants and the remaining adults," said Prajapati Sahu, a Kharka villager.
The DFO said the herd was pushed back to the nearby Nauni Pahar under Ghaghra block of the district.
Wild elephants generally arrive in the district from Chhattisgarh during winter and unleashed terror in the hinterland. A few months ago a small herd of elephants had killed a retired army man in Raidih block of the district. Their arrival here during rainy has surprised locals, sources said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-5099517,prtpage-1.cms
WOUNDED 'ELEPHANT' TO WORCESTER SCHOOLCHILDREN: CIRCUSES HURT ANIMALS
PETA Pachyderm Ellie to Hand Out Activity Books in Worcester
Worcester, Mass. -- An "elephant" with a bloody bandage wrapped around a bullhook wound on her head will greet students leaving the Elm Park Community School on Thursday. The elephant will hand out activity booklets and explain to kids and their parents that animals used by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus--which is scheduled to visit Worcester soon--are jabbed with spiked, metal bullhooks and beaten to make them perform difficult tricks that are confusing and sometimes painful to them.
When: Thursday, October 8, 2:20 p.m.
Where: Elm Park Community School, 23 N. Ashland St. (near the intersection of N. Ashland and Home streets), Worcester
"If children knew how animals suffer behind the scenes, their smiles would quickly turn to frowns," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman.
A recent PETA undercover investigation of Ringling Bros. revealed that circus employees--including an animal superintendent and a head elephant trainer--used sharp, metal-tipped bullhooks to strike elephants on the head, ears, and trunk and to yank them with steel barbs.
For more information, please visit PETA's Web site RinglingBeatsAnimals.com.
http://www.peta.org/mc/NewsItem.asp?id=13642
FLOODS, LANDSLIDES KILL THREE, ELEPHANT AS THOUSANDS FLEE
Oyos Saroso H.N. , The Jakarta Post , Bandarlampung | The Archipelago
Flooding devastated Tenggamus regency, Lampung, on Monday, leaving two children dead, while another person and elephant were buried alive in a landslide as three other victims remained missing.
The floods and landslides followed heavy rains in the last two days across the regency.
The two children, five-year-old Suci Wulandari and six-year-old Rina, both residents from Semaka district, were drowned in the overflowing Way Kerap river. Their bodies were recovered late Sunday evening.
Another victim was an unidentified 40-year-old woman who was swallowed up by the landslide at Sedayu village in Semaka district.
Her body was taken to the Kota Agung public hospital for an autopsy.
"We still searching for three remaining victims," Tanggamus Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Deny Pujianto said Monday.
Suci's mother Masnah, 33, said she had panicked when floodwaters suddenly hit along with a landslide.
"I still remember the quake disaster in West Sumatra, so although there was no quake here we panicked because the flood was accompanied by a landslide," she said.
"The landslide produced a strong sound. I dropped my daughter when I was running away for safety."
Rina was similarly drowned after being carried by her 40-year old father, Aprianto.
"We panicked because our house was flooded. I had tried to catch up with my daughter but to no avail due to surging flows of water," Aprianto said Monday.
The flood has forced thousands of residents at a number of villages in Semaka to flee to safe areas since Sunday evening.
"Some of them fled to Bandar Lampung for safety," said one refugee Siswoyo, 35.
The disaster also claimed the life of a wild elephant that used to wander around at Pardawaras village.
The animal was killed in a landslide .
Apart from Semaka, four other districts in Tenggamus - Kota Agung, Wonosobo, Pematangsawa, and Bandarnegeri Semuong - were also submerged in floodwaters.
At least four houses were swept away by the floods, while the landslide in Semaka also cut off a major road crossing the National Bukit Barisan Park and connecting Tenggamus and West Lampung regencies as well as Bengkulu province.
"There are three landslide spots along the trans-western road - respectively in the villages Pardawaras, Way Kerap and Sedayu," Tanggamus Regent Bambang Kurniawan said Monday.
He said he had coordinated with the Lampung public works office to reopen the landslide-buried road in a week.
He blamed the flooding on "illegal logging" and destruction of water catchment areas in Tenggamus.
"Meanwhile, there are many homes on riverbanks. As a result, when the flood hit they were the first to suffer."
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/10/06/floods-landslides-kill-three-elephant-thousands-flee.html
Oyos Saroso H.N. , The Jakarta Post , Bandarlampung | The Archipelago
Flooding devastated Tenggamus regency, Lampung, on Monday, leaving two children dead, while another person and elephant were buried alive in a landslide as three other victims remained missing.
The floods and landslides followed heavy rains in the last two days across the regency.
The two children, five-year-old Suci Wulandari and six-year-old Rina, both residents from Semaka district, were drowned in the overflowing Way Kerap river. Their bodies were recovered late Sunday evening.
Another victim was an unidentified 40-year-old woman who was swallowed up by the landslide at Sedayu village in Semaka district.
Her body was taken to the Kota Agung public hospital for an autopsy.
"We still searching for three remaining victims," Tanggamus Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Deny Pujianto said Monday.
Suci's mother Masnah, 33, said she had panicked when floodwaters suddenly hit along with a landslide.
"I still remember the quake disaster in West Sumatra, so although there was no quake here we panicked because the flood was accompanied by a landslide," she said.
"The landslide produced a strong sound. I dropped my daughter when I was running away for safety."
Rina was similarly drowned after being carried by her 40-year old father, Aprianto.
"We panicked because our house was flooded. I had tried to catch up with my daughter but to no avail due to surging flows of water," Aprianto said Monday.
The flood has forced thousands of residents at a number of villages in Semaka to flee to safe areas since Sunday evening.
"Some of them fled to Bandar Lampung for safety," said one refugee Siswoyo, 35.
The disaster also claimed the life of a wild elephant that used to wander around at Pardawaras village.
The animal was killed in a landslide .
Apart from Semaka, four other districts in Tenggamus - Kota Agung, Wonosobo, Pematangsawa, and Bandarnegeri Semuong - were also submerged in floodwaters.
At least four houses were swept away by the floods, while the landslide in Semaka also cut off a major road crossing the National Bukit Barisan Park and connecting Tenggamus and West Lampung regencies as well as Bengkulu province.
"There are three landslide spots along the trans-western road - respectively in the villages Pardawaras, Way Kerap and Sedayu," Tanggamus Regent Bambang Kurniawan said Monday.
He said he had coordinated with the Lampung public works office to reopen the landslide-buried road in a week.
He blamed the flooding on "illegal logging" and destruction of water catchment areas in Tenggamus.
"Meanwhile, there are many homes on riverbanks. As a result, when the flood hit they were the first to suffer."
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/10/06/floods-landslides-kill-three-elephant-thousands-flee.html
ANIMAL NEWS (I): BUDAPEST ZOO TO HOST EROTIC ENDANGERED ELEPHANT ENCOUNTERS
Given the Budapest Zoo’s historical success rate with getting endangered animals to make little endangered animals, the zoo will receive two Asian Elephants in the hopes that they will find each other attractive and increase the number of their species. Zoltán Hanga, spokesman for the zoo said that they were the only ones who received permission by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria to receive a female asian elephant in 2010. Hanga added that many elephants have been born at the zoo, and he hopes that the new elephants will produce a baby elephant in the near future. And if they don't, there's always the turkey baster method.
http://www.pestiside.hu/20091006/animal-news-i-budapest-zoo-to-host-erotic-endangered-elephant-encounters/#
http://www.pestiside.hu/20091006/animal-news-i-budapest-zoo-to-host-erotic-endangered-elephant-encounters/#
WANTED: JUMBO FAMILY OF ABANDONED CALF
- Forest department may ask Tata zoo to adopt baby elephant if herd rejects it again
KUMUD JENAMANI
Jamshedpur: If the state forest department has its way and the injured baby elephant rescued from a Ghatshila village a bit of luck, the latter will soon be reunited with its family.
The department has put its officials posted at Rajabasa and Bhurudih jungles in Ghatshila on alert to locate the estranged family members of the calf, which is recovering at Tata Steel Zoological Park in Jamshedpur. Once the herd is spotted, efforts will be made to send the baby elephant back to it.
The calf was found injured from Rajabasa forest last Monday. It got separated from its herd and was rescued by local villagers.
A.T. Mishra, the divisional forest officer (DFO) of Dhalbhum, said though it was an uphill task to locate the herd and then make it accept the abandoned calf, they would try their best to put the animal where it belonged.
“We have asked our officials to remain on alert and find out whether the herd is searching for the calf at Rajabasa jungle, where the latter was found. A similar operation is on in nearby Bhurudih jungle,” said Mishra.
He added that after the herd was located, they would monitor the movements of the elephants until they felt it was the right time to release the calf so that it could reunite with its family.
Explaining the planned procedure, Mishra said: “As the calf has spent considerable time among humans, it will smell different to its herd members and may not be accepted by them. So, we will smear the animal with elephant dung to get rid of the human smell and then release it at the spot where the herd will be found.”
There is Plan B, too, if the calf is not welcomed back by its family. “We will recommend the calf to be kept either at Tata Steel Zoological Park or at Ranchi zoo,” the DFO said.
On the calf’s health, Mishra said that it was getting back to normal life and was quite active.
“The baby elephant no longer has fever or stomach problems. It is having milk and water and is even responding to the calls of zoo staff looking after it. It is moving all around the zoo treatment centre and has in fact, broken several flower pots,” Mishra said.
Manik Palit, the veterinary doctor who is treating the calf at the zoo, said the signs of its recovery were encouraging. He, however, added that though the animal was responding well to medicines, it might take about a month for it to cure completely.
“The wounds of the calf are healing and it is getting accustomed to the surroundings, which is a very good symptom,” Palit added.
He said that they were following the directives of the Wildlife Trust of India while treating the calf and the response has been satisfactory.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1091005/jsp/jharkhand/story_11575605.jsp#
The department has put its officials posted at Rajabasa and Bhurudih jungles in Ghatshila on alert to locate the estranged family members of the calf, which is recovering at Tata Steel Zoological Park in Jamshedpur. Once the herd is spotted, efforts will be made to send the baby elephant back to it.
The calf was found injured from Rajabasa forest last Monday. It got separated from its herd and was rescued by local villagers.
A.T. Mishra, the divisional forest officer (DFO) of Dhalbhum, said though it was an uphill task to locate the herd and then make it accept the abandoned calf, they would try their best to put the animal where it belonged.
“We have asked our officials to remain on alert and find out whether the herd is searching for the calf at Rajabasa jungle, where the latter was found. A similar operation is on in nearby Bhurudih jungle,” said Mishra.
He added that after the herd was located, they would monitor the movements of the elephants until they felt it was the right time to release the calf so that it could reunite with its family.
Explaining the planned procedure, Mishra said: “As the calf has spent considerable time among humans, it will smell different to its herd members and may not be accepted by them. So, we will smear the animal with elephant dung to get rid of the human smell and then release it at the spot where the herd will be found.”
There is Plan B, too, if the calf is not welcomed back by its family. “We will recommend the calf to be kept either at Tata Steel Zoological Park or at Ranchi zoo,” the DFO said.
On the calf’s health, Mishra said that it was getting back to normal life and was quite active.
“The baby elephant no longer has fever or stomach problems. It is having milk and water and is even responding to the calls of zoo staff looking after it. It is moving all around the zoo treatment centre and has in fact, broken several flower pots,” Mishra said.
Manik Palit, the veterinary doctor who is treating the calf at the zoo, said the signs of its recovery were encouraging. He, however, added that though the animal was responding well to medicines, it might take about a month for it to cure completely.
“The wounds of the calf are healing and it is getting accustomed to the surroundings, which is a very good symptom,” Palit added.
He said that they were following the directives of the Wildlife Trust of India while treating the calf and the response has been satisfactory.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1091005/jsp/jharkhand/story_11575605.jsp#
MAN-ELEPHANT CONFLICT INTENSIFIES ALONG BHUTAN BORDER
STAFF Reporter
GUWAHATI – Areas bordering Bhutan in Udalguri district now resemble a battle zone amidst an escalating man-elephant conflict, with disturbing consequences for both. A spurt in the conflict has claimed the lives of six elephants this year, with the past one month alone witnessing the death of three elephants. Equally damaging has been the fatality on the human side, with about eight persons trampled by elephants in the past one year.
In what has assumed the form of a vicious cycle, marauding herds of elephants looking for food inflict heavy damage on crops, with the villagers – whose sustenance is agriculture – indulging in retaliatory killing, mainly through poisoning and electrocution.
At the root of the problem, however, lies the growing depletion of elephant habitat, and corridors that had once ensured contiguity of forest belts necessary for uninterrupted migration of the pachyderms.
Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Dhansiri Division, Bankim Sarma told The Assam Tribune that notwithstanding some short-term measures such as use of fire crackers and trained kunkis (domesticated elephants) to ward off raiding wild herds, the problem stood to worsen unless lost forest covers and elephant corridors were restored.
“This is an extremely serious situation, and we are trying our best to normalise it to the extent possible. We have pressed into service some kunkis along with other short-term measures. We are also having regular meetings with villagers to enhance their awareness so that they do not confront the elephants aggressively whenever they see them,” Sarma said, adding that NGOs were also lending a helping hand and several villages made a pledge that there would be no elephant deaths in their areas.
Constraints of infrastructure and manpower, coupled with the difficult terrain, have also impeded smooth movement of the forest staff to tackle the invading herds. “We need to be present at the site when elephants come down to cropland but the rugged terrain and lack of vehicles invariably slow down our efforts,” Sarma said, adding that late release of funds had also been a constraint affecting payment of ex-gratia for elephant-induced death or damage besides hampering routine activities of the forest staff.
Another peculiar habit with the elephants not seen in earlier years – something which has added to the woes of the forest staff – is that the original big herd scatters into a number of smaller groups while descending on cropland.
“Earlier, one big herd used to roam together, which made it easier to monitor and keep track of their movements. But now we have to be on the alert for several smaller herds, which is difficult,” he added.
Sarma revealed that the elephants creating trouble in the area belonged to a herd with a population of 248 as per the latest census. Forests in the area form part of the Ripu-Chirang Elephant Reserve besides constituting a buffer zone of the Manas Tiger Reserve.
http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=oct0609/at02
WILD ELEPHANT'S SKULL FOUND IN FOREST
STAFF WRITER
Thiruvananthapuram, The skull of a wild elephant has been found in a canal in a forest at Kummannoor in Kerala's Pathanamthitta district.
The Wildlife Department was examining the remains of the jumbo to ascertain whether it died of natural cause or a victim of poaching, a senior Wildlife official said today.
"We can arrive at a conclusion only after detailed examination of the skull and a few pieces of bones found in the forest," P Pukazhenthi, Divisional Forest Officer, Konni division, told PTI.
He said the chances of the animal being a victim of poaching were remote as elephant hunting was on the decline in the area.
The preliminary examination of the skull suggests that it was of a female elephant, which might not be the target of poachers who often look for tuskers, he added.
http://www.ptinews.com/news/314464_Wild-elephant-s-skull-found-in-forest#
STAFF Reporter
GUWAHATI – Areas bordering Bhutan in Udalguri district now resemble a battle zone amidst an escalating man-elephant conflict, with disturbing consequences for both. A spurt in the conflict has claimed the lives of six elephants this year, with the past one month alone witnessing the death of three elephants. Equally damaging has been the fatality on the human side, with about eight persons trampled by elephants in the past one year.
In what has assumed the form of a vicious cycle, marauding herds of elephants looking for food inflict heavy damage on crops, with the villagers – whose sustenance is agriculture – indulging in retaliatory killing, mainly through poisoning and electrocution.
At the root of the problem, however, lies the growing depletion of elephant habitat, and corridors that had once ensured contiguity of forest belts necessary for uninterrupted migration of the pachyderms.
Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Dhansiri Division, Bankim Sarma told The Assam Tribune that notwithstanding some short-term measures such as use of fire crackers and trained kunkis (domesticated elephants) to ward off raiding wild herds, the problem stood to worsen unless lost forest covers and elephant corridors were restored.
“This is an extremely serious situation, and we are trying our best to normalise it to the extent possible. We have pressed into service some kunkis along with other short-term measures. We are also having regular meetings with villagers to enhance their awareness so that they do not confront the elephants aggressively whenever they see them,” Sarma said, adding that NGOs were also lending a helping hand and several villages made a pledge that there would be no elephant deaths in their areas.
Constraints of infrastructure and manpower, coupled with the difficult terrain, have also impeded smooth movement of the forest staff to tackle the invading herds. “We need to be present at the site when elephants come down to cropland but the rugged terrain and lack of vehicles invariably slow down our efforts,” Sarma said, adding that late release of funds had also been a constraint affecting payment of ex-gratia for elephant-induced death or damage besides hampering routine activities of the forest staff.
Another peculiar habit with the elephants not seen in earlier years – something which has added to the woes of the forest staff – is that the original big herd scatters into a number of smaller groups while descending on cropland.
“Earlier, one big herd used to roam together, which made it easier to monitor and keep track of their movements. But now we have to be on the alert for several smaller herds, which is difficult,” he added.
Sarma revealed that the elephants creating trouble in the area belonged to a herd with a population of 248 as per the latest census. Forests in the area form part of the Ripu-Chirang Elephant Reserve besides constituting a buffer zone of the Manas Tiger Reserve.
http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=oct0609/at02
WILD ELEPHANT'S SKULL FOUND IN FOREST
STAFF WRITER
Thiruvananthapuram, The skull of a wild elephant has been found in a canal in a forest at Kummannoor in Kerala's Pathanamthitta district.
The Wildlife Department was examining the remains of the jumbo to ascertain whether it died of natural cause or a victim of poaching, a senior Wildlife official said today.
"We can arrive at a conclusion only after detailed examination of the skull and a few pieces of bones found in the forest," P Pukazhenthi, Divisional Forest Officer, Konni division, told PTI.
He said the chances of the animal being a victim of poaching were remote as elephant hunting was on the decline in the area.
The preliminary examination of the skull suggests that it was of a female elephant, which might not be the target of poachers who often look for tuskers, he added.
http://www.ptinews.com/news/314464_Wild-elephant-s-skull-found-in-forest#
ELEPHANT DAMAGES HOUSE, FIELD
COIMBATORE: An elephant strayed into a residential area and damaged a house in Veerapandi Pudur near Coimbatore on Saturday night.
The pachyderm damaged the front room of a house belonging to Palanisamy, 45, when he, his wife and his son were sleeping inside.
The trio escaped by jumping over the compound wall and rushed to a nearby house in the field. Terrified, the cow calves in the house also ran away.
Describing the damage, Palanisamy said the elephant threw out bags of cattle feed stocked on the premises of the house and destroyed the sugarcane field. It drank water from a tank there.
As maize, banana and coconut have been cultivated in the field situated in the vicinity of a stream, the elephant was attracted.
On Sunday morning, Palanisamy met Veerapandi Pudur village panchayat president Senthil Nataraj who in turn informed Periyanaickenpalayam forest ranger Panner Selvam. While running, Palanisamy fell down and sustained minor injuries. The ranger and forester Somasundaram visited the area and assured people to take steps to prevent the elephants from entering their village.
It may be recalled that three months ago an elephant trampled to death a watchman of a cattle farm at Somaiyanpudur and damaged a petty shop at a bus stop near Chinna Thadagam.
© Copyright 2008 ExpressBuzz
http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Elephant+damages+house,+field&artid=qhBZ8YlbZd8=&SectionID=vBlkz7JCFvA=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionN
ame=EL7znOtxBM3qzgMyXZKtxw==&SEO=#
COIMBATORE: An elephant strayed into a residential area and damaged a house in Veerapandi Pudur near Coimbatore on Saturday night.
The pachyderm damaged the front room of a house belonging to Palanisamy, 45, when he, his wife and his son were sleeping inside.
The trio escaped by jumping over the compound wall and rushed to a nearby house in the field. Terrified, the cow calves in the house also ran away.
Describing the damage, Palanisamy said the elephant threw out bags of cattle feed stocked on the premises of the house and destroyed the sugarcane field. It drank water from a tank there.
As maize, banana and coconut have been cultivated in the field situated in the vicinity of a stream, the elephant was attracted.
On Sunday morning, Palanisamy met Veerapandi Pudur village panchayat president Senthil Nataraj who in turn informed Periyanaickenpalayam forest ranger Panner Selvam. While running, Palanisamy fell down and sustained minor injuries. The ranger and forester Somasundaram visited the area and assured people to take steps to prevent the elephants from entering their village.
It may be recalled that three months ago an elephant trampled to death a watchman of a cattle farm at Somaiyanpudur and damaged a petty shop at a bus stop near Chinna Thadagam.
© Copyright 2008 ExpressBuzz
http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Elephant+damages+house,+field&artid=qhBZ8YlbZd8=&SectionID=vBlkz7JCFvA=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionN
ame=EL7znOtxBM3qzgMyXZKtxw==&SEO=#
ELEPHANT OWNERS BOYCOTT ‘GAJADINAM’ CELEBRATIONS
Ignatius Pereira
FEW takers: The venue of the Elephant Day celebrations organised by the Forest Department at Thazhuthala in Kollam on Sunday. —
KOLLAM: Just eight of the 695 captive elephants in the State turned up for the ‘Gajadinam’ (Elephant Day) celebrations organised by the Forest Department in five places on Sunday to mark Wildlife Week.
The Kerala Elephant Owners’ Federation boycotted the celebrations in protest against the alleged failure of the Forest Department to implement important decisions taken at a meeting between its representatives and Forest Minister Benoy Viswom. The organisation also alleged harassment by the department.
Mr. Viswom told The Hindu over the phone that the boycott had not come to his attention and, for the moment, he would not like to comment on the issue or respond to the allegations.
The celebrations were organised in association with the Animal Husbandry Department and the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
P. Sasikumar, general secretary of the federation, said though Kollam district had 84 captive elephants, only two calves participated in the event. No elephant participated in Kottayam. In Perumbavoor, one participated, in Thrissur, two, and in Palakkad, three. Though the Forest Department and Devaswom Boards together own 148 elephants, only two elephants of the Cochin Devaswom Board participated.
A free health check-up for elephants and a free medical camp for mahouts were arranged at the venues.
In Kollam, since no mahouts came for the free medical camp, the general public were allowed to participate in the camp.
Mr. Sasikumar said the federation had been following the directions of the Forest Department in implanting micro chips in all captive elephants and supporting the Rs.2.5-lakh insurance scheme to compensate victims of elephant attacks.
© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu
http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/05/stories/2009100553780100.htm
KOLLAM: Just eight of the 695 captive elephants in the State turned up for the ‘Gajadinam’ (Elephant Day) celebrations organised by the Forest Department in five places on Sunday to mark Wildlife Week.
The Kerala Elephant Owners’ Federation boycotted the celebrations in protest against the alleged failure of the Forest Department to implement important decisions taken at a meeting between its representatives and Forest Minister Benoy Viswom. The organisation also alleged harassment by the department.
Mr. Viswom told The Hindu over the phone that the boycott had not come to his attention and, for the moment, he would not like to comment on the issue or respond to the allegations.
The celebrations were organised in association with the Animal Husbandry Department and the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
P. Sasikumar, general secretary of the federation, said though Kollam district had 84 captive elephants, only two calves participated in the event. No elephant participated in Kottayam. In Perumbavoor, one participated, in Thrissur, two, and in Palakkad, three. Though the Forest Department and Devaswom Boards together own 148 elephants, only two elephants of the Cochin Devaswom Board participated.
A free health check-up for elephants and a free medical camp for mahouts were arranged at the venues.
In Kollam, since no mahouts came for the free medical camp, the general public were allowed to participate in the camp.
Mr. Sasikumar said the federation had been following the directions of the Forest Department in implanting micro chips in all captive elephants and supporting the Rs.2.5-lakh insurance scheme to compensate victims of elephant attacks.
© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu
http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/05/stories/2009100553780100.htm
WILD ELEPHANT MENACE IN MONERAGALA OVER 300 FAMILIES LEAVE AREA
The wild elephant menace has affected the Moneragala district very badly. The cultivation of sugar-cane had created the wild elephant problem. With the clearing of some 50,000 acres for sugercane, forest cover was depleted and water-ways blocked. There emerged a food crisis for animals. This is the origin of this issue.
Officers that had turned a deaf ear and a blind eye to the felling of trees for ecconmic gain, are seen to be as if they are deaf and dumb without giving a solution to the problem they themselves created.
When the lands traversed by elephants are given on a platter for sugar-cane cultivation, what else can the wild animals do except eat cultivated plantains, jack and coconut?
It is not incorrect to say that by now every agrarian settlement within the Moneragala district is confronted with the wild elephant menace. However the department established for wild life too has failed to solve the elephant problem.
At the last Wellawaya Pradeshiya Sabha meeting Vice Chairman of the PS Mr. R. D. Haramanis (UPFA) stated that though an organisation by the name of "Gajamithuro" had got a lot of money, they have not done anything to alleviate the human-elephant clash. He described it as an organisation that misled the farmers.
The farmers have realised that elephant fences, drains, and moats are fraudulent schemes wasting money.
Last week when we toured Wandama in Wellawaya PS Division area, farmers told us that of about 400 farmer families, there were now only about 100 families left. All the other families have left due to this problem.
K. K. Kamal said about elephant issue of Wandama. "Now the elephant issue is getting aggravated day by day. Elephants coming from beyond Kirindiganga, roam in the entire area. We have formed an organisation of those who have suffered at the hands of elephants. We have forwarded our grievances to the government".
"But no solutions have been forthcoming. In those days, coconut and banana were extensively grown in Wandama, Demataliya and other areas. Today, people have got used to cultivating vegetables like brinjals.
A large number of people have abandoned the village and it will be extremely difficult to live in Wandama in the future".
The time has come for the authorities to view the lower Uva wild elephant issue from a new angle.
http://www.island.lk/2009/10/02/news30.html
FOSSIL OF ANCIENT ELEPHANT ON DISPLAY IN INDONESIA
JAKARTA, (Xinhua) -- An elephant fossil of 200,000 years old found in Indonesia in April went on display Tuesday, the Kompas.com news portal reported Wednesday.
"The elephant fossil is more than 200,000 years old, the largest and the most complete one found in Indonesia," Head of Indonesian Geology museum Yunus Kusumabrata said.
The Jurassic elephant was predicted to have a weight of 10 tons with a length of 5 meters from head to the tail and a height of up to 4 meters from the ground, he said.
The fossil was displayed in the museum for the first time on Tuesday.
The fossil was found in a mining site 2 km from Bengawan Solo, the main river in Blora in central Java province.
Yunus said the excavation was based on a study of Dutch scientist Von Koeningswald in 1932 during the period of Dutch colonization in Indonesia.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-09/30/content_12136061.htm
The wild elephant menace has affected the Moneragala district very badly. The cultivation of sugar-cane had created the wild elephant problem. With the clearing of some 50,000 acres for sugercane, forest cover was depleted and water-ways blocked. There emerged a food crisis for animals. This is the origin of this issue.
Officers that had turned a deaf ear and a blind eye to the felling of trees for ecconmic gain, are seen to be as if they are deaf and dumb without giving a solution to the problem they themselves created.
When the lands traversed by elephants are given on a platter for sugar-cane cultivation, what else can the wild animals do except eat cultivated plantains, jack and coconut?
It is not incorrect to say that by now every agrarian settlement within the Moneragala district is confronted with the wild elephant menace. However the department established for wild life too has failed to solve the elephant problem.
At the last Wellawaya Pradeshiya Sabha meeting Vice Chairman of the PS Mr. R. D. Haramanis (UPFA) stated that though an organisation by the name of "Gajamithuro" had got a lot of money, they have not done anything to alleviate the human-elephant clash. He described it as an organisation that misled the farmers.
The farmers have realised that elephant fences, drains, and moats are fraudulent schemes wasting money.
Last week when we toured Wandama in Wellawaya PS Division area, farmers told us that of about 400 farmer families, there were now only about 100 families left. All the other families have left due to this problem.
K. K. Kamal said about elephant issue of Wandama. "Now the elephant issue is getting aggravated day by day. Elephants coming from beyond Kirindiganga, roam in the entire area. We have formed an organisation of those who have suffered at the hands of elephants. We have forwarded our grievances to the government".
"But no solutions have been forthcoming. In those days, coconut and banana were extensively grown in Wandama, Demataliya and other areas. Today, people have got used to cultivating vegetables like brinjals.
A large number of people have abandoned the village and it will be extremely difficult to live in Wandama in the future".
The time has come for the authorities to view the lower Uva wild elephant issue from a new angle.
http://www.island.lk/2009/10/02/news30.html
FOSSIL OF ANCIENT ELEPHANT ON DISPLAY IN INDONESIA
JAKARTA, (Xinhua) -- An elephant fossil of 200,000 years old found in Indonesia in April went on display Tuesday, the Kompas.com news portal reported Wednesday.
"The elephant fossil is more than 200,000 years old, the largest and the most complete one found in Indonesia," Head of Indonesian Geology museum Yunus Kusumabrata said.
The Jurassic elephant was predicted to have a weight of 10 tons with a length of 5 meters from head to the tail and a height of up to 4 meters from the ground, he said.
The fossil was displayed in the museum for the first time on Tuesday.
The fossil was found in a mining site 2 km from Bengawan Solo, the main river in Blora in central Java province.
Yunus said the excavation was based on a study of Dutch scientist Von Koeningswald in 1932 during the period of Dutch colonization in Indonesia.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-09/30/content_12136061.htm
WATCH ZOO'S BABY ELEPHANT ON LIVE WEBCAM
If you've never wanted to take a peek into the lives of elephants, here is your chance – and you don't even have to put up with the smell.
With his big ears and long trunk, Ganesh Vijay is a bit bigger than most babies, but is just as fascinating, and you can now spy on his every move.
Ganesh is only the third elephant birth at Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire.
The zoo has set up a webcam pointing towards the outdoor elephant enclosure, and readers can view the live video link on the Mercury's website.
Kim Riley, of Twycross Zoo, said: "He certainly has a bit of a swagger, he already acts like an adult male.
"He has got this grumbly roar which comes right from his belly – I didn't even recognise the sound when I first heard it, I couldn't believe how loud it was.
"It's great that people can now see Ganesh and his mates. He will occasionally go and have a sleep in the indoor enclosure, but I'm sure if people wait they can catch him playing outside."
Elephant keeper Susanne Baumler added: "The public reaction to Ganesh has been great, everyone likes to see him and they get very excited.
"He is a brave little man, very independent and doesn't mind going off on his own leaving his mum behind.
"It's fantastic to have a baby elephant here, and it's good for the elephant community as a whole."
Ganesh was born on August 6 and is already weighing in at 19 stone.
The birth was unusual because Ganesh's mother Noorjahan was the zoo's first artificially inseminated (AI) elephant.
In the wild, bull elephants would not live with the females as they live a solitary life and only join a herd for mating.
Rather than bring a bull to the Twycross herd, the zoo decided to use the AI technique.
Experts flew in from Germany to inseminate Noorjahan with a sample taken from the bull elephant, Emmett, at Whipsnade Zoo in London.
Suzanne Boardman, director at Twycross, said: "The birth of Ganesh is a great success for Twycross Zoo and the breeding programme in Europe.
"We are proud that Emmett is the father of this special calf and wish to thank Whipsnade Zoo for all its support."
Ganesh will suckle from his mother Noorjahan until he is about a year old then he will begin to take solids such as vegetables, fruit and hay. When he is fully grown he will eat his way through four bales of hay every day, these will be joined by several buckets of fruit and vegetables along with numerous gallons of water a day to wash it all down.
Asian elephants are endangered due to hunting and habitat loss and captive breeding programmes are essential to ensure the survival of this species.
Artificial insemination gives zoos the opportunity to maintain a genetically and healthy captive population.
To watch Ganesh, go to the web link during the zoo's opening hours, which are 10am to 5.30pm. Ganesh and the other elephants are free to roam between the enclosure and their indoor pen, which is off camera, as they wish so there will be periods when they are not visible on the webcam.
http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news/Watch-zoo-s-baby-elephant-live-webcam/article-1387144-detail/article.html
AYURVEDA AID FOR WOUNDED JUMBO CALF
KUMUD JENAMANI
Jamshedpur: The forest department is pinning hope on ayurvedic medicines to cure the injured baby elephant that was rescued from Rajabasa jungle in Ghatshila on Monday. The calf’s condition has deteriorated.
A.T. Mishra, the divisional forest officer (DFO) of Dhalbhum, said: “We are looking for an ayurvedic expert who can treat the baby elephant.” He added that they were not very optimistic about the recovery of the calf, which had fever yesterday and stopped eating. It was also suffering from diarrhoea. Though its temperature was normal today, it has developed urinary problems.
Although the DFO expressed satisfaction with the treatment being provided to the calf at Tata Steel Zoological Park in Jamshedpur, he said that ayurvedic medicines needed to be administered along with allopathic to completely cure it.
“The baby elephant, which had injury marks on its body, was running a temperature of 102°. Due to the efforts of the zoo veterinary doctor, Manik Palit, the fever subsided, but some urinating problems have developed,” Mishra said.
Palit said that the calf developed some kind of infection in its urinary tracts and as a result, has stopped urinating. “It seems that the calf was deprived of breast milk. Colostrum in mother’s milk helps babies acquire immunity,” the vet added.
He said that ayurvedic medicines were available for adult elephants, but had no idea whether such medicines could be given to calves.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1091002/jsp/jharkhand/story_11565216.jsp#
CANCEROUS TUMOR FOUND IN ELEPHANT BUKI
Necropsy report won't be completed for few weeks
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Cancer may have killed one of the Buffalo zoo's most beloved creatures.
Buki the elephant died at the age of 52.
Pathologists discovered a large, cancerous tumor in her abdominal area.
Officials said a full necropsy report will not be completed for a few weeks.
Buki had been at the zoo for more than 20 years.
http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/local/Cancerous_tumor_found_in_elephant_Buki_20091001
If you've never wanted to take a peek into the lives of elephants, here is your chance – and you don't even have to put up with the smell.
With his big ears and long trunk, Ganesh Vijay is a bit bigger than most babies, but is just as fascinating, and you can now spy on his every move.
Ganesh is only the third elephant birth at Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire.
The zoo has set up a webcam pointing towards the outdoor elephant enclosure, and readers can view the live video link on the Mercury's website.
Kim Riley, of Twycross Zoo, said: "He certainly has a bit of a swagger, he already acts like an adult male.
"He has got this grumbly roar which comes right from his belly – I didn't even recognise the sound when I first heard it, I couldn't believe how loud it was.
"It's great that people can now see Ganesh and his mates. He will occasionally go and have a sleep in the indoor enclosure, but I'm sure if people wait they can catch him playing outside."
Elephant keeper Susanne Baumler added: "The public reaction to Ganesh has been great, everyone likes to see him and they get very excited.
"He is a brave little man, very independent and doesn't mind going off on his own leaving his mum behind.
"It's fantastic to have a baby elephant here, and it's good for the elephant community as a whole."
Ganesh was born on August 6 and is already weighing in at 19 stone.
The birth was unusual because Ganesh's mother Noorjahan was the zoo's first artificially inseminated (AI) elephant.
In the wild, bull elephants would not live with the females as they live a solitary life and only join a herd for mating.
Rather than bring a bull to the Twycross herd, the zoo decided to use the AI technique.
Experts flew in from Germany to inseminate Noorjahan with a sample taken from the bull elephant, Emmett, at Whipsnade Zoo in London.
Suzanne Boardman, director at Twycross, said: "The birth of Ganesh is a great success for Twycross Zoo and the breeding programme in Europe.
"We are proud that Emmett is the father of this special calf and wish to thank Whipsnade Zoo for all its support."
Ganesh will suckle from his mother Noorjahan until he is about a year old then he will begin to take solids such as vegetables, fruit and hay. When he is fully grown he will eat his way through four bales of hay every day, these will be joined by several buckets of fruit and vegetables along with numerous gallons of water a day to wash it all down.
Asian elephants are endangered due to hunting and habitat loss and captive breeding programmes are essential to ensure the survival of this species.
Artificial insemination gives zoos the opportunity to maintain a genetically and healthy captive population.
To watch Ganesh, go to the web link during the zoo's opening hours, which are 10am to 5.30pm. Ganesh and the other elephants are free to roam between the enclosure and their indoor pen, which is off camera, as they wish so there will be periods when they are not visible on the webcam.
http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news/Watch-zoo-s-baby-elephant-live-webcam/article-1387144-detail/article.html
AYURVEDA AID FOR WOUNDED JUMBO CALF
KUMUD JENAMANI
Jamshedpur: The forest department is pinning hope on ayurvedic medicines to cure the injured baby elephant that was rescued from Rajabasa jungle in Ghatshila on Monday. The calf’s condition has deteriorated.
A.T. Mishra, the divisional forest officer (DFO) of Dhalbhum, said: “We are looking for an ayurvedic expert who can treat the baby elephant.” He added that they were not very optimistic about the recovery of the calf, which had fever yesterday and stopped eating. It was also suffering from diarrhoea. Though its temperature was normal today, it has developed urinary problems.
Although the DFO expressed satisfaction with the treatment being provided to the calf at Tata Steel Zoological Park in Jamshedpur, he said that ayurvedic medicines needed to be administered along with allopathic to completely cure it.
“The baby elephant, which had injury marks on its body, was running a temperature of 102°. Due to the efforts of the zoo veterinary doctor, Manik Palit, the fever subsided, but some urinating problems have developed,” Mishra said.
Palit said that the calf developed some kind of infection in its urinary tracts and as a result, has stopped urinating. “It seems that the calf was deprived of breast milk. Colostrum in mother’s milk helps babies acquire immunity,” the vet added.
He said that ayurvedic medicines were available for adult elephants, but had no idea whether such medicines could be given to calves.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1091002/jsp/jharkhand/story_11565216.jsp#
CANCEROUS TUMOR FOUND IN ELEPHANT BUKI
Necropsy report won't be completed for few weeks
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Cancer may have killed one of the Buffalo zoo's most beloved creatures.
Buki the elephant died at the age of 52.
Pathologists discovered a large, cancerous tumor in her abdominal area.
Officials said a full necropsy report will not be completed for a few weeks.
Buki had been at the zoo for more than 20 years.
http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/local/Cancerous_tumor_found_in_elephant_Buki_20091001
ENGAGING ENCOUNTER WITH ELEPHANTS IN KUALA GANDAH
Story and photos by SIMON KHOO
LANCHANG (Pahang): Visitors to the National Elephant Conservation Centre in Kuala Gandah near here will find better facilities once upgrading works on the premises is completed.
The centre’s deputy chief Ahmad Kamsul Alias said the project cost about RM3mil.
“Work started late last year and is expected to be completed by the middle of next year.
“There will be a new tourist information centre complete with an auditorium for 120 people and a mini museum.
“Other facilities include a food court and ample parking space,” he told The Star in an interview.
Ahmad Kamsul said the elephant activities area had been shifted to a bigger site.
He said that visitors could enjoy elephant rides as well as feeding and bathing with the elephants in a more conducive environment.
“There are many rest areas and huts for visitors and their families to enjoy a picnic while watching elephants go by.
“We hope people will see the beauty of these animals,” he added.
Ahmad Kamsul said, in the first six months of this year, 80,000 people visited the centre which mission was to train and relocate wild elephants.
He said that, last year, there were 143,000 visitors compared to 81,000 in 2007, of whom between 25% and 30% were foreigners.
“We expect to record a high of 180,000 visitors by December this year,” he said, adding that a maximum of 120 visitors were allowed to participate in activities with elephants in a single day to prevent them from getting stressed.
Ahmad Kamsul said the centre had 17 elephants of which four were males.
He said the oldest were two 70-year-olds nicknamed Mek Bunga and Lokimala while the youngest was one-year-old Langsat rescued from the forest in Gua Musang, Kelantan, early this year.
“We have relocated four elephants, two to a zoo in Johor and two others to Sungai Ketiar, Terengganu.
“Our centre has 40 employees working in shifts to look after the elephants. Local residents are engaged to clean the premises regularly,” he said.
The centre is the base for the elephant relocation team which began the elephant translocation programme in 1974.
It is fully funded by the Wildlife and National Parks Department with an annual grant of RM700,000. It also receives public donations.
Its main task is to locate and subdue elephants in areas where their habitats have been encroached and translocate them to suitable sites such as Taman Negara.
The centre is open from 10am to 5pm daily for public visits but activities with elephants begin only after 2pm.
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2009/10/2/southneast/4802724&sec=southneast#
The centre’s deputy chief Ahmad Kamsul Alias said the project cost about RM3mil.
“Work started late last year and is expected to be completed by the middle of next year.
“There will be a new tourist information centre complete with an auditorium for 120 people and a mini museum.
“Other facilities include a food court and ample parking space,” he told The Star in an interview.
Ahmad Kamsul said the elephant activities area had been shifted to a bigger site.
He said that visitors could enjoy elephant rides as well as feeding and bathing with the elephants in a more conducive environment.
“There are many rest areas and huts for visitors and their families to enjoy a picnic while watching elephants go by.
“We hope people will see the beauty of these animals,” he added.
Ahmad Kamsul said, in the first six months of this year, 80,000 people visited the centre which mission was to train and relocate wild elephants.
He said that, last year, there were 143,000 visitors compared to 81,000 in 2007, of whom between 25% and 30% were foreigners.
“We expect to record a high of 180,000 visitors by December this year,” he said, adding that a maximum of 120 visitors were allowed to participate in activities with elephants in a single day to prevent them from getting stressed.
Ahmad Kamsul said the centre had 17 elephants of which four were males.
He said the oldest were two 70-year-olds nicknamed Mek Bunga and Lokimala while the youngest was one-year-old Langsat rescued from the forest in Gua Musang, Kelantan, early this year.
“We have relocated four elephants, two to a zoo in Johor and two others to Sungai Ketiar, Terengganu.
“Our centre has 40 employees working in shifts to look after the elephants. Local residents are engaged to clean the premises regularly,” he said.
The centre is the base for the elephant relocation team which began the elephant translocation programme in 1974.
It is fully funded by the Wildlife and National Parks Department with an annual grant of RM700,000. It also receives public donations.
Its main task is to locate and subdue elephants in areas where their habitats have been encroached and translocate them to suitable sites such as Taman Negara.
The centre is open from 10am to 5pm daily for public visits but activities with elephants begin only after 2pm.
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2009/10/2/southneast/4802724&sec=southneast#
ELEPHANT POACHING IN BONAI FOREST
STAFF WRITER
Rourkela Elephant poaching is on the rise in Bonai forest division of Orissa's Sundargarh district where two wild tuskers were killed within a week.
Forest officials said an elephant was found dead in dense area of Barsuan forest range yesterday and its tusks were found missing.
A similar incident was reported last week in Tamara range of the forest division.
B N Samal, ranger of Barsuan forest range said an inter-state gang of poachers was involved in the incidents.
All precautionary measures were being taken to protect the wild elephants and massive search operations launched to nab the local anti-socials who regularly work for poaching gangs for easy money.
http://www.ptinews.com/news/308918_Elephant-poaching-in-Bonai-forest
CITY INSPECTING ELEPHANT TREATMENT AT CIRCUS
SPRINGFIELD -- A lot of families are happy that the circus is in town but People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is not. The animal rights group accuses the trainers with Carson and Barnes Circus of elephant abuse.
Before you click on the video player, we want to warn you, the video you'll see is graphic. This video was taken by an undercover employee in 1999. It shows trainers using bullhooks to beat the animals into submission.
Carson and Barnes says the video is fabricated and says, although they do use bullhooks, they're simply used to guide the elephants.
Mayor Jim O'Neal says, after a letter from PETA about the alleged abuse, the city will send elephant keepers from Dickerson Park Zoo to observe how trainers handle the elephants, then report back what they find.
"I believe the people that have spoken for the circus believe they have changed methodologies at some time. There is no way for us to know the allegations are solid or have basis, but there's no need to dismiss them either," said Mayor Jim O'Neal.
Mal Knopf with the circus says one person that was in the video and in the circus' training facility is no longer part of the program because of the accusations. Knopf also says other circus staff shown in the video were not doing what has been implied by it.
The circus is inspected on a regular basis by various humane societies and agencies to make sure their animals are safe.
http://www.ky3.com/news/local/63082472.html
STAFF WRITER
Rourkela Elephant poaching is on the rise in Bonai forest division of Orissa's Sundargarh district where two wild tuskers were killed within a week.
Forest officials said an elephant was found dead in dense area of Barsuan forest range yesterday and its tusks were found missing.
A similar incident was reported last week in Tamara range of the forest division.
B N Samal, ranger of Barsuan forest range said an inter-state gang of poachers was involved in the incidents.
All precautionary measures were being taken to protect the wild elephants and massive search operations launched to nab the local anti-socials who regularly work for poaching gangs for easy money.
http://www.ptinews.com/news/308918_Elephant-poaching-in-Bonai-forest
CITY INSPECTING ELEPHANT TREATMENT AT CIRCUS
SPRINGFIELD -- A lot of families are happy that the circus is in town but People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is not. The animal rights group accuses the trainers with Carson and Barnes Circus of elephant abuse.
Before you click on the video player, we want to warn you, the video you'll see is graphic. This video was taken by an undercover employee in 1999. It shows trainers using bullhooks to beat the animals into submission.
Carson and Barnes says the video is fabricated and says, although they do use bullhooks, they're simply used to guide the elephants.
Mayor Jim O'Neal says, after a letter from PETA about the alleged abuse, the city will send elephant keepers from Dickerson Park Zoo to observe how trainers handle the elephants, then report back what they find.
"I believe the people that have spoken for the circus believe they have changed methodologies at some time. There is no way for us to know the allegations are solid or have basis, but there's no need to dismiss them either," said Mayor Jim O'Neal.
Mal Knopf with the circus says one person that was in the video and in the circus' training facility is no longer part of the program because of the accusations. Knopf also says other circus staff shown in the video were not doing what has been implied by it.
The circus is inspected on a regular basis by various humane societies and agencies to make sure their animals are safe.
http://www.ky3.com/news/local/63082472.html
SUSPECT IN CUB- ELEPHANT CASE FLEES COUNTRY
One of the suspects, Dr Dangolla in the case of a three- month- old baby elephant who died while being held captive in Balangoda, is alleged to have fled the country, environmentalists charged.
"After the cub elephant was found in a room of a property belonging to the Deputy Chairman of the Balangoda Urban Council, the main suspect in the case, Richard Gonakumbura, father- in- law of the deputy chairman of the Balangoda Urban Council pleaded guilty at the Balangoda magistrate's court. Dr. Dangolla who has also been charged, it is alleged has fled the country. He has not returned to the country after attending a seminar in Thailand on August 14," alleged Upali Pathmasiri, Wildlife official, Department of Wildlife.
He added that the next court hearing will be held on 12 November on which date setence is due. Meanwhile, the fingerprint report is also expected to be produced in court.
It is reliably learnt that the authorities have also found out the manner in which the elephant cub had been forcibly taken away.
It is reported that a pack of buffaloes was chased in the direction of the elephant mother and cub. The elephant fearing the buffaloes moved away and then the baby elephant was taken from the mother.
It is further reported that only in the case of a very young cub could such a thing have been done.
DW
http://www.lakbimanews.lk/news/laknew7.htm
One of the suspects, Dr Dangolla in the case of a three- month- old baby elephant who died while being held captive in Balangoda, is alleged to have fled the country, environmentalists charged.
"After the cub elephant was found in a room of a property belonging to the Deputy Chairman of the Balangoda Urban Council, the main suspect in the case, Richard Gonakumbura, father- in- law of the deputy chairman of the Balangoda Urban Council pleaded guilty at the Balangoda magistrate's court. Dr. Dangolla who has also been charged, it is alleged has fled the country. He has not returned to the country after attending a seminar in Thailand on August 14," alleged Upali Pathmasiri, Wildlife official, Department of Wildlife.
He added that the next court hearing will be held on 12 November on which date setence is due. Meanwhile, the fingerprint report is also expected to be produced in court.
It is reliably learnt that the authorities have also found out the manner in which the elephant cub had been forcibly taken away.
It is reported that a pack of buffaloes was chased in the direction of the elephant mother and cub. The elephant fearing the buffaloes moved away and then the baby elephant was taken from the mother.
It is further reported that only in the case of a very young cub could such a thing have been done.
DW
http://www.lakbimanews.lk/news/laknew7.htm
CITY SENDING ELEPHANT HANDLER TO CIRCUS
Kary Booher
News-Leader
City Hall will dispatch an elephant handler to monitor how a traveling circus treats elephants when it performs here this week, City Manager Greg Burris said Tuesday.
The directive is in response to a letter from national animal welfare advocate PETA, which urged the City Council to take up legislation that would ban the use of bullhooks and electric prods.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is targeting Carson and Barnes Circus, which performs at 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. today and again Thursday at Battlefield Mall.
An elephant handler from the Dickerson Park Zoo was instructed by the city to drop in at random times both days and observe.
Elephant handlers require national certification, Burris said.
"An elephant handler is probably the best person to determine whether anything is occurring outside the norm," Burris said.
Carson and Barnes Circus has been under fire from PETA for years, but a spokesman for the circus said Monday that criticism is unfounded.
"We have never been cited for animal abuse," said Mal Knopf, a spokesman for the Hugo, Okla.,-based circus. "We have nothing to hide."
In a letter to the City Council, PETA's director, Debbie Leahy, explained the use of bullhooks.
"Bullhooks are cruel weapons of the circus trade that are routinely used to beat elephants into submission," Leahy wrote. "Mayor (Jim) O'Neal and the City Council must send circuses the message that these instruments of abuse will not be permitted in Springfield."
Knopf said that bullhooks are used to guide the elephants but emphatically denied that the circus used electric prods.
"We've never used electric prods," Knopf said. "Bullhooks are occasionally used to guide the animal, but they usually respond to verbal commands."
http://www.news-leader.com/article/20090930/NEWS01/909300423/City+sending+elephant+handler+to+circus
OUTRAGE OVER ELEPHANT’S SUFFERING
JP du Plessis
The National Council of SPCA’s says it has an undertaking from the Djuma Private Game Reserve a distressed elephant will be examined by a vet.
It is believed the elephant is having birthing problems after a live internet feed from the game farm suggested the animal was in great pain.
Viewers were outraged after the owners of the reserve said they had a policy not to interfere unless the elephant was injured by humans.
The SPCA’s Brenda Santon said that was not good enough, adding the council had spoken to the reserve owners.
“Humane options must be considered. They cannot, in our opinion, ignore an animal that is suffering when they know the condition.”
Reserve officials are searching for the elephant which has wandered back into the wild.
http://www.eyewitnessnews.co.za/articleprog.aspx?id=22832
ELEPHANT ELECTROCUTED IN UDALGURI DISTRICT, AGAIN
A STAFF REPORTER
Guwahati: A pregnant elephant was electrocuted last night by high voltage power lines laid by villagers to keep away elephants from their paddy fields at number 2 Athgoria village in Assam’s Udalguri district, close to the Indo-Bhutan border.
Villagers “hook” cables to overheard power lines and lay them in the paddy fields to keep away elephant herds.
Poachers at Kaziranga National Park resort to a similar technique to nail rhinos by laying cables connected to power lines on paths frequently used by the animals.
Haladhar Kalita, the range officer of Nonoi forest range under Udalguri forest division, said the pregnant elephant died after it came into contact with wires connected to high voltage power lines running above. “The carcass was found right in the middle of a paddy field,” he added.
This is the second such incident within a week in the area. On September 25, a young tusker was electrocuted on a paddy field at Satghoria village, about a kilometre from number 2 Athgoria. Three persons were arrested after the forest department lodged a complaint at Panery police station.
The forest department personnel who arrived at the electrocution site this morning had to face the wrath of the villagers who complained that the former were not doing anything to protect the paddy fields from marauding herds of wild elephants.
“The villagers, already angry following the arrest of three persons in connection with the September 25 incident, were in an attacking mood when we arrived at the incident site,” Kalita said.
The forest personnel had to take the help of police to reach the site of the incident.
“We did not find the cables laid by the villagers which killed the elephant. But preliminary investigations suggest that the elephant died of electrocution,” Kalita said, adding that the cables may have been removed by the villagers before the arrival of forest department personnel.
The divisional forest officer of Udalguri, Bankim Sharma, said a herd of about 200 elephants, scattered in small groups, had descended from the Bhutan hills about a month ago and had been straying into human habitat frequently.
The Bhutan border is about 6km from the site of last night’s incident.
“We have formed anti-depredation committees so that villagers do not attack elephants. We have also provided crackers to the villagers to scare away the elephants,” Sharma said.
Man-elephant conflict has resulted in the death of five elephants and five persons in Udalguri and Sonitpur recently, forcing the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to hold a series of awareness meetings in villages along the Indo-Bhutan border in both the districts.
“Depleting forest cover and increase in human settlements have resulted in an increase in such incidents. The elephants have nowhere to go,” a wildlife expert engaged with the WWF (India) North Bank Landscape Programme said.
The site where the electrocution took place is on a regular migratory route of elephant herds, which keep shuttling between Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh via the Assam corridor.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090930/jsp/northeast/story_11553827.jsp#
Kary Booher
News-Leader
City Hall will dispatch an elephant handler to monitor how a traveling circus treats elephants when it performs here this week, City Manager Greg Burris said Tuesday.
The directive is in response to a letter from national animal welfare advocate PETA, which urged the City Council to take up legislation that would ban the use of bullhooks and electric prods.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is targeting Carson and Barnes Circus, which performs at 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. today and again Thursday at Battlefield Mall.
An elephant handler from the Dickerson Park Zoo was instructed by the city to drop in at random times both days and observe.
Elephant handlers require national certification, Burris said.
"An elephant handler is probably the best person to determine whether anything is occurring outside the norm," Burris said.
Carson and Barnes Circus has been under fire from PETA for years, but a spokesman for the circus said Monday that criticism is unfounded.
"We have never been cited for animal abuse," said Mal Knopf, a spokesman for the Hugo, Okla.,-based circus. "We have nothing to hide."
In a letter to the City Council, PETA's director, Debbie Leahy, explained the use of bullhooks.
"Bullhooks are cruel weapons of the circus trade that are routinely used to beat elephants into submission," Leahy wrote. "Mayor (Jim) O'Neal and the City Council must send circuses the message that these instruments of abuse will not be permitted in Springfield."
Knopf said that bullhooks are used to guide the elephants but emphatically denied that the circus used electric prods.
"We've never used electric prods," Knopf said. "Bullhooks are occasionally used to guide the animal, but they usually respond to verbal commands."
http://www.news-leader.com/article/20090930/NEWS01/909300423/City+sending+elephant+handler+to+circus
OUTRAGE OVER ELEPHANT’S SUFFERING
JP du Plessis
The National Council of SPCA’s says it has an undertaking from the Djuma Private Game Reserve a distressed elephant will be examined by a vet.
It is believed the elephant is having birthing problems after a live internet feed from the game farm suggested the animal was in great pain.
Viewers were outraged after the owners of the reserve said they had a policy not to interfere unless the elephant was injured by humans.
The SPCA’s Brenda Santon said that was not good enough, adding the council had spoken to the reserve owners.
“Humane options must be considered. They cannot, in our opinion, ignore an animal that is suffering when they know the condition.”
Reserve officials are searching for the elephant which has wandered back into the wild.
http://www.eyewitnessnews.co.za/articleprog.aspx?id=22832
ELEPHANT ELECTROCUTED IN UDALGURI DISTRICT, AGAIN
A STAFF REPORTER
Guwahati: A pregnant elephant was electrocuted last night by high voltage power lines laid by villagers to keep away elephants from their paddy fields at number 2 Athgoria village in Assam’s Udalguri district, close to the Indo-Bhutan border.
Villagers “hook” cables to overheard power lines and lay them in the paddy fields to keep away elephant herds.
Poachers at Kaziranga National Park resort to a similar technique to nail rhinos by laying cables connected to power lines on paths frequently used by the animals.
Haladhar Kalita, the range officer of Nonoi forest range under Udalguri forest division, said the pregnant elephant died after it came into contact with wires connected to high voltage power lines running above. “The carcass was found right in the middle of a paddy field,” he added.
This is the second such incident within a week in the area. On September 25, a young tusker was electrocuted on a paddy field at Satghoria village, about a kilometre from number 2 Athgoria. Three persons were arrested after the forest department lodged a complaint at Panery police station.
The forest department personnel who arrived at the electrocution site this morning had to face the wrath of the villagers who complained that the former were not doing anything to protect the paddy fields from marauding herds of wild elephants.
“The villagers, already angry following the arrest of three persons in connection with the September 25 incident, were in an attacking mood when we arrived at the incident site,” Kalita said.
The forest personnel had to take the help of police to reach the site of the incident.
“We did not find the cables laid by the villagers which killed the elephant. But preliminary investigations suggest that the elephant died of electrocution,” Kalita said, adding that the cables may have been removed by the villagers before the arrival of forest department personnel.
The divisional forest officer of Udalguri, Bankim Sharma, said a herd of about 200 elephants, scattered in small groups, had descended from the Bhutan hills about a month ago and had been straying into human habitat frequently.
The Bhutan border is about 6km from the site of last night’s incident.
“We have formed anti-depredation committees so that villagers do not attack elephants. We have also provided crackers to the villagers to scare away the elephants,” Sharma said.
Man-elephant conflict has resulted in the death of five elephants and five persons in Udalguri and Sonitpur recently, forcing the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to hold a series of awareness meetings in villages along the Indo-Bhutan border in both the districts.
“Depleting forest cover and increase in human settlements have resulted in an increase in such incidents. The elephants have nowhere to go,” a wildlife expert engaged with the WWF (India) North Bank Landscape Programme said.
The site where the electrocution took place is on a regular migratory route of elephant herds, which keep shuttling between Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh via the Assam corridor.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090930/jsp/northeast/story_11553827.jsp#
ABANDONED BABY ELEPHANT RESCUED FROM FOREST
- 12-DAY-OLD CALF MAY HAVE FALLEN OFF A HILL IN GHATSHILA, BEING TREATED AT TATA ZOO
KUMUD JENAMANI
Jamshedpur: A 12-day-old baby elephant, that was rescued from a forest in Ghatshila after it got separated from its herd, is now being treated at the Tata Steel Zoological Park’s nursery here.
Forest department officials suspect the calf was hurt when it accidentally skidded off a hill near the near Rajabasa forest in Ghatshila near the Bengal border on Sunday afternoon.
The baby elephant was part of a herd of 12 tuskers and was on way to West Midnapore in Bengal from Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary when it got separated. It sustained injuries on the forehead, legs and parts of the upper abdomen.
Villagers rescued the calf and informed the local forest beat officer. Later, divisional forest officer (DFO) of Dhalbhum A.T. Mishra reached the spot and brought it in a pick-up van to Jamshedpur.
He said though the calf was out of danger, it was still uncertain whether it would survive as it was living on breast milk. As a result, forest department officials and animal keepers at the zoo were finding it difficult to feed it.
“We are trying to feed bottled milk to the calf. It is now able to drink water on its own, but is still very weak, probably due to the injuries. If its condition remains stable for five days, it may survive,” Mishra said.
Senior forest officials from Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary visited the zoo today to see the baby elephant.
The DFO added that though veterinary doctor Manit Palit was looking after the calf at the zoo, they had also contacted the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) that has the expertise to treat baby elephants.
“Palit is trying his best to cure the injured animal, but as he does not have experience of treating a calf, we have also sought help from the WTI. In fact, WTI officials from New Delhi are monitoring the treatment,” Mishra said.
Palit said there was marginal improvement in the calf’s condition. “It is not only injured, but also shocked. It will take sometime for the calf to recover from the shock,” said the doctor.
On how the baby elephant was rescued from Rajabasa forest, Mishra said the herd was in the jungle for three days. After the elephants moved towards West Midnapore, the villagers went to the spot and found the injured calf.
“It is still a mystery why the herd left behind an injured member. It seems that the calf was very weak since birth and failed to withstand the adverse conditions baby elephants usually have to put up with. May be that’s why the elders left it behind after it fell down and got hurt,” the DFO added.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090930/jsp/jharkhand/story_11556235.jsp#
Forest department officials suspect the calf was hurt when it accidentally skidded off a hill near the near Rajabasa forest in Ghatshila near the Bengal border on Sunday afternoon.
The baby elephant was part of a herd of 12 tuskers and was on way to West Midnapore in Bengal from Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary when it got separated. It sustained injuries on the forehead, legs and parts of the upper abdomen.
Villagers rescued the calf and informed the local forest beat officer. Later, divisional forest officer (DFO) of Dhalbhum A.T. Mishra reached the spot and brought it in a pick-up van to Jamshedpur.
He said though the calf was out of danger, it was still uncertain whether it would survive as it was living on breast milk. As a result, forest department officials and animal keepers at the zoo were finding it difficult to feed it.
“We are trying to feed bottled milk to the calf. It is now able to drink water on its own, but is still very weak, probably due to the injuries. If its condition remains stable for five days, it may survive,” Mishra said.
Senior forest officials from Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary visited the zoo today to see the baby elephant.
The DFO added that though veterinary doctor Manit Palit was looking after the calf at the zoo, they had also contacted the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) that has the expertise to treat baby elephants.
“Palit is trying his best to cure the injured animal, but as he does not have experience of treating a calf, we have also sought help from the WTI. In fact, WTI officials from New Delhi are monitoring the treatment,” Mishra said.
Palit said there was marginal improvement in the calf’s condition. “It is not only injured, but also shocked. It will take sometime for the calf to recover from the shock,” said the doctor.
On how the baby elephant was rescued from Rajabasa forest, Mishra said the herd was in the jungle for three days. After the elephants moved towards West Midnapore, the villagers went to the spot and found the injured calf.
“It is still a mystery why the herd left behind an injured member. It seems that the calf was very weak since birth and failed to withstand the adverse conditions baby elephants usually have to put up with. May be that’s why the elders left it behind after it fell down and got hurt,” the DFO added.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090930/jsp/jharkhand/story_11556235.jsp#
ELEPHANT INJURES SIX PEOPLE IN TEMPLE STAMPEDE
An elephant has gone on the rampage at a temple in India.
The animal ran amok in the Tirupati Balaji temple during a ceremonial procession.
The three-year-old charged at a crowd of devotees attending the Hindu festival of Dusshera Brahmotasav in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.
It is thought he became frightened by the large crowds gathered in the temple, and then panicked when loud bells suddenly began ringing as part of the festival.
It took the efforts of the elephant's keeper and trainer and local police to finally bring the animal back under control.
Six people had to be treated for injuries.
http://itn.co.uk/391d994c9b6e26543d876152de35f8ca.html WITH VIDEO!!!
An elephant has gone on the rampage at a temple in India.
The animal ran amok in the Tirupati Balaji temple during a ceremonial procession.
The three-year-old charged at a crowd of devotees attending the Hindu festival of Dusshera Brahmotasav in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.
It is thought he became frightened by the large crowds gathered in the temple, and then panicked when loud bells suddenly began ringing as part of the festival.
It took the efforts of the elephant's keeper and trainer and local police to finally bring the animal back under control.
Six people had to be treated for injuries.
http://itn.co.uk/391d994c9b6e26543d876152de35f8ca.html WITH VIDEO!!!
ELEPHANTS JOIN IN MOURNING DEATH OF ZOO'S BELOVED BUKI
By Tom Buckham
NEWS STAFF REPORTER
For several hours Monday, Jothi and Surapa hovered over a lifeless Buki in the Buffalo Zoo's Elephant House.
The younger Asian elephants nudged the matriarch's head and brushed her body with their trunks, presumably in the hope that their constant companion of more than two decades might awaken and rise up from the padded floor.
But experience may have told these animals, which are known for their long memories, that Buki, 52, was irredeemably gone, Zoo President Donna M. Fernandes speculated.
When the older elephant's health began to decline about two months ago, the other two "seemed to recognize that she was sick," Fernandes said.
And Unlike 1992, when they grieved the passing of Lulu, then the senior member of the elephant family, with trumpeting and agitated movement, Surapa and Jothi did not appear as distressed this time, she said.
If anything, the death of perhaps the most popular member of the entire zoo collection was harder on the people who worked with her day in and day out -- including Fernandes, whose eyes welled up as she talked about Buki nine hours after the aged pachyderm died at 5:40 a.m.
"She had such a sweet disposition. She was a really wonderful animal," recalled Fernandes, who grew attached to the gentle giant after arriving in 2000 to guide the zoo's $58 million reconstruction program.
That sweet nature gave visitors many opportunities to observe Buki at close quarters, during bathing, "elephant art," football score-picking and other public events.
"She was a real symbol of the zoo," Fernandes said.
Two weeks ago, Buki, who had been diagnosed with kidney problems, stopped eating her staple foods -- hay and sugar cane -- leading keepers to suspect that the end might be near.
They and the veterinary staff "worked very hard" to save the animal, who lost several hundred pounds from her usual weight of about 8,500 pounds, Fernandes said.
After consulting with elephant experts in the United States and Canada, the veterinary staff administered medication to improve her digestion, alleviate discomfort and ward off infections, and gave her intravenous and oral fluids to keep her hydrated.
All the while, Buki continued to socialize with Jothi and Surapa and allowed keepers and veterinary staff to treat her. Hundreds of well-wishers sent cards, which keepers read to her each morning.
But Buki, who was born in Thailand and retired to the zoo in 1984 after touring with American circuses for 25 years, had reached the upper limits of an elephant's life expectancy.
Her time was up.
A necropsy will be performed, but the results will not be known for several weeks, Fernandes said. Buki's remains will be donated to the paleontology department of East Tennessee State University, which maintains an elephant bone and tissue collection.
The zoo, which was closed Monday because of Buki's death and the weather, will place a book of remembrance at the Elephant House for visitors.
Fernandes thanked the many fans who sent Buki get-well cards.
"I hope children aren't going to be disappointed to find out that she passed away anyway," she said.
http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/story/811280.html?imw=Y
The younger Asian elephants nudged the matriarch's head and brushed her body with their trunks, presumably in the hope that their constant companion of more than two decades might awaken and rise up from the padded floor.
But experience may have told these animals, which are known for their long memories, that Buki, 52, was irredeemably gone, Zoo President Donna M. Fernandes speculated.
When the older elephant's health began to decline about two months ago, the other two "seemed to recognize that she was sick," Fernandes said.
And Unlike 1992, when they grieved the passing of Lulu, then the senior member of the elephant family, with trumpeting and agitated movement, Surapa and Jothi did not appear as distressed this time, she said.
If anything, the death of perhaps the most popular member of the entire zoo collection was harder on the people who worked with her day in and day out -- including Fernandes, whose eyes welled up as she talked about Buki nine hours after the aged pachyderm died at 5:40 a.m.
"She had such a sweet disposition. She was a really wonderful animal," recalled Fernandes, who grew attached to the gentle giant after arriving in 2000 to guide the zoo's $58 million reconstruction program.
That sweet nature gave visitors many opportunities to observe Buki at close quarters, during bathing, "elephant art," football score-picking and other public events.
"She was a real symbol of the zoo," Fernandes said.
Two weeks ago, Buki, who had been diagnosed with kidney problems, stopped eating her staple foods -- hay and sugar cane -- leading keepers to suspect that the end might be near.
They and the veterinary staff "worked very hard" to save the animal, who lost several hundred pounds from her usual weight of about 8,500 pounds, Fernandes said.
After consulting with elephant experts in the United States and Canada, the veterinary staff administered medication to improve her digestion, alleviate discomfort and ward off infections, and gave her intravenous and oral fluids to keep her hydrated.
All the while, Buki continued to socialize with Jothi and Surapa and allowed keepers and veterinary staff to treat her. Hundreds of well-wishers sent cards, which keepers read to her each morning.
But Buki, who was born in Thailand and retired to the zoo in 1984 after touring with American circuses for 25 years, had reached the upper limits of an elephant's life expectancy.
Her time was up.
A necropsy will be performed, but the results will not be known for several weeks, Fernandes said. Buki's remains will be donated to the paleontology department of East Tennessee State University, which maintains an elephant bone and tissue collection.
The zoo, which was closed Monday because of Buki's death and the weather, will place a book of remembrance at the Elephant House for visitors.
Fernandes thanked the many fans who sent Buki get-well cards.
"I hope children aren't going to be disappointed to find out that she passed away anyway," she said.
http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/story/811280.html?imw=Y
THAILAND STEPS UP EFFORTS TO TACKLE ILLEGAL IVORY TRADE
Elizabeth
Bangkok, Thailand—A recent high-profile ivory seizure, a review of national legislation, and the initiation of training courses for both government staff and ivory traders are indications of the commitment being shown by the Thai Government to tackle the illegal ivory trade, according to TRAFFIC.
The seizure, by the Royal Thai Customs Department, took place during the third week of August at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport, when, according to the Thailand CITES Management Authority, 316 pieces of raw ivory weighing 812.5 kg illegally imported from Qatar were confiscated.
In order to help track the domestic ivory trade in Thailand, in August last year the Government introduced legislation requiring ivory traders to maintain and updated inventory their stock and to have this available for review by authorities as required.
The Government is also beginning a review of the Wildlife Animal Reservation and Protection Act (WARPA 1992). The Act contains a loophole that allows illegal trade to flourish in the country.
The flaw in the legislation was highlighted in TRAFFIC’s recent report, The elephant and ivory trade in Thailand(PDF, 800 KB) which also detailed the results of market surveys for ivory
carried out in 2006 and 2007.
“The government of Thailand is clearly demonstrating its commitment to addressing the illegal trade in ivory, although there is a long way to go before satisfactory measures are in place,” says Chris R
Shepherd, Acting Director of TRAFFIC Southeast Asia.
Recently the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) initiated a series of training courses to raise awareness among its staff about Thailand’s obligations under existing national legislation and under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) to control and manage ivory trade.
Thailand became a Party to CITES in 1983.
The first course was organized in Nakorn Sawan Province, and to help ensure buy-in from the private sector, ivory traders were invited to participate. TRAFFIC was invited to run a session on the identification of ivory for DNP staff.
“It was very encouraging to see the enthusiasm of the participants, and to see that more than 80% of the ivory and substitute ivory products used to test DNP staff were identified correctly,” says Shepherd.
The second course in Sara Buri Province was a three day event aimed at raising awareness among enforcement agencies about Thailand’s obligations under CITES and the importance of developing an effective coordination mechanism to report ivory seizures. A session was also included to help enforcement officers distinguish between real and fake ivory (usually bone and plastic resins) and between elephant (CITES listed) and mammoth ivory (non CITES listed).
TRAFFIC, in collaboration with the CITES Secretariat, has developed the Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS), a database that collates information on all ivory seizures reported worldwide.
Analysis of ETIS records helps in the assessment of how elephant range States are fulfilling their
commitment under the Convention, and has consistently identified Thailand as one of the top five countries implicated in the illegal trade of ivory.
Among countries in the region, Thailand plays the most significant role in the illegal trade in ivory and other elephant products, with trade in live elephants also a serious issue.
Although the trade in ivory and elephant products is not a new phenomenon—in Thailand, records go back as far the Sukhothai period (1238-1376 A.D.) — Asian Elephants are declining across their range, with the illegal trade in ivory a major contributing factor.
TRAFFIC has offered to provide technical support to help Thailand fulfill its obligations under CITES, ETIS and in the enforcement of strengthened national legislation.
Thailand is one of the 175 Parties expected to attend the next full meeting of CITES, which takes place next March in Qatar where concern about the trade in ivory and other elephant products will once again feature on the agenda.
“The seizure by Thai Customs of more than 800 kg of ivory illegally imported from Qatar last month could hardly be of greater significance for Thailand to signal its international commitment to implementing the treaty fully,” says Shepherd.
http://www.traffic.org/home/2009/9/24/thailand-steps-up-efforts-to-tackle-illegal-ivory-trade.html
CALF ELEPHANT RESCUED
By Manula Wickrema
The people in Mahakanadarawa area in Mihintale were aroused in the early hours of Sunday by the trumpeting of an elephant and a calf that reverberated the area. The calf from a herd of wild elephants roamed into Mahakanadarawa tank reservation on the previous night and fell into an abandoned well that was guarded by a she elephant. The residents of the area and the wildlife conservation officials who rushed to the scene refrained from getting within the sight of the angry mother elephant. Towards noon a large crowd including police and the wildlife conservation officers gathered at the scene, but all their attempts to take out the calf failed. Meanwhile a businessman of the area who came to their help immediately brought a backhoe and filled the earth down to the bottom of the well and let the calf come out. The calf came out and turned towards the crowd who ran away for their dear life. It ran along the road but did not hurt any body not even the small children who were not able to run away. The officials moved to catch it by the tail and tame it in a short while. They then chased away the calf into the jungle after feeding it with fodder and water.
http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=62994
Elizabeth
Bangkok, Thailand—A recent high-profile ivory seizure, a review of national legislation, and the initiation of training courses for both government staff and ivory traders are indications of the commitment being shown by the Thai Government to tackle the illegal ivory trade, according to TRAFFIC.
The seizure, by the Royal Thai Customs Department, took place during the third week of August at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport, when, according to the Thailand CITES Management Authority, 316 pieces of raw ivory weighing 812.5 kg illegally imported from Qatar were confiscated.
In order to help track the domestic ivory trade in Thailand, in August last year the Government introduced legislation requiring ivory traders to maintain and updated inventory their stock and to have this available for review by authorities as required.
The Government is also beginning a review of the Wildlife Animal Reservation and Protection Act (WARPA 1992). The Act contains a loophole that allows illegal trade to flourish in the country.
The flaw in the legislation was highlighted in TRAFFIC’s recent report, The elephant and ivory trade in Thailand(PDF, 800 KB) which also detailed the results of market surveys for ivory
carried out in 2006 and 2007.
“The government of Thailand is clearly demonstrating its commitment to addressing the illegal trade in ivory, although there is a long way to go before satisfactory measures are in place,” says Chris R
Shepherd, Acting Director of TRAFFIC Southeast Asia.
Recently the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) initiated a series of training courses to raise awareness among its staff about Thailand’s obligations under existing national legislation and under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) to control and manage ivory trade.
Thailand became a Party to CITES in 1983.
The first course was organized in Nakorn Sawan Province, and to help ensure buy-in from the private sector, ivory traders were invited to participate. TRAFFIC was invited to run a session on the identification of ivory for DNP staff.
“It was very encouraging to see the enthusiasm of the participants, and to see that more than 80% of the ivory and substitute ivory products used to test DNP staff were identified correctly,” says Shepherd.
The second course in Sara Buri Province was a three day event aimed at raising awareness among enforcement agencies about Thailand’s obligations under CITES and the importance of developing an effective coordination mechanism to report ivory seizures. A session was also included to help enforcement officers distinguish between real and fake ivory (usually bone and plastic resins) and between elephant (CITES listed) and mammoth ivory (non CITES listed).
TRAFFIC, in collaboration with the CITES Secretariat, has developed the Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS), a database that collates information on all ivory seizures reported worldwide.
Analysis of ETIS records helps in the assessment of how elephant range States are fulfilling their
commitment under the Convention, and has consistently identified Thailand as one of the top five countries implicated in the illegal trade of ivory.
Among countries in the region, Thailand plays the most significant role in the illegal trade in ivory and other elephant products, with trade in live elephants also a serious issue.
Although the trade in ivory and elephant products is not a new phenomenon—in Thailand, records go back as far the Sukhothai period (1238-1376 A.D.) — Asian Elephants are declining across their range, with the illegal trade in ivory a major contributing factor.
TRAFFIC has offered to provide technical support to help Thailand fulfill its obligations under CITES, ETIS and in the enforcement of strengthened national legislation.
Thailand is one of the 175 Parties expected to attend the next full meeting of CITES, which takes place next March in Qatar where concern about the trade in ivory and other elephant products will once again feature on the agenda.
“The seizure by Thai Customs of more than 800 kg of ivory illegally imported from Qatar last month could hardly be of greater significance for Thailand to signal its international commitment to implementing the treaty fully,” says Shepherd.
http://www.traffic.org/home/2009/9/24/thailand-steps-up-efforts-to-tackle-illegal-ivory-trade.html
CALF ELEPHANT RESCUED
By Manula Wickrema
The people in Mahakanadarawa area in Mihintale were aroused in the early hours of Sunday by the trumpeting of an elephant and a calf that reverberated the area. The calf from a herd of wild elephants roamed into Mahakanadarawa tank reservation on the previous night and fell into an abandoned well that was guarded by a she elephant. The residents of the area and the wildlife conservation officials who rushed to the scene refrained from getting within the sight of the angry mother elephant. Towards noon a large crowd including police and the wildlife conservation officers gathered at the scene, but all their attempts to take out the calf failed. Meanwhile a businessman of the area who came to their help immediately brought a backhoe and filled the earth down to the bottom of the well and let the calf come out. The calf came out and turned towards the crowd who ran away for their dear life. It ran along the road but did not hurt any body not even the small children who were not able to run away. The officials moved to catch it by the tail and tame it in a short while. They then chased away the calf into the jungle after feeding it with fodder and water.
http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=62994
105 ELEPHANT DEATHS THIS YEAR
As many as 105 elephants had died in the country due to various reasons in the first seven months of this year, records of the Wildlife Conservation Department show.
In the previous year, the figure stood at 224.
During the same period, 21 people had been killed in elephant attacks, the department said.
The highest number of elephant deaths had been reported from northwestern wildlife range, and 60 of the deaths were due to gunshot wounds.
http://colombotoday.com/english/articles/Lite/105-elephant-deaths-this-year/6514.htm
In the previous year, the figure stood at 224.
During the same period, 21 people had been killed in elephant attacks, the department said.
The highest number of elephant deaths had been reported from northwestern wildlife range, and 60 of the deaths were due to gunshot wounds.
http://colombotoday.com/english/articles/Lite/105-elephant-deaths-this-year/6514.htm
35-YEAR-OLD ELEPHANT CLEARED OF ASSAULT CHARGES
The police have concluded their first-ever investigation on an elephant, charged earlier of assaulting a person.
Despite the claim by a citizen surnamed Kim to have been hit with a large stone thrown by an elephant on Sept. 14, the police have found no evidence on such charges, officials said on Monday.
No witnesses were present at the scene at the time and the park`s CCTVs did not show any related data, though studied in detail, according to officials.
The Children`s Grand Park, where the alleged assault is said to have occurred, was also cleared from supervising responsibilities.
"As the alleged blow did not cause any injury to Kim, the only applicable clause in this case would be assault," said a police official. "As the present criminal law does not regulate the assault by negligence, neither the elephant nor the park may be punished for the act."
The 35-year-old elephant was thus cleared from charges but such measures do not prove whether or not the animal really threw the stone at Kim, he added.
"Tae-san, our well-trained elephant, would never have attacked a passer-by," said a zoo caretaker of the park. "We rather hoped that the police investigation would prove the elephant`s innocence."
The 48-year-old Kim came to an agreement with the park on Sunday and withdrew her accusations, according to police officials.
By Bae Hyun-jung
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/09/30/200909300030.asp
ELEPHANT RUNS AMOK AT TIRUPATHI TEMPLE
Headlines Today
Tirupathi
An elephant went berserk in the Tirupathi Balaji temple in Andhra Pradesh during a ceremonial procession on Monday night. Luckily no devotee was injured.
The incident took place during the Dusshera Brahmotsav at the temple when one of the four elephants in the procession ran amok. The elephant charged at the crowds who had gathered to watch the procession.
Temple authorities claimed that the elephant was a young one and probably got scared when some bells rang loudly and the crowds started shouting. The elephant attacked the crowd.
The other three elephants in the procession were fully grown adults so they did not get disturbed by the crowd, the authorities said.
It took a while for the young elephant to be controlled by the mahout.
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&issueid=111&id=63983&Itemid=1§ionid=114
The police have concluded their first-ever investigation on an elephant, charged earlier of assaulting a person.
Despite the claim by a citizen surnamed Kim to have been hit with a large stone thrown by an elephant on Sept. 14, the police have found no evidence on such charges, officials said on Monday.
No witnesses were present at the scene at the time and the park`s CCTVs did not show any related data, though studied in detail, according to officials.
The Children`s Grand Park, where the alleged assault is said to have occurred, was also cleared from supervising responsibilities.
"As the alleged blow did not cause any injury to Kim, the only applicable clause in this case would be assault," said a police official. "As the present criminal law does not regulate the assault by negligence, neither the elephant nor the park may be punished for the act."
The 35-year-old elephant was thus cleared from charges but such measures do not prove whether or not the animal really threw the stone at Kim, he added.
"Tae-san, our well-trained elephant, would never have attacked a passer-by," said a zoo caretaker of the park. "We rather hoped that the police investigation would prove the elephant`s innocence."
The 48-year-old Kim came to an agreement with the park on Sunday and withdrew her accusations, according to police officials.
By Bae Hyun-jung
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/09/30/200909300030.asp
ELEPHANT RUNS AMOK AT TIRUPATHI TEMPLE
Headlines Today
Tirupathi
An elephant went berserk in the Tirupathi Balaji temple in Andhra Pradesh during a ceremonial procession on Monday night. Luckily no devotee was injured.
The incident took place during the Dusshera Brahmotsav at the temple when one of the four elephants in the procession ran amok. The elephant charged at the crowds who had gathered to watch the procession.
Temple authorities claimed that the elephant was a young one and probably got scared when some bells rang loudly and the crowds started shouting. The elephant attacked the crowd.
The other three elephants in the procession were fully grown adults so they did not get disturbed by the crowd, the authorities said.
It took a while for the young elephant to be controlled by the mahout.
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&issueid=111&id=63983&Itemid=1§ionid=114
FIVE ELEPHANTS & A CHINESE ROCK STAR
Submitted by Geoff Keey
Southeast Asia is one of the world’s most vulnerable and least prepared regions of the world to face climate change. So it’s very fitting that negotiators from around the world are gathering in Bangkok, Thailand, for the next two weeks as part of the preparation for Copenhagen in December.
The region faces climate change threats from extreme weather, sea level rise, reduced crop yields, water scarcity, diseases and a loss of biodiversity – the diversity of natural life in the region.
The Philippines is a particularly vulnerable country, a point that was underscored over the last couple of days. The country’s capital Manila experienced its worst flood ever over the weekend. The storm has killed over 80 people and displaced nearly 300,000.
Deforestation is a major problem in Southeast Asia, helping to drive climate change and making the region and its people less resilient to the impact of climate change.
Today I met up with a group of elephants on the outskirts of Bangkok that have been on a 250km trek through Thailand organised by Greenpeace, tcktcktck and a number of wildlife, animal welfare and human rights organisations. The elephant caravan has travelled from Khao Yai National Park to Bangkok arriving in time for the climate negotiations.
The elephants were accompanied by Xiao Wei lead singer of a well known Chinese band 'Catcher in the Rye' who has been helping Greenpeace to protect the Paradise Forests of South East Asia.
Unfortunately, New Zealand’s connection to the Paradise Forests of South East Asia isn’t as positive as Xiao Wei. In fact New Zealand’s doing a sort of double whammy. Our ever-rising emissions are directly contributing to climate change and they’ll keep rising under New Zealand’s ETS. Meanwhile Fonterra’s unnecessary importing and use of palm kernel is contributing to tropical rain forest destruction by encouraging the destruction of rainforest for palm plantations.
http://www.signon.org.nz/blog/five-elephants-a-chinese-rock-star
The region faces climate change threats from extreme weather, sea level rise, reduced crop yields, water scarcity, diseases and a loss of biodiversity – the diversity of natural life in the region.
The Philippines is a particularly vulnerable country, a point that was underscored over the last couple of days. The country’s capital Manila experienced its worst flood ever over the weekend. The storm has killed over 80 people and displaced nearly 300,000.
Deforestation is a major problem in Southeast Asia, helping to drive climate change and making the region and its people less resilient to the impact of climate change.
Today I met up with a group of elephants on the outskirts of Bangkok that have been on a 250km trek through Thailand organised by Greenpeace, tcktcktck and a number of wildlife, animal welfare and human rights organisations. The elephant caravan has travelled from Khao Yai National Park to Bangkok arriving in time for the climate negotiations.
The elephants were accompanied by Xiao Wei lead singer of a well known Chinese band 'Catcher in the Rye' who has been helping Greenpeace to protect the Paradise Forests of South East Asia.
Unfortunately, New Zealand’s connection to the Paradise Forests of South East Asia isn’t as positive as Xiao Wei. In fact New Zealand’s doing a sort of double whammy. Our ever-rising emissions are directly contributing to climate change and they’ll keep rising under New Zealand’s ETS. Meanwhile Fonterra’s unnecessary importing and use of palm kernel is contributing to tropical rain forest destruction by encouraging the destruction of rainforest for palm plantations.
http://www.signon.org.nz/blog/five-elephants-a-chinese-rock-star
BUKI THE ELEPHANT DIES
Buffalo Zoo favorite was 52 years old
BUFFALO, NY (Release) - “Buki,” one of the Buffalo Zoo’s beloved Asian elephants, has died at the age of 52. A long-time resident, she was a favorite among visitors and a special friend to Zoo staff. Keepers were present when she passed away at 5:40 a.m. on Monday, September 28, 2009.
Although Buki had begun to show her age over the last few years, she recently experienced a reduction in appetite, leading to significant weight loss. Upon the advice of elephant nutritionists, keepers made several modifications to her diet to make it more suitable to an aging animal.
Results of all medical tests showed a change in her kidney function. The Zoo’s veterinary staff, in consultation with elephant experts in the United States and Canada, administered medication to improve her digestion, alleviate discomfort and reduce the likelihood of secondary infections. Supplemental oral fluids and regular IV fluids were also provided to support hydration and electrolyte balance.
Throughout her illness, Buki maintained social interactions with the Zoo’s other elephants, Jothi and Surapa. She also remained good-natured with her dedicated keepers and veterinary staff and accepted her treatments very well.
Hundreds of get well wishes poured in from the community, for which Zoo staff is very grateful. Keepers read the cards to Buki each morning. The cards are on display in the windows of the Elephant House, as well as the window across from the facility (by Sea Lion Cove).
A necropsy will be conducted; however, results will not be available for several weeks. A study conducted by Wiese and Willis published in the August 2004 issue of the journal Zoo Biology found that the average life expectancy for female Asian elephants in professionally managed zoological facilities is 44.8 years. The life expectancy values are similar to the life expectancy of wild elephants.
Born in the wild in her native Thailand, the earliest known records show she was brought to the United States in 1959, where she became a member of the King Bros. Circus. In 1961, Buki, known as “Sheba” during her days in the circus, began performing with several other elephants in the Cristiani-Wallace Circus, run by Pete Cristiani. She remained there until 1963 when Remo Cristiani added her as a member of his circus. Buki retired from the circus world in 1984.
To ensure that she received proper treatment and care for the remainder of her life, Buki was then brought to the Buffalo Zoo. There, she was introduced to her new elephant friend, “Lulu” (who passed away in 1992). Younger elephants, Jothi and Surapa, arrived from the Arignar Zoo in Madras, India and joined the pair in 1987.
At the Buffalo Zoo, Buki spent her time eating hay, along with vegetables and fruits, particularly watermelon—one of her favorite treats. The matriarch of the elephant trio, Buki, a gentle giant, was a wonderful ambassador for her species. She was the former star of the ever-popular, “Bathtime With Buki” demonstration, which took place in the Buffalo Zoo’s W.I.L.D. Place during the summer season. During this demonstration, visitors were given the opportunity to help scrub Buki, who especially loved getting rubbed behind the ears. Keepers also used this time to talk to visitors about elephants and how they can help secure this endangered species’ future.
Buki is survived by fellow elephant herd members, Jothi and Surapa, the Buffalo Zoo staff and the Western New York Community.
Copyright Press Release
http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/local/Buki_the_elephant_dies_20090928
Although Buki had begun to show her age over the last few years, she recently experienced a reduction in appetite, leading to significant weight loss. Upon the advice of elephant nutritionists, keepers made several modifications to her diet to make it more suitable to an aging animal.
Results of all medical tests showed a change in her kidney function. The Zoo’s veterinary staff, in consultation with elephant experts in the United States and Canada, administered medication to improve her digestion, alleviate discomfort and reduce the likelihood of secondary infections. Supplemental oral fluids and regular IV fluids were also provided to support hydration and electrolyte balance.
Throughout her illness, Buki maintained social interactions with the Zoo’s other elephants, Jothi and Surapa. She also remained good-natured with her dedicated keepers and veterinary staff and accepted her treatments very well.
Hundreds of get well wishes poured in from the community, for which Zoo staff is very grateful. Keepers read the cards to Buki each morning. The cards are on display in the windows of the Elephant House, as well as the window across from the facility (by Sea Lion Cove).
A necropsy will be conducted; however, results will not be available for several weeks. A study conducted by Wiese and Willis published in the August 2004 issue of the journal Zoo Biology found that the average life expectancy for female Asian elephants in professionally managed zoological facilities is 44.8 years. The life expectancy values are similar to the life expectancy of wild elephants.
Born in the wild in her native Thailand, the earliest known records show she was brought to the United States in 1959, where she became a member of the King Bros. Circus. In 1961, Buki, known as “Sheba” during her days in the circus, began performing with several other elephants in the Cristiani-Wallace Circus, run by Pete Cristiani. She remained there until 1963 when Remo Cristiani added her as a member of his circus. Buki retired from the circus world in 1984.
To ensure that she received proper treatment and care for the remainder of her life, Buki was then brought to the Buffalo Zoo. There, she was introduced to her new elephant friend, “Lulu” (who passed away in 1992). Younger elephants, Jothi and Surapa, arrived from the Arignar Zoo in Madras, India and joined the pair in 1987.
At the Buffalo Zoo, Buki spent her time eating hay, along with vegetables and fruits, particularly watermelon—one of her favorite treats. The matriarch of the elephant trio, Buki, a gentle giant, was a wonderful ambassador for her species. She was the former star of the ever-popular, “Bathtime With Buki” demonstration, which took place in the Buffalo Zoo’s W.I.L.D. Place during the summer season. During this demonstration, visitors were given the opportunity to help scrub Buki, who especially loved getting rubbed behind the ears. Keepers also used this time to talk to visitors about elephants and how they can help secure this endangered species’ future.
Buki is survived by fellow elephant herd members, Jothi and Surapa, the Buffalo Zoo staff and the Western New York Community.
Copyright Press Release
http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/local/Buki_the_elephant_dies_20090928
COLOURFUL PROCESSION OF ELEPHANTS ENDS MYSORE DUSSEHRA FEST
Mysore A colourful procession of caparisoned elephants or ‘jumbo savari’, watched by thousands of people including those from abroad, marked the end of the 10-day Mysore Dussehra celebrations here Monday.
The highlight of the jumbo savari was elephant Balarama carrying the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari placed on the 750-kg golden howdah (carriage) mounted atop him.
Legend has it that on the tenth day of Dussehra, Chamundeshwari slew demon Mahishasura. The day is celebrated as Vijaya (victory) Dashami (tenth day).
Flanked by Sarala and Mary, two other brightly decorated elephants, the 52-year-old Balarama, weighing over 5,000 kg and standing 2.7 metre tall, strode majestically through the five-km route to the cheers of spectators.
Folk dancers, drummers and tableaux depicting various facets of the state added glitter to the show. One tableau was on the H1N1 virus flu asking people not to panic but take precautions.
The jumbo savari took off from the illuminated Mysore palace after Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, his cabinet colleagues and the scion of the Wadiyar family, the former Kings of Mysore, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar worshipped the idol of Chamundeshwari.
The procession passed through the main roads of Mysore, about 140 km from Bangalore, and ended at Bannimantap grounds.
Tight security was in place with around 6,000 police personnel deployed along the procession route.
The Central Industrial Security Force personnel were on duty at the Amba Vilas palace during the procession flag off ceremony.
The Mysore Dusshera fest dates back to 1610 AD when King Raja Wadiyar-I began celebrating the victory of Chamundeshwari over demon Mahishasura.
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/health/colourful-procession-of-elephants-ends-mysore-dussehra-fest-with-image_100253393.html
Mysore A colourful procession of caparisoned elephants or ‘jumbo savari’, watched by thousands of people including those from abroad, marked the end of the 10-day Mysore Dussehra celebrations here Monday.
The highlight of the jumbo savari was elephant Balarama carrying the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari placed on the 750-kg golden howdah (carriage) mounted atop him.
Legend has it that on the tenth day of Dussehra, Chamundeshwari slew demon Mahishasura. The day is celebrated as Vijaya (victory) Dashami (tenth day).
Flanked by Sarala and Mary, two other brightly decorated elephants, the 52-year-old Balarama, weighing over 5,000 kg and standing 2.7 metre tall, strode majestically through the five-km route to the cheers of spectators.
Folk dancers, drummers and tableaux depicting various facets of the state added glitter to the show. One tableau was on the H1N1 virus flu asking people not to panic but take precautions.
The jumbo savari took off from the illuminated Mysore palace after Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, his cabinet colleagues and the scion of the Wadiyar family, the former Kings of Mysore, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar worshipped the idol of Chamundeshwari.
The procession passed through the main roads of Mysore, about 140 km from Bangalore, and ended at Bannimantap grounds.
Tight security was in place with around 6,000 police personnel deployed along the procession route.
The Central Industrial Security Force personnel were on duty at the Amba Vilas palace during the procession flag off ceremony.
The Mysore Dusshera fest dates back to 1610 AD when King Raja Wadiyar-I began celebrating the victory of Chamundeshwari over demon Mahishasura.
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/health/colourful-procession-of-elephants-ends-mysore-dussehra-fest-with-image_100253393.html
RETURNING ELEPHANT CORRIDORS COULD ONLY END MAN ELEPHANT CONFLICT: WWF
Jayanta Kumar Das
In view of the recent clashes between man and elephant in Assam particularly in Udalguri and Sonitpur district,which had resulted deaths of four wild elephants and five people so far,WWF (World Wildlife Fund ) authority along with a few NGOs organized an awareness camp at Bamunjuli tea garden, near Indo-Bhutan areas on September 21 at 2pm.With the focal theme aware “ Problems and sufferings : an open discussion” ,the awareness camp had been organized by WWF India North Bank Landscape Programme in association with Green Valley Forest and Wildlife Protection Society ( a Nonaipara based NGO,working on the conservation floras and faunas of the region);Harisinga Revenue Circle, Tangla; Bamunjuli Cricket Club and Kalyan NGO of Bamunjuli. Debanga Mahaliya of Rwdwmsa (an NGO working for the protection of animals and birds ) anchored the proceedings while Dithakananda Hazarika,Circle Officer, Harisinga Revenue Circle presided over the meeting. In his welcome speech,Debanga Mahaliya gave in details of the problems relating man elephant conflict in Assam particularly in Udalguri district.
Hiten Baishya of WWF India North Bank Landscape Programme highlighted some of the main causes of the present conflict. He said that human encroachment had compelled wild elephants come down in search of food. According to him wild elephants do not get their daily requirement of 400 kg food in the forest or hills as most of the forests and hills had been deforested. Wild elephants had become quite familiar with human beings because of their unabated settlements in the forests and hills and so they never hesitate to roam in the localities, asserted Baishya. Dr.Anupam Sarma, coordinator of WWF India North Bank Landscape programme in his speech commented that different methods according to the needs must be adopted to minimize the conflict. According to him, the return of the elephant corridors to them could only solve the problem permanently. Senior journalist and Hony.Wildlife Warden Bhargab Kumar Das highlighted practical problems in solving the conflict. He said that destruction of forests had started since 1992, which enjoyed full political patronage resulting destruction of most of the forests in a very short time.
Dr.Buddhin Hazarika,Dr..Khagen Nath,Ananta Bagh,CEO of Green Valley Forest and Wildlife Protection Society also spoke a few words on the occasion.Several persons were felicitated publicly for their contribution in the field of conservation of plants and animals.Rahul Borah,Deputy Manager of Orangajuli TE also attended the camp as guest of honour.
In another incident, one more young wild elephant had been electrocuted at Satgharia village near Hatigarh TE on the night of September 25.According to information the 5.6 feet tall 3-4 years old young tusker was stuck to high voltage electric fencing erected illegally by the villagers. Circle Officer, Harisinga Revenue Circle ( Tangla ), OC Paneri police station; K.Chamua, VAS, Tangla and H. Kalita Range Officer, Nonai Range Office rushed to the spot on September 26.Police said that they have arrested two persons supposed to be involved in the matter. It has been informed that DC,Udalguri had ordered magistrate level inquiry in the matter.
http://www.assamtimes.org/hot-news/3455.html
WILD ELEPHANTS KILL TWO
Jakarta - At least two people were killed and hectares of oil palm plantations destroyed when a herd of wild elephants went on a rampage through a resettlement area in eastern Sumatra over the weekend, a media report said on Monday.
The incident took place on Saturday when villagers of Tebo district in Riau province and residents of Indragiri Hulu district of the adjacent province of Jambi were trying to drive a herd of up to 80 elephants off their farms using traditional methods such as torches, beating drums and sharp weapons.
Rather than leaving the plantation area, the wild elephants became enraged, trampling to death two villagers. In addition, the beasts also destroyed several hectares of oil palm plantation and dozens of huts, the Kompas daily reported.
According to Didy Wurjanto, the head of Jambi province's Natural Resource Conservation Agency (BKSDA), conflict between the pachyderms and the locals has been on the rise in recent years because the plantations have been established on a trail used by the wild elephants.
Wuryanto blamed an increased number of new oil palm plantations in the area and said it would be difficult to guarantee the wild elephants would not reenter the residential areas because the animals are forced to feed on the crops that replace their natural foods.
Environmentalists and conservation officials have said human-animal conflicts are a growing problem as human settlements encroach on natural habitats in Indonesia, an archipelago nation with some of the world's largest remaining tropical forests.
The global conservation group WWF estimates there are only about 3 000 wild elephants roaming Sumatra, the only island in Indonesia where they can still be found in the wild. They are listed as an endangered species and protected by law. - Sapa-dpa
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3&art_id=nw20090928072403713C243553
Jayanta Kumar Das
In view of the recent clashes between man and elephant in Assam particularly in Udalguri and Sonitpur district,which had resulted deaths of four wild elephants and five people so far,WWF (World Wildlife Fund ) authority along with a few NGOs organized an awareness camp at Bamunjuli tea garden, near Indo-Bhutan areas on September 21 at 2pm.With the focal theme aware “ Problems and sufferings : an open discussion” ,the awareness camp had been organized by WWF India North Bank Landscape Programme in association with Green Valley Forest and Wildlife Protection Society ( a Nonaipara based NGO,working on the conservation floras and faunas of the region);Harisinga Revenue Circle, Tangla; Bamunjuli Cricket Club and Kalyan NGO of Bamunjuli. Debanga Mahaliya of Rwdwmsa (an NGO working for the protection of animals and birds ) anchored the proceedings while Dithakananda Hazarika,Circle Officer, Harisinga Revenue Circle presided over the meeting. In his welcome speech,Debanga Mahaliya gave in details of the problems relating man elephant conflict in Assam particularly in Udalguri district.
Hiten Baishya of WWF India North Bank Landscape Programme highlighted some of the main causes of the present conflict. He said that human encroachment had compelled wild elephants come down in search of food. According to him wild elephants do not get their daily requirement of 400 kg food in the forest or hills as most of the forests and hills had been deforested. Wild elephants had become quite familiar with human beings because of their unabated settlements in the forests and hills and so they never hesitate to roam in the localities, asserted Baishya. Dr.Anupam Sarma, coordinator of WWF India North Bank Landscape programme in his speech commented that different methods according to the needs must be adopted to minimize the conflict. According to him, the return of the elephant corridors to them could only solve the problem permanently. Senior journalist and Hony.Wildlife Warden Bhargab Kumar Das highlighted practical problems in solving the conflict. He said that destruction of forests had started since 1992, which enjoyed full political patronage resulting destruction of most of the forests in a very short time.
Dr.Buddhin Hazarika,Dr..Khagen Nath,Ananta Bagh,CEO of Green Valley Forest and Wildlife Protection Society also spoke a few words on the occasion.Several persons were felicitated publicly for their contribution in the field of conservation of plants and animals.Rahul Borah,Deputy Manager of Orangajuli TE also attended the camp as guest of honour.
In another incident, one more young wild elephant had been electrocuted at Satgharia village near Hatigarh TE on the night of September 25.According to information the 5.6 feet tall 3-4 years old young tusker was stuck to high voltage electric fencing erected illegally by the villagers. Circle Officer, Harisinga Revenue Circle ( Tangla ), OC Paneri police station; K.Chamua, VAS, Tangla and H. Kalita Range Officer, Nonai Range Office rushed to the spot on September 26.Police said that they have arrested two persons supposed to be involved in the matter. It has been informed that DC,Udalguri had ordered magistrate level inquiry in the matter.
http://www.assamtimes.org/hot-news/3455.html
WILD ELEPHANTS KILL TWO
Jakarta - At least two people were killed and hectares of oil palm plantations destroyed when a herd of wild elephants went on a rampage through a resettlement area in eastern Sumatra over the weekend, a media report said on Monday.
The incident took place on Saturday when villagers of Tebo district in Riau province and residents of Indragiri Hulu district of the adjacent province of Jambi were trying to drive a herd of up to 80 elephants off their farms using traditional methods such as torches, beating drums and sharp weapons.
Rather than leaving the plantation area, the wild elephants became enraged, trampling to death two villagers. In addition, the beasts also destroyed several hectares of oil palm plantation and dozens of huts, the Kompas daily reported.
According to Didy Wurjanto, the head of Jambi province's Natural Resource Conservation Agency (BKSDA), conflict between the pachyderms and the locals has been on the rise in recent years because the plantations have been established on a trail used by the wild elephants.
Wuryanto blamed an increased number of new oil palm plantations in the area and said it would be difficult to guarantee the wild elephants would not reenter the residential areas because the animals are forced to feed on the crops that replace their natural foods.
Environmentalists and conservation officials have said human-animal conflicts are a growing problem as human settlements encroach on natural habitats in Indonesia, an archipelago nation with some of the world's largest remaining tropical forests.
The global conservation group WWF estimates there are only about 3 000 wild elephants roaming Sumatra, the only island in Indonesia where they can still be found in the wild. They are listed as an endangered species and protected by law. - Sapa-dpa
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3&art_id=nw20090928072403713C243553
CORRIDOR OF SURVIVAL SHRINKING FOR ELEPHANTS
BHUBANESWAR: Since April, at least 17 elephants have died in Orissa, boasting of the largest jumbo population in the eastern region. Their number has risen and so has their misery.
In the last 10 years, approximately 400 pachyderms have died in Orissa. The decade also marked an upswing in mineral and industrial activities.
Besides encroaching habitats of elephants through increasing mining as well as urbanisation activities, large-scale infrastructure such as road network and railway lines have led to fragmentation of the corridors of the elephants in the last few years.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, also in charge of the Forest and Environment Department, recently announced a management plan that was aimed at improving migration corridors. Now that the Orissa Government has woken up to damage control strategies, some posers remain - Is it too late? Or will it be too little?
The Wildlife Trust of India which had carried out a mapping of the elephant corridors of the country had identified nine such stretches in Orissa. Six of the corridors were inside the State while three were inter-state patches.
By encouraging mining and industrial activities, the Government only helped degrade the corridors. The CAG had also rapped the State for its indifferent attitude towards problems of the elephants.
“Elephant activities in Orissa were being affected due to mining activities, particularly in Keonjhar and Sundargah and several inter and intra-State corridors used by the elephants had been destroyed.
The forced restraint on their movement and consequent confinement to small groups changed behaviour of the elephants and human-elephant conflict was on the rise,’’ it said. In fact, Planning Commission too had identified acquisition and development of corridors as one of the thrust activities under the Project Elephant for the 11th Five-Year Plan but funds utilisation was less than satisfactory.
“One of the biggest problems has been non-acquisition of corridors although proposals were sent. Since most of these critical patches are in areas which have witnessed mining and industrial activities, they need conservation. But it has not happened yet,’’ sources said.
While the protection the corridors needed was ignored, the measures made by the State Government appear to go nowhere. Of the elephant 88 corridors that India has, 65 per cent of those in South India enjoy protected area (PA) status. In Orissa and other eastern India states, barely 10 per cent have PA status.
“If the Orissa Government is so keen to improve the corridors and resurrect them, the first thing it can do it accord PA status to them while improving their condition,” said an insider. A number of corridors are faced with serious danger from urbanisation. The Karo-Karampada corridor in Keonjhar is threatened by a SAIL township, mining and heavy traffic movement and machinery. Now railway lines have invaded.
The Rengali Irrigation Project has been a serious threat to the corridor. The 30-km Badampahar-Karida East corridor has severely fragmented with a national highway passing by.
“Just announcing a plan will amount to paying lip service,’’ said a senior officer.
http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Corridor+of++survival+shrinking+for+elephants&artid=PmC9uhiInaI=&SectionID=mvKkT3vj5ZA=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2j
Ia4A=&SectionName=nUFeEOBkuKw=&SEO
In the last 10 years, approximately 400 pachyderms have died in Orissa. The decade also marked an upswing in mineral and industrial activities.
Besides encroaching habitats of elephants through increasing mining as well as urbanisation activities, large-scale infrastructure such as road network and railway lines have led to fragmentation of the corridors of the elephants in the last few years.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, also in charge of the Forest and Environment Department, recently announced a management plan that was aimed at improving migration corridors. Now that the Orissa Government has woken up to damage control strategies, some posers remain - Is it too late? Or will it be too little?
The Wildlife Trust of India which had carried out a mapping of the elephant corridors of the country had identified nine such stretches in Orissa. Six of the corridors were inside the State while three were inter-state patches.
By encouraging mining and industrial activities, the Government only helped degrade the corridors. The CAG had also rapped the State for its indifferent attitude towards problems of the elephants.
“Elephant activities in Orissa were being affected due to mining activities, particularly in Keonjhar and Sundargah and several inter and intra-State corridors used by the elephants had been destroyed.
The forced restraint on their movement and consequent confinement to small groups changed behaviour of the elephants and human-elephant conflict was on the rise,’’ it said. In fact, Planning Commission too had identified acquisition and development of corridors as one of the thrust activities under the Project Elephant for the 11th Five-Year Plan but funds utilisation was less than satisfactory.
“One of the biggest problems has been non-acquisition of corridors although proposals were sent. Since most of these critical patches are in areas which have witnessed mining and industrial activities, they need conservation. But it has not happened yet,’’ sources said.
While the protection the corridors needed was ignored, the measures made by the State Government appear to go nowhere. Of the elephant 88 corridors that India has, 65 per cent of those in South India enjoy protected area (PA) status. In Orissa and other eastern India states, barely 10 per cent have PA status.
“If the Orissa Government is so keen to improve the corridors and resurrect them, the first thing it can do it accord PA status to them while improving their condition,” said an insider. A number of corridors are faced with serious danger from urbanisation. The Karo-Karampada corridor in Keonjhar is threatened by a SAIL township, mining and heavy traffic movement and machinery. Now railway lines have invaded.
The Rengali Irrigation Project has been a serious threat to the corridor. The 30-km Badampahar-Karida East corridor has severely fragmented with a national highway passing by.
“Just announcing a plan will amount to paying lip service,’’ said a senior officer.
http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Corridor+of++survival+shrinking+for+elephants&artid=PmC9uhiInaI=&SectionID=mvKkT3vj5ZA=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2j
Ia4A=&SectionName=nUFeEOBkuKw=&SEO
WAY KAMBAS RESIDENTS LIVE IN FEAR OF ELEPHANTS
Oyos Saroso H.N. , The Jakarta Post , Bandarlampung
Villagers around the Way Kambas National Park (TNWK) in Lampung have been living in a state of fear over the past few days due raging wild elephants destroying their crops.
The herd of around 50 elephants has also damaged the residents' huts and chicken coops. Villagers are also gripped with fear because the elephants are no longer afraid of torches and bamboo drums, which were successfully used in the past to drive them away.
"The elephants have destroyed dozens of people's chicken coops. Residents had initially intended to cook the chickens for Idul Fitri," said Sulasno, a resident in Labuhan Ratu 9 village, Labuhan Ratu district, East Lampung.
"We are terrified because the elephants trampled to death a number of people."
Sularno added that the herd of elephants had invaded the village two days before Idul Fitri. "We are still afraid to go outdoors at night because the elephants usually come at night," he said.
The Lampung chapter of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) coordinator, Dwi Nugroho Adhiasto, said the herd of elephants had actually ventured into their own habitat.
"They have naturally returned to the area they regard as their habitat. The human settlement was once the habitat of Sumatran elephants," said Dwi.
WCS data shows that herds of wild elephants from the TNWK have been encroaching into human settlements and destroying farms for the past three years.
"In the past three months, 16 herds of wild elephants from TNWK even destroyed hundreds of hectares of farms in Purbolinggo, Sukadana, Way Jepara, Braja Selebah and Labuhan Ratu districts."
The 16 herds are made up of 327 elephants, Dwi said. "Villagers have suffered huge losses because the raging elephants destroyed everything in their path.
Dwi said the elephants' behavior had changed. "Previously, they could be pushed back into the forest by using torches and sounding bamboo drums. They were also afraid of the sound of bamboo cannons. But now, they will fight back when driven away," said Dwi.
The TNWK and WCS are currently working every night to drive back the herd of elephants into the forest with the help of four trained elephants from the TNWK Elephant Training Center, dozens of forest rangers and WCS activists. However, they are overwhelmed because the elephants keep venturing out of the forest and destroying farms.
The TNWK Center has been digging a 29-kilometer ditch across 12 swamps in three villages in the past few years to prevent the elephants from venturing out in the forest. However, most of the ditches near the swamps are currently damaged.
Hendrawan, the Lampung chapter Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) director, said the rampaging elephants frequently intruded into human settlements as their habitat had been damaged by illegal logging and forest conversion.
"Their habitat has been further threatened. If they still had plenty of food and their habitat was intact, they would not be venturing into villages and destroying crops," said Hendrawan.
Apart from environmental damage in both national parks, the elephants are also seriously threatened by the presence of poachers hunting for their tusks.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/09/25/way-kambas-residents-live-fear-elephants.html
CHILDREN STEPPED ON BY ELEPHANTS AT INDONESIA'S BOROBUDUR TEMPLE
Two children were admitted to hospital in Yogyakarta after they were allegedly stomped on by an elephant at the Borobudur temple on Friday.
Rahma, 11, and her younger sister Ari, 9, were riding an elephant at the Borobudur Temple Amusement Park in Magelang, Central Java, at around 10 a.m. The children were riding one of the five elephants in the park.
A witness said that the incident happened when the elephant keeper gave the animals some water to drink. The elephants were pushing and fighting over the water and Rahma and Ari were thrown off the elephant’s back and were feared to have been stepped by one of the angry elephants.
The children were taken to two different hospitals. Rahma was taken to Muntilan General Hospital and Ari was taken to Panti Rapih Hospital.
Doctor Hawa Mustika from Panti Rapih Hospital told the Jakarta Globe that Ari was in a stable condition.
“We have x-rayed her and we found some blood in her left lung but generally, she’s fine,” Hawa said. The girl will need to stay in hospital for two to three days for observation before she is allowed to go home, he said.
There was no comment from the management of the amusement park about the incident.
JG
http://thejakartaglobe.com/home/children-stepped-on-by-elephants-at-indonesias-borobudur-temple/331725
Oyos Saroso H.N. , The Jakarta Post , Bandarlampung
Villagers around the Way Kambas National Park (TNWK) in Lampung have been living in a state of fear over the past few days due raging wild elephants destroying their crops.
The herd of around 50 elephants has also damaged the residents' huts and chicken coops. Villagers are also gripped with fear because the elephants are no longer afraid of torches and bamboo drums, which were successfully used in the past to drive them away.
"The elephants have destroyed dozens of people's chicken coops. Residents had initially intended to cook the chickens for Idul Fitri," said Sulasno, a resident in Labuhan Ratu 9 village, Labuhan Ratu district, East Lampung.
"We are terrified because the elephants trampled to death a number of people."
Sularno added that the herd of elephants had invaded the village two days before Idul Fitri. "We are still afraid to go outdoors at night because the elephants usually come at night," he said.
The Lampung chapter of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) coordinator, Dwi Nugroho Adhiasto, said the herd of elephants had actually ventured into their own habitat.
"They have naturally returned to the area they regard as their habitat. The human settlement was once the habitat of Sumatran elephants," said Dwi.
WCS data shows that herds of wild elephants from the TNWK have been encroaching into human settlements and destroying farms for the past three years.
"In the past three months, 16 herds of wild elephants from TNWK even destroyed hundreds of hectares of farms in Purbolinggo, Sukadana, Way Jepara, Braja Selebah and Labuhan Ratu districts."
The 16 herds are made up of 327 elephants, Dwi said. "Villagers have suffered huge losses because the raging elephants destroyed everything in their path.
Dwi said the elephants' behavior had changed. "Previously, they could be pushed back into the forest by using torches and sounding bamboo drums. They were also afraid of the sound of bamboo cannons. But now, they will fight back when driven away," said Dwi.
The TNWK and WCS are currently working every night to drive back the herd of elephants into the forest with the help of four trained elephants from the TNWK Elephant Training Center, dozens of forest rangers and WCS activists. However, they are overwhelmed because the elephants keep venturing out of the forest and destroying farms.
The TNWK Center has been digging a 29-kilometer ditch across 12 swamps in three villages in the past few years to prevent the elephants from venturing out in the forest. However, most of the ditches near the swamps are currently damaged.
Hendrawan, the Lampung chapter Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) director, said the rampaging elephants frequently intruded into human settlements as their habitat had been damaged by illegal logging and forest conversion.
"Their habitat has been further threatened. If they still had plenty of food and their habitat was intact, they would not be venturing into villages and destroying crops," said Hendrawan.
Apart from environmental damage in both national parks, the elephants are also seriously threatened by the presence of poachers hunting for their tusks.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/09/25/way-kambas-residents-live-fear-elephants.html
CHILDREN STEPPED ON BY ELEPHANTS AT INDONESIA'S BOROBUDUR TEMPLE
Two children were admitted to hospital in Yogyakarta after they were allegedly stomped on by an elephant at the Borobudur temple on Friday.
Rahma, 11, and her younger sister Ari, 9, were riding an elephant at the Borobudur Temple Amusement Park in Magelang, Central Java, at around 10 a.m. The children were riding one of the five elephants in the park.
A witness said that the incident happened when the elephant keeper gave the animals some water to drink. The elephants were pushing and fighting over the water and Rahma and Ari were thrown off the elephant’s back and were feared to have been stepped by one of the angry elephants.
The children were taken to two different hospitals. Rahma was taken to Muntilan General Hospital and Ari was taken to Panti Rapih Hospital.
Doctor Hawa Mustika from Panti Rapih Hospital told the Jakarta Globe that Ari was in a stable condition.
“We have x-rayed her and we found some blood in her left lung but generally, she’s fine,” Hawa said. The girl will need to stay in hospital for two to three days for observation before she is allowed to go home, he said.
There was no comment from the management of the amusement park about the incident.
JG
http://thejakartaglobe.com/home/children-stepped-on-by-elephants-at-indonesias-borobudur-temple/331725
CIRCUS ELEPHANTS PAINT A GRAND RAPIDS BUS
GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM)- The Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus elephants are lending their trunks to create artwork in downtown Grand Rapids. The pachyderms, along with 25 young artists from the group Very Special Arts Grand Rapids, collaborated to cover a unique canvas- a RAPID bus.
Circus leaders say it is a natural fit to have the world's largest artists participate in ArtPrize, the world's largest art competition.
The circus runs through Sunday at Van Andel Arena.
http://www.wzzm13.com/news/watercooler/story.aspx?storyid=114019&catid=82
LOS ANGELES ZOO ELEPHANT LAWSUIT MOVES FORWARD
A lawsuit charging the Los Angeles Zoo with abusing elephants will be allowed to go to trial, a three-judge panel of California's 2nd District Court of Appeal ruled on Wednesday.
A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge had initially ruled that the issues raised in the suit were political and not for a court to decide.
The appeals court decided otherwise.
"The bottom line is we're entitled to our day in court and they sent it back to trial," said David Casselman who filed the suit on behalf of actor Robert Culp and real estate agent Aaron Leider.
Both men brought the suit as California taxpayers under the state's taxpayer waste statute. They allege that the zoo -- a city agency -- has violated the statute by managing elephants in a way that abuses and injures them.
The zoo, long a target for elephant welfare advocates, is in the process of building a large new exhibit to house the pachyderms. The zoo, which currently has only one elephant, Billy, has consistently maintained they vigilantly care for the animals.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/09/los-angeles-zoo-elephant-lawsuit-moves-forward.html
IVORY WORTH OVER RS ONE CRORE SEIZED, FIVE ARRESTED
Varanasi, Sept 24 (PTI) Police claimed to have busted a gang of ivory smugglers in the temple town by arresting five persons from Narottampur Colony and seizing ivory worth over Rs one crore.
"We have arrested five persons last night and recovered about 100 kg smuggled ivory from a house in the Narottampur area,"Vijay Bhushan, city SP, told PTI.
He said that three machines used in the nefarious trade have also been seized from the house.
"We got information about this business being run from a house in Narottampur colony. Two sub-inspectors were deputed near the house and once we were sure, we raided the particular house, only to find the entire Gupta family involved in ivory smuggling,"he said.
The arrested have been identified as Ram Kishore Gupta, his sons Gangotri and Vikky, besides relatives Kamlesh and Manoj.
Cops have allegedly recovered about 100 kg ivory stuffed in six sacks from an underground room in the house. Three machines used in making ivory toys were also recovered apart from bones of animals, idols and other decorative items.
Following the report, senior official of the forest departments, including Divisional Forest Officer LR Bairawa, reached the Lanka police station and confirmed that 100 kg haul was pure ivory."The ivory recovered is worth more than Rs one crore in the international market,"he said.
http://www.indopia.in/India-usa-uk-news/latest-news/675240/National/1/20/1
ELEPHANTS DESTROY COFFEE, RICE CROPS
Oyos Saroso H.N. , The Jakarta Post , Bandar Lampung
Wild elephants in the Way Kambas National Park have encroached into neighboring residential areas, destroying crops and frightening local villagers.
Over the last few days, the animals have wreaked havoc with coffee and rice crops, and destroyed chicken coops.
Local villager Sulasno said the elephants were no longer frightened off by the torches or drums traditionally used to shoo them away.
“We’re scared because the elephants have trampled several people to death in the past few years,” he said Thursday.
“We don’t dare leave our homes at night for fear of an elephant attack.”
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) coordinator Dwi Nugroho Adhiasto said the elephants were simply returning to their old habitat, which had been converted into residential areas and farmland.
“Their instincts have driven them to their old territory,” he said.
WCS data shows elephant incursions into nearby villages have intensified over the last three months, affecting 100 hectares of farmland.
The park management and the WCS built a 29-kilometer canal around the park to prevent elephants from encroaching into villages a few years ago, but the moat is no longer effective.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/node/228839
GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM)- The Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus elephants are lending their trunks to create artwork in downtown Grand Rapids. The pachyderms, along with 25 young artists from the group Very Special Arts Grand Rapids, collaborated to cover a unique canvas- a RAPID bus.
Circus leaders say it is a natural fit to have the world's largest artists participate in ArtPrize, the world's largest art competition.
The circus runs through Sunday at Van Andel Arena.
http://www.wzzm13.com/news/watercooler/story.aspx?storyid=114019&catid=82
LOS ANGELES ZOO ELEPHANT LAWSUIT MOVES FORWARD
A lawsuit charging the Los Angeles Zoo with abusing elephants will be allowed to go to trial, a three-judge panel of California's 2nd District Court of Appeal ruled on Wednesday.
A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge had initially ruled that the issues raised in the suit were political and not for a court to decide.
The appeals court decided otherwise.
"The bottom line is we're entitled to our day in court and they sent it back to trial," said David Casselman who filed the suit on behalf of actor Robert Culp and real estate agent Aaron Leider.
Both men brought the suit as California taxpayers under the state's taxpayer waste statute. They allege that the zoo -- a city agency -- has violated the statute by managing elephants in a way that abuses and injures them.
The zoo, long a target for elephant welfare advocates, is in the process of building a large new exhibit to house the pachyderms. The zoo, which currently has only one elephant, Billy, has consistently maintained they vigilantly care for the animals.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/09/los-angeles-zoo-elephant-lawsuit-moves-forward.html
IVORY WORTH OVER RS ONE CRORE SEIZED, FIVE ARRESTED
Varanasi, Sept 24 (PTI) Police claimed to have busted a gang of ivory smugglers in the temple town by arresting five persons from Narottampur Colony and seizing ivory worth over Rs one crore.
"We have arrested five persons last night and recovered about 100 kg smuggled ivory from a house in the Narottampur area,"Vijay Bhushan, city SP, told PTI.
He said that three machines used in the nefarious trade have also been seized from the house.
"We got information about this business being run from a house in Narottampur colony. Two sub-inspectors were deputed near the house and once we were sure, we raided the particular house, only to find the entire Gupta family involved in ivory smuggling,"he said.
The arrested have been identified as Ram Kishore Gupta, his sons Gangotri and Vikky, besides relatives Kamlesh and Manoj.
Cops have allegedly recovered about 100 kg ivory stuffed in six sacks from an underground room in the house. Three machines used in making ivory toys were also recovered apart from bones of animals, idols and other decorative items.
Following the report, senior official of the forest departments, including Divisional Forest Officer LR Bairawa, reached the Lanka police station and confirmed that 100 kg haul was pure ivory."The ivory recovered is worth more than Rs one crore in the international market,"he said.
http://www.indopia.in/India-usa-uk-news/latest-news/675240/National/1/20/1
ELEPHANTS DESTROY COFFEE, RICE CROPS
Oyos Saroso H.N. , The Jakarta Post , Bandar Lampung
Wild elephants in the Way Kambas National Park have encroached into neighboring residential areas, destroying crops and frightening local villagers.
Over the last few days, the animals have wreaked havoc with coffee and rice crops, and destroyed chicken coops.
Local villager Sulasno said the elephants were no longer frightened off by the torches or drums traditionally used to shoo them away.
“We’re scared because the elephants have trampled several people to death in the past few years,” he said Thursday.
“We don’t dare leave our homes at night for fear of an elephant attack.”
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) coordinator Dwi Nugroho Adhiasto said the elephants were simply returning to their old habitat, which had been converted into residential areas and farmland.
“Their instincts have driven them to their old territory,” he said.
WCS data shows elephant incursions into nearby villages have intensified over the last three months, affecting 100 hectares of farmland.
The park management and the WCS built a 29-kilometer canal around the park to prevent elephants from encroaching into villages a few years ago, but the moat is no longer effective.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/node/228839
LITTLE GIRL BORN AT NONGNOOCH TROPICAL GARDENS
Gardens was informed of the birth of a baby elephant, born at the gardens the previous evening around 11.45pm.
This was excellent news for the venue and an excellent edition to their existing troop of 43 elephants.
In the early hours of the 4th of September, the Director of the Nongnooch Tropical
The young elephant’s mother, 16 year old Phang Sombat, has been entertaining the crowds at the Tropical Gardens for many years showing off her skills with bowling, basketball and carrying visitors around on her trunk. The baby elephant, a girl, will bring joy to thousands of visiting tourist in the years to come; she was the 35th elephant from the father Plai Bird.
As soon as the news of the birth had been released, a call came into the gardens offering to purchase the placenta for 20,000 baht, to be used to make traditional Thai medicines. Many Thai’s believe it brings good luck and is used as an ingredient when treating allergies. However, it was already too late as they had given it away to a local resident.
http://www.pattayatoday.net/index.php?action=show&type=news&id=7449
In the early hours of the 4th of September, the Director of the Nongnooch Tropical
The young elephant’s mother, 16 year old Phang Sombat, has been entertaining the crowds at the Tropical Gardens for many years showing off her skills with bowling, basketball and carrying visitors around on her trunk. The baby elephant, a girl, will bring joy to thousands of visiting tourist in the years to come; she was the 35th elephant from the father Plai Bird.
As soon as the news of the birth had been released, a call came into the gardens offering to purchase the placenta for 20,000 baht, to be used to make traditional Thai medicines. Many Thai’s believe it brings good luck and is used as an ingredient when treating allergies. However, it was already too late as they had given it away to a local resident.
http://www.pattayatoday.net/index.php?action=show&type=news&id=7449
COURT: CULP'S LAWSUIT AGAINST LA ZOO CAN RESUME
LOS ANGELES — Actor Robert Culp can move ahead with a lawsuit to stop construction of an elephant exhibit at the Los Angeles Zoo.
The star of the 1960s TV series "I Spy" and real estate agent Aaron Leider filed a lawsuit against the city in August 2007, alleging that the zoo did not treat the elephants well and the planned larger exhibit would be a waste of taxpayer money. But a judge dismissed their suit in 2008.
On Wednesday, a notification was posted on the 2nd District Court of Appeal's Web site saying that the Superior Court ruling dismissing the case was "reversed in full."
The City Council approved construction of the $42 million Pachyderm Forest exhibit in 2006.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hhXsXmvstWwh9f9tW0fJ8db3GixAD9ATEDC81
GOVT YET TO WORK OUT ACTION PLAN FOR ELEPHANT CONSERVATION
NEW DELHI: Elephant conservation seems to have been put on a back burner by the government as it is yet to work out an action plan with the jumbo-range states for restoration of corridors to ensure their free movement.
Environment minister Jairam Ramesh had last month asked his officials to hold an urgent meeting with elephant-range states such as Kerala, Jharkhand, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Orissa and others to find ways to improve the habitat of pachyderms.
But the proposed meeting is yet to take place even as the states grapple with increasing jumbo-human conflicts in view of habitat degradation and poor coordination among the neighbouring states.
The decision to hold the meeting was taken at a national conference on forest ministers when various states pointed that man-elephant conflict was becoming a serious issue in their areas, endangering the life of jumbos as villagers were retaliating.
At the conference, state wildlife officials had accused the Centre of focusing on tiger conservation while ignoring other equally important and endangered animals like elephants.
However, Ramesh assured them that "there is no dearth of funds for the protection of wildlife including jumbos. There is a need for emphasis on the restoration of elephant corridors which have been virtually non-existent for past several years."
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/environment/flora-fauna/Govt-yet-to-work-out-action-plan-for-elephant-conservation-/articleshow/5049189.cms
LOS ANGELES — Actor Robert Culp can move ahead with a lawsuit to stop construction of an elephant exhibit at the Los Angeles Zoo.
The star of the 1960s TV series "I Spy" and real estate agent Aaron Leider filed a lawsuit against the city in August 2007, alleging that the zoo did not treat the elephants well and the planned larger exhibit would be a waste of taxpayer money. But a judge dismissed their suit in 2008.
On Wednesday, a notification was posted on the 2nd District Court of Appeal's Web site saying that the Superior Court ruling dismissing the case was "reversed in full."
The City Council approved construction of the $42 million Pachyderm Forest exhibit in 2006.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hhXsXmvstWwh9f9tW0fJ8db3GixAD9ATEDC81
GOVT YET TO WORK OUT ACTION PLAN FOR ELEPHANT CONSERVATION
NEW DELHI: Elephant conservation seems to have been put on a back burner by the government as it is yet to work out an action plan with the jumbo-range states for restoration of corridors to ensure their free movement.
Environment minister Jairam Ramesh had last month asked his officials to hold an urgent meeting with elephant-range states such as Kerala, Jharkhand, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Orissa and others to find ways to improve the habitat of pachyderms.
But the proposed meeting is yet to take place even as the states grapple with increasing jumbo-human conflicts in view of habitat degradation and poor coordination among the neighbouring states.
The decision to hold the meeting was taken at a national conference on forest ministers when various states pointed that man-elephant conflict was becoming a serious issue in their areas, endangering the life of jumbos as villagers were retaliating.
At the conference, state wildlife officials had accused the Centre of focusing on tiger conservation while ignoring other equally important and endangered animals like elephants.
However, Ramesh assured them that "there is no dearth of funds for the protection of wildlife including jumbos. There is a need for emphasis on the restoration of elephant corridors which have been virtually non-existent for past several years."
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/environment/flora-fauna/Govt-yet-to-work-out-action-plan-for-elephant-conservation-/articleshow/5049189.cms
TUSKER FOUND DEAD
DHENKANAL: A tusker was found dead in Dandeibereni forest in Gondia block under Sadangi forest range today. After being informed, a team of Forest officials headed by DFO M M Panigrahi visited to the spot and sent the carcass for post-mortem.
A forest guard first spotted the carcass of the 12-year-old tusker in the forest. DFO Panigrahi said the elephant is suspected to have died after consuming pesticide-laced crops. Farmers have applied pesticides on crops in the region.
Post-mortem report can throw light on the cause of death, he said. He also said an inquiry will be launched into the death of the elephant.
http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Tusker+found+dead&artid=l9yTbtCHViY=&SectionID=mvKkT3vj5ZA=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=nUFeE
OBkuKw=&SEO=
A forest guard first spotted the carcass of the 12-year-old tusker in the forest. DFO Panigrahi said the elephant is suspected to have died after consuming pesticide-laced crops. Farmers have applied pesticides on crops in the region.
Post-mortem report can throw light on the cause of death, he said. He also said an inquiry will be launched into the death of the elephant.
http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Tusker+found+dead&artid=l9yTbtCHViY=&SectionID=mvKkT3vj5ZA=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=nUFeE
OBkuKw=&SEO=
CITY ELEPHANTS RUN TOURISM GAUNTLET
A DRUNKEN tourist staggers about as he repeatedly drops his bags of elephant feed on Bangkok’s Soi Cowboy boulevard.
Beneath the neon lights advertising Thailand’s bars and bar-girls, the man teases the two-year-old elephant as the beast tries to take a few sugarcane snacks from his shaking hands.
Finally the distressed elephant lets out a cry and her handlers pull her down the street to the next group of paying tourists.
“They get beaten because they’re tired; they don’t want to walk, it’s one o’clock in the morning,” said Soraida Salwala, who runs a charity to rescue elephants such as this one.
Elephants first arrived in Thailand’s cities about 40 years ago when the Tourism Authority of Thailand brought a number of them to Bangkok for an exhibition to attract visitors to the kingdom.
Once the elephant owners realised their money-making potential, they started coming to the cities more often.
In 1993 there were fewer than 10 elephants on Bangkok’s streets.
Now, says Soraida, about 100 regularly come to Bangkok, and more than 1000 are used for profit in cities nationwide.
The demand is so great that elephants are also smuggled in from abroad.
A report released by wildlife charity Traffic revealed that more than 250 live animals had been smuggled from neighbouring Burma in the past decade, in contravention of national and international laws.
“Females and juvenile elephants are particularly targeted to supply the demand from the tourism industry in Thailand,” said Chris Shepherd, senior programme officer with Traffic.
Soraida, who set up Thailand’s Friends of the Asian Elephant (FOAE) in 1993, said there were now only 4600 wild and captive elephants left in Thailand, compared to some 40000 50 years ago.
Car fumes and narrow streets often leave the elephants with eye callouses and tuberculosis and make them vulnerable to leg injuries, said Soraida, who treats some of the animals at an elephant hospital she founded in northern Lampang province.
The owners, mainly from Thailand’s impoverished northeast, defend their actions as necessary for their survival.
Muang Salangam, 59, from northeast Surin province, says his 29-year- old elephant “Nam-whan” earns him up to 1000 baht (about R216) walking 12 kilometres a day.
That compares favourably to the average monthly salary in factories of 7329 baht per month in the last quarter of 2007, according to the National Statistical Office.
“I have to bring my elephant to Bangkok because I have no money at home,” Muang said at his campsite behind a car park off a main Bangkok highway.
“Some people condemn me for bringing my elephant to Bangkok but I tell them if we stay there, we and the elephants will starve.
“ I tell them there’s no food over there, it’s difficult.”
Soraida bemoans a lack of government support in dealing with the problem.
Traffic said that despite its findings on the Burma border, no cross- border trade of live elephants had been reported to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species by either Burma or Thailand.
More than a dozen laws exist in Thailand for prosecuting elephant handlers, know as mahouts, in legislative areas as varied as transportation and public health, said Soraida.
But though a police task force set up in 2006 periodically sweeps the streets for elephants, they continue to ply the tourist trade.
Two government projects that aimed to take elephants back to the countryside have also failed, with one in 2002 that encouraged elephants to work as scouts in national parks canned due to a lack of funding.
Another project in 2006 failed to encourage mahouts to return to Surin province with the offer of a monthly wage of 12000 baht because, Soraida said, the handlers rent the elephants and so would not receive the money themselves.
She is not hopeful change will come but vowed to continue her fight to rid the urban streets of elephants.
“The government doesn’t really care,” she said. “But we cannot have them as beggars on the road.” — Sapa-AFP
http://www.dispatch.co.za/article.aspx?id=346957
Beneath the neon lights advertising Thailand’s bars and bar-girls, the man teases the two-year-old elephant as the beast tries to take a few sugarcane snacks from his shaking hands.
Finally the distressed elephant lets out a cry and her handlers pull her down the street to the next group of paying tourists.
“They get beaten because they’re tired; they don’t want to walk, it’s one o’clock in the morning,” said Soraida Salwala, who runs a charity to rescue elephants such as this one.
Elephants first arrived in Thailand’s cities about 40 years ago when the Tourism Authority of Thailand brought a number of them to Bangkok for an exhibition to attract visitors to the kingdom.
Once the elephant owners realised their money-making potential, they started coming to the cities more often.
In 1993 there were fewer than 10 elephants on Bangkok’s streets.
Now, says Soraida, about 100 regularly come to Bangkok, and more than 1000 are used for profit in cities nationwide.
The demand is so great that elephants are also smuggled in from abroad.
A report released by wildlife charity Traffic revealed that more than 250 live animals had been smuggled from neighbouring Burma in the past decade, in contravention of national and international laws.
“Females and juvenile elephants are particularly targeted to supply the demand from the tourism industry in Thailand,” said Chris Shepherd, senior programme officer with Traffic.
Soraida, who set up Thailand’s Friends of the Asian Elephant (FOAE) in 1993, said there were now only 4600 wild and captive elephants left in Thailand, compared to some 40000 50 years ago.
Car fumes and narrow streets often leave the elephants with eye callouses and tuberculosis and make them vulnerable to leg injuries, said Soraida, who treats some of the animals at an elephant hospital she founded in northern Lampang province.
The owners, mainly from Thailand’s impoverished northeast, defend their actions as necessary for their survival.
Muang Salangam, 59, from northeast Surin province, says his 29-year- old elephant “Nam-whan” earns him up to 1000 baht (about R216) walking 12 kilometres a day.
That compares favourably to the average monthly salary in factories of 7329 baht per month in the last quarter of 2007, according to the National Statistical Office.
“I have to bring my elephant to Bangkok because I have no money at home,” Muang said at his campsite behind a car park off a main Bangkok highway.
“Some people condemn me for bringing my elephant to Bangkok but I tell them if we stay there, we and the elephants will starve.
“ I tell them there’s no food over there, it’s difficult.”
Soraida bemoans a lack of government support in dealing with the problem.
Traffic said that despite its findings on the Burma border, no cross- border trade of live elephants had been reported to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species by either Burma or Thailand.
More than a dozen laws exist in Thailand for prosecuting elephant handlers, know as mahouts, in legislative areas as varied as transportation and public health, said Soraida.
But though a police task force set up in 2006 periodically sweeps the streets for elephants, they continue to ply the tourist trade.
Two government projects that aimed to take elephants back to the countryside have also failed, with one in 2002 that encouraged elephants to work as scouts in national parks canned due to a lack of funding.
Another project in 2006 failed to encourage mahouts to return to Surin province with the offer of a monthly wage of 12000 baht because, Soraida said, the handlers rent the elephants and so would not receive the money themselves.
She is not hopeful change will come but vowed to continue her fight to rid the urban streets of elephants.
“The government doesn’t really care,” she said. “But we cannot have them as beggars on the road.” — Sapa-AFP
http://www.dispatch.co.za/article.aspx?id=346957
ELEPHANT WALK DOWNTOWN ANNOUNCING CIRCUS' RETURN TO GRAND RAPIDS
GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) - The elephants are here and that means it won't be long before opening night for the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus in Grand Rapids. The circus opens at the Van Andel Arena on Thursday.
Today the elephants in the show marched from the circus train cars down Ionia Avenue to their temporary quarters in the back lot of the arena. Many people brought their children to watch and wave as the big animals walked by.
Analisa Blakely brought her son to see the circus animals. She says, "It was great. It was a lot of fun watching it through his eyes. He just got really excited about it and was making observations about their trunks and their big and saying 'hi' to them and it was really cute to see that."
The elephants are scheduled to create some art out in front of the arena Wednesday at noon. The circus has performances planned Thursday through Sunday.
http://www.wzzm13.com/news/watercooler/story.aspx?storyid=113924&catid=82
Today the elephants in the show marched from the circus train cars down Ionia Avenue to their temporary quarters in the back lot of the arena. Many people brought their children to watch and wave as the big animals walked by.
Analisa Blakely brought her son to see the circus animals. She says, "It was great. It was a lot of fun watching it through his eyes. He just got really excited about it and was making observations about their trunks and their big and saying 'hi' to them and it was really cute to see that."
The elephants are scheduled to create some art out in front of the arena Wednesday at noon. The circus has performances planned Thursday through Sunday.
http://www.wzzm13.com/news/watercooler/story.aspx?storyid=113924&catid=82
PHOENIX ZOO CELEBRATES NATIONAL ELEPHANT DAY
Reported by: Jennifer Spantak
PHOENIX, AZ – The Phoenix Zoo celebrated National Elephant Day in style Tuesday.
Celebrations took place at zoos across the nation and Phoenix was no different.
The Phoenix Zoo invited visitors for a sneak-peak for a behind-the-scenes look at the enormous beasts.
Afterwards, Phoenix Firefighters got involved and gave the elephants a shower with a fire hose.
The event included live music and piñata-making.
Phoenix has three elephants. Indu is 44 and was born in Thailand. Keepers say Indu enjoys finding and eating food; her favorites include melons and bananas. She can be told apart from the other elephants by the large amount of pink color on her ears.
Reba was born in Asia in 1970 and is retired from the circus. She apparently enjoys playing in the water the most of the elephants. She can be told apart from the others by the large amount of pink color around her eyes.
Finally, 38-year-old Sheena was born in India and weighs over 8,000 pounds. She also retired from a circus and keepers say she is a very clever elephant when it comes to figuring out puzzles she's given. She is also sometimes a bit shy. Sheena can be distinguished from the others by the large amount of hair on her head and back; she is also the tallest of the elephants, zookeepers say.
http://www.abc15.com/content/news/phoenixmetro/central/story/Phoenix-Zoo-celebrates-National-Elephant-Day/9B1rev5Qu0SDPzFu3NgqOw.cspx
Celebrations took place at zoos across the nation and Phoenix was no different.
The Phoenix Zoo invited visitors for a sneak-peak for a behind-the-scenes look at the enormous beasts.
Afterwards, Phoenix Firefighters got involved and gave the elephants a shower with a fire hose.
The event included live music and piñata-making.
Phoenix has three elephants. Indu is 44 and was born in Thailand. Keepers say Indu enjoys finding and eating food; her favorites include melons and bananas. She can be told apart from the other elephants by the large amount of pink color on her ears.
Reba was born in Asia in 1970 and is retired from the circus. She apparently enjoys playing in the water the most of the elephants. She can be told apart from the others by the large amount of pink color around her eyes.
Finally, 38-year-old Sheena was born in India and weighs over 8,000 pounds. She also retired from a circus and keepers say she is a very clever elephant when it comes to figuring out puzzles she's given. She is also sometimes a bit shy. Sheena can be distinguished from the others by the large amount of hair on her head and back; she is also the tallest of the elephants, zookeepers say.
http://www.abc15.com/content/news/phoenixmetro/central/story/Phoenix-Zoo-celebrates-National-Elephant-Day/9B1rev5Qu0SDPzFu3NgqOw.cspx
THE ELEPHANT AND THE NEUTRINO
Conservationists challenge physics observatory in Indian wildlife reserve.
Killugudi Jayaraman
India's environment minister Jairam Ramesh will visit the site of a proposed underground neutrino laboratory next month, to try to break the impasse between physicists and environmentalists over its construction.
The US$160-million India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) was to have been completed by 2012 to study the elusive particles known as neutrinos (see Nature 450, 13; 2007). But its construction is mired in controversy over the wisdom of locating the facility in prime elephant and tiger habitat at Singara in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, 250 kilometres south of Bangalore.
The observatory applied for permission to begin construction at the Singara site in 2006; "there has been no reply to date," says project spokesman Naba Mondal, a physicist at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai. "All I know is we have not cleared it," says A. S. Balanathan, principal chief conservator of forest for the state of Tamil Nadu, who declined to comment further.
Last month, 11 leading physicists, including Nobel laureates Sheldon Glashow and Masatoshi Koshiba, wrote to India's prime minister Manmohan Singh urging that the project move forward. "The INO will bring more big science to India and enhance India's role as an important player in front-line science," they wrote. Meanwhile, prominent Indian conservationists are circulating and signing a letter laying out their concerns and asking that the observatory be sited elsewhere.
The Nilgiri reserve includes more than 5,500 square kilometres of continuous forest cover and six protected areas. The proposed location for the INO comes as close as 7 kilometres to the edge of one of the sanctuaries. The project involves digging out a 120-metre-long cavern at the end of a 2-kilometre-long tunnel inside a mountain. The cavern will house a magnetized iron calorimeter to detect the muons that are produced occasionally when neutrinos interact with matter.
The controversy stems from disagreements over the impact of the tunnelling and the increased human population on the fragile ecosystem. "Transporting the estimated 630,000 tonnes of debris and 147,000 tonnes of construction material would require about 156,000 truck trips through 35 kilometres of forest — and two tiger reserves," says the NBR Alliance, a group of Indian organizations concerned about the reserve. This means 468,000 hours of disturbance to animal movement routes, the alliance estimates.
The INO team "could hardly have picked a site in India more likely to damage wildlife," says John Seed, an Australian environmentalist who has researched elephant habitats in India. "As well as being home to the largest single population of Asian elephants in the world," he says, "the Nilgiri is also one of the most important tiger habitats in the country."
Mondal disputes the tally of construction debris and says that the project will limit the number of daily truck trips and restrict them to daytime. But Priya Davidar, an ecologist at Pondicherry University, says that the environmental impact assessment the project submitted to state officials is seriously flawed. Davidar is president of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, based in Washington DC, which passed its own resolution urging the Indian government not to permit construction and to look for an alternative site.
Davidar criticizes the project for limiting its search to only two sites; a better location, she says, would have been the Kolar gold mine in neighbouring Karnataka state, used for neutrino detection in 1965. But the Kolar mine is now closed and filled with water, and is not suitable for lowering heavy materials down, says Mondal. He says that after considering other sites, his team, along with the Geological Survey of India, identified Singara as "the best available site for locating the INO, based on safety, seismicity, as well as year-round accessibility".
The minister will visit on 10 October. If a construction permit is denied, INO may have to start looking for another site.
http://www.nature.com/news/2009/090922/full/461459a.html
The US$160-million India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) was to have been completed by 2012 to study the elusive particles known as neutrinos (see Nature 450, 13; 2007). But its construction is mired in controversy over the wisdom of locating the facility in prime elephant and tiger habitat at Singara in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, 250 kilometres south of Bangalore.
The observatory applied for permission to begin construction at the Singara site in 2006; "there has been no reply to date," says project spokesman Naba Mondal, a physicist at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai. "All I know is we have not cleared it," says A. S. Balanathan, principal chief conservator of forest for the state of Tamil Nadu, who declined to comment further.
Last month, 11 leading physicists, including Nobel laureates Sheldon Glashow and Masatoshi Koshiba, wrote to India's prime minister Manmohan Singh urging that the project move forward. "The INO will bring more big science to India and enhance India's role as an important player in front-line science," they wrote. Meanwhile, prominent Indian conservationists are circulating and signing a letter laying out their concerns and asking that the observatory be sited elsewhere.
The Nilgiri reserve includes more than 5,500 square kilometres of continuous forest cover and six protected areas. The proposed location for the INO comes as close as 7 kilometres to the edge of one of the sanctuaries. The project involves digging out a 120-metre-long cavern at the end of a 2-kilometre-long tunnel inside a mountain. The cavern will house a magnetized iron calorimeter to detect the muons that are produced occasionally when neutrinos interact with matter.
The controversy stems from disagreements over the impact of the tunnelling and the increased human population on the fragile ecosystem. "Transporting the estimated 630,000 tonnes of debris and 147,000 tonnes of construction material would require about 156,000 truck trips through 35 kilometres of forest — and two tiger reserves," says the NBR Alliance, a group of Indian organizations concerned about the reserve. This means 468,000 hours of disturbance to animal movement routes, the alliance estimates.
The INO team "could hardly have picked a site in India more likely to damage wildlife," says John Seed, an Australian environmentalist who has researched elephant habitats in India. "As well as being home to the largest single population of Asian elephants in the world," he says, "the Nilgiri is also one of the most important tiger habitats in the country."
Mondal disputes the tally of construction debris and says that the project will limit the number of daily truck trips and restrict them to daytime. But Priya Davidar, an ecologist at Pondicherry University, says that the environmental impact assessment the project submitted to state officials is seriously flawed. Davidar is president of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, based in Washington DC, which passed its own resolution urging the Indian government not to permit construction and to look for an alternative site.
Davidar criticizes the project for limiting its search to only two sites; a better location, she says, would have been the Kolar gold mine in neighbouring Karnataka state, used for neutrino detection in 1965. But the Kolar mine is now closed and filled with water, and is not suitable for lowering heavy materials down, says Mondal. He says that after considering other sites, his team, along with the Geological Survey of India, identified Singara as "the best available site for locating the INO, based on safety, seismicity, as well as year-round accessibility".
The minister will visit on 10 October. If a construction permit is denied, INO may have to start looking for another site.
http://www.nature.com/news/2009/090922/full/461459a.html
9 UNFORGETTABLE ELEPHANTS IN POP CULTURE
Today is Elephant Appreciation Day, which we learned is a fairly young holiday created in 1996 by a father who was disproportionately elated by the paperweight of elephants parading that his daughter gave him as a gift. Doesn’t he know that paperweights are just about the most thoughtless and empty gifts one can give? At any rate, it spawned a great holiday so we can’t really complain. In celebration, we’ve rounded up these 9 Unforgettable Elephants in Pop Culture.
PLEASE CLICK THE LINK!!!:
http://listicles.thelmagazine.com/2009/09/9-unforgettable-elephants-in-pop-culture/
Today is Elephant Appreciation Day, which we learned is a fairly young holiday created in 1996 by a father who was disproportionately elated by the paperweight of elephants parading that his daughter gave him as a gift. Doesn’t he know that paperweights are just about the most thoughtless and empty gifts one can give? At any rate, it spawned a great holiday so we can’t really complain. In celebration, we’ve rounded up these 9 Unforgettable Elephants in Pop Culture.
PLEASE CLICK THE LINK!!!:
http://listicles.thelmagazine.com/2009/09/9-unforgettable-elephants-in-pop-culture/
PANEL PILL TO REDUCE JUMBO CONFLICT
Experts suggest planting ‘deterrent crops’ to keep elephants at bay
A STAFF REPORTER
Guwahati, Sept. 21: A two-member committee has suggested adoption of a systematic approach in areas prone to human-elephant conflicts to determine the efficacy of deterrent crops.
The committee comprising WWF-India official Amit Sharma and B.S. Bonal of the state forest department was set up by Dispur on July 18 last year. It submitted the report recently.
“A systematic approach should be adopted in conflict-prone areas to determine the efficacy of deterrent crops. The deterrent crops popularly used in Assam should be planted in multiple rows of about five numbers and in a combination of at least two species,” the report said.
It said this low-risk, low-cost method can be easily adopted by the community and be a livelihood option.
The committee said humming sound of bees is successfully adopted in Africa to deter elephants and Project Elephant is also encouraging the experiment in the country.
The chief wildlife warden of Assam requested WWF-India and Ecosystems India to help conduct the experiment in Assam as part of the Centre’s Project Elephant.
Assam with over 5,000 elephants accounts for nearly 19 per cent of India’s elephant population. The 2007 census says the Northeast has 9,330 elephants contributing 34 per cent of the total number of elephants across the country.
According to the committee, incidents of human-elephant conflict are on the rise and have become one of the major issues.
According to the report, the need is to come up with innovative ideas for short and medium-term strategies. The suggestions include keeping the elephant habitats undisturbed, restoring their lost habitats and maintain the corridors for their easy passage.
It said many communities in Assam, especially the tribals and the Adivasis, brew alcohol at home and in villages.
“This activity easily attracts elephants to the area and should be totally stopped or highly regulated in villages close to elephant habitats or areas affected by elephant depredation,” the report said.
It said a corpus of adequate funds should be created so that the community affected by human-elephant conflict can be provided immediate relief, including medical support, before final sanction from the government is received.
The relief provided from the corpus should be reimbursed on receipt of the government funds.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090922/jsp/northeast/story_11520112.jsp
The committee comprising WWF-India official Amit Sharma and B.S. Bonal of the state forest department was set up by Dispur on July 18 last year. It submitted the report recently.
“A systematic approach should be adopted in conflict-prone areas to determine the efficacy of deterrent crops. The deterrent crops popularly used in Assam should be planted in multiple rows of about five numbers and in a combination of at least two species,” the report said.
It said this low-risk, low-cost method can be easily adopted by the community and be a livelihood option.
The committee said humming sound of bees is successfully adopted in Africa to deter elephants and Project Elephant is also encouraging the experiment in the country.
The chief wildlife warden of Assam requested WWF-India and Ecosystems India to help conduct the experiment in Assam as part of the Centre’s Project Elephant.
Assam with over 5,000 elephants accounts for nearly 19 per cent of India’s elephant population. The 2007 census says the Northeast has 9,330 elephants contributing 34 per cent of the total number of elephants across the country.
According to the committee, incidents of human-elephant conflict are on the rise and have become one of the major issues.
According to the report, the need is to come up with innovative ideas for short and medium-term strategies. The suggestions include keeping the elephant habitats undisturbed, restoring their lost habitats and maintain the corridors for their easy passage.
It said many communities in Assam, especially the tribals and the Adivasis, brew alcohol at home and in villages.
“This activity easily attracts elephants to the area and should be totally stopped or highly regulated in villages close to elephant habitats or areas affected by elephant depredation,” the report said.
It said a corpus of adequate funds should be created so that the community affected by human-elephant conflict can be provided immediate relief, including medical support, before final sanction from the government is received.
The relief provided from the corpus should be reimbursed on receipt of the government funds.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090922/jsp/northeast/story_11520112.jsp
PHOENIX ZOO PROVIDES BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT ELEPHANTS
Sheena is the youngest, tallest, lightest and hairiest. A real beauty, according to her keepers.
By the end of National Elephant Appreciation Day today, visitors to the Phoenix Zoo will know more about Sheena, Reba and Indu than they ever imagined.
Steve Koyle has spent more than seven years caring for the trio of Asian elephants. Like the other elephant keepers, he knows every freckle on their trunks, their moods and personalities.
"Elephants are the smartest, most sophisticated, most complex," Koyle said. "They're awesome."
Today's events will allow guests to hide treats, make piñatas and toss carrots to the elephants.
For the first time, from an open window in the elephant barn, guests will be able to watch zoo keepers as they give the hefty ladies showers as well as check and clean their feet and eyes. It's a peek at everyday tasks with a hose, scrub brush and pliers that the public rarely sees.
An elephant's foot is larger than a dinner plate, calloused and cracked, with four large toenails. Small twigs and rocks can get lodged in the cracks, causing the animals pain.
Indu, used to the daily examination and grooming, turns her 9,000-plus-pound body, bends a knee, and puts a foot through a square hole. Gina Nichols, an elephant manager with the zoo, rewards Indu by dropping pieces of fruit and finger-length biscuits in her trunk. Koyle scrubs and inspects.
"They walk on their tippy toes," said Koyle, brush and pliers in hand. "They look like they're flat-footed, but they're not."
Along with an insider look at elephant husbandry, guests will learn about conservation efforts. In the wild, Asian elephants are threatened by loss of habitat. Fewer than 35,000 elephants remain.
Nichols said she hopes guests walk away appreciating the elephants as much as the zoo staff do.
The Phoenix Zoo is the only zoo in the state with elephants.
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2009/09/22/20090922elephant0922.html
ELEPHANTS RAID BIRBHUM VILLAGE
SURI: A herd of elephants damaged a house at a village in Birbhum on Sunday night. Though foresters tried their best to drive the herd away, the pachyderms played hide-and-seek with them all night. The incident occurred in Patalpur village under Rajnagar police station.
Rabin Chatterjee, a forest department official, said: "The herd broke into the village from a forest in Jharkhand.
Local residents and our men drove them away. However, in the afternoon, the herd started moving towards Patalpur again. We will try to send it back."
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/kolkata-/Elephants-raid-Birbhum-village/articleshow/5040253.cms
Sheena is the youngest, tallest, lightest and hairiest. A real beauty, according to her keepers.
By the end of National Elephant Appreciation Day today, visitors to the Phoenix Zoo will know more about Sheena, Reba and Indu than they ever imagined.
Steve Koyle has spent more than seven years caring for the trio of Asian elephants. Like the other elephant keepers, he knows every freckle on their trunks, their moods and personalities.
"Elephants are the smartest, most sophisticated, most complex," Koyle said. "They're awesome."
Today's events will allow guests to hide treats, make piñatas and toss carrots to the elephants.
For the first time, from an open window in the elephant barn, guests will be able to watch zoo keepers as they give the hefty ladies showers as well as check and clean their feet and eyes. It's a peek at everyday tasks with a hose, scrub brush and pliers that the public rarely sees.
An elephant's foot is larger than a dinner plate, calloused and cracked, with four large toenails. Small twigs and rocks can get lodged in the cracks, causing the animals pain.
Indu, used to the daily examination and grooming, turns her 9,000-plus-pound body, bends a knee, and puts a foot through a square hole. Gina Nichols, an elephant manager with the zoo, rewards Indu by dropping pieces of fruit and finger-length biscuits in her trunk. Koyle scrubs and inspects.
"They walk on their tippy toes," said Koyle, brush and pliers in hand. "They look like they're flat-footed, but they're not."
Along with an insider look at elephant husbandry, guests will learn about conservation efforts. In the wild, Asian elephants are threatened by loss of habitat. Fewer than 35,000 elephants remain.
Nichols said she hopes guests walk away appreciating the elephants as much as the zoo staff do.
The Phoenix Zoo is the only zoo in the state with elephants.
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2009/09/22/20090922elephant0922.html
ELEPHANTS RAID BIRBHUM VILLAGE
SURI: A herd of elephants damaged a house at a village in Birbhum on Sunday night. Though foresters tried their best to drive the herd away, the pachyderms played hide-and-seek with them all night. The incident occurred in Patalpur village under Rajnagar police station.
Rabin Chatterjee, a forest department official, said: "The herd broke into the village from a forest in Jharkhand.
Local residents and our men drove them away. However, in the afternoon, the herd started moving towards Patalpur again. We will try to send it back."
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/kolkata-/Elephants-raid-Birbhum-village/articleshow/5040253.cms
LUCY CRITICS NOT WELL INFORMED, ZOO OFFICIAL SAYS
By Daryl Slade, Calgary Herald
Celebrities trying to force Edmonton's Valley Zoo into sending an Asian elephant named Lucy, who has been there for 32 years, to a California sanctuary are not properly informed, says a top Calgary Zoo official.
"Even though, their hearts are in the right place, they don't always have the same picture as those of us who work with animals all the time," said Cathy Gaviller, director of conservation, education and research for Calgary Zoo.
"They don't necessarily understand the complexity of what goes into it."
Gaviller was responding to American TV personality Bob Barker, who was in Edmonton last week calling on people around the world to "inundate" Edmonton's zoo with requests to move Lucy, after failing to convince city officials to ship the ailing elephant to California.
The former host of The Price is Right briefly visited the elephant along with members of several animal-rights groups after talking to zoo staff and city councillors.
Barker said he was delighted to meet Lucy, but got nowhere in his plight to have her moved south.
"The zoo is absolutely implacable. They won't consider even saying that when Lucy is feeling well, we can take her to the sanctuary," he told journalists.
"We're going to continue our fight. . . . The public, I hope, will absolutely inundate the zoo to get that elephant out of there."
Barker wants to send Lucy to a facility 150 kilometres northeast of San Francisco run by the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS).
There, he said, she would be kept in a 12-hectare enclosure with four other female Asian elephants. The$200,000 transportation cost would be covered by the society and other groups.
Gaviller said staff at the two Alberta zoos chat regularly. She acknowledged that the Valley Zoo is going through tough times, but added, "They are looking out for Lucy's best interests."
She said if it is best to move the elephant to another location, there are other considerations, such as travel and other stresses. Lucy also has respiratory troubles that could make travel difficult or fatal.
"We might be just one of many places that are a good situation," she said, "but there's more to it than meets the eye. Only(Valley Zoo)can say if Lucy is healthy enough to go through the transit process."
Gaviller said she was at the zoo nearly two decades ago when Lucy was twice brought to Calgary in an attempt to have her bred.
But, she said, she not only did not fit in with the other females, "the breeding with Calgary's bull didn't work out, either."
The stress of travel to Calgary and back make the animal sick.
Elephant herds do have a dominant hierarchy, Gaviller said. "Even at a zoo, there is a more dominant cow. One of ours is less dominant than the other two. They don't always play nicely. So, for a new elephant to come in is not just a done deal. It won't necessarily work in that well."
Calgary has three cows-- Swarna, Kamala and Maharani (Kamala's daughter)--and one bull, Ganesh.
Gaviller said the elephants' home, expanded in June 2008, has given them a great deal more space.
Plus, she noted, Lucy gets plenty of exercise on two-hour walks every morning.
http://www.calgaryherald.com/travel/Lucy+critics+well+informed+official+says/2012974/story.html
"Even though, their hearts are in the right place, they don't always have the same picture as those of us who work with animals all the time," said Cathy Gaviller, director of conservation, education and research for Calgary Zoo.
"They don't necessarily understand the complexity of what goes into it."
Gaviller was responding to American TV personality Bob Barker, who was in Edmonton last week calling on people around the world to "inundate" Edmonton's zoo with requests to move Lucy, after failing to convince city officials to ship the ailing elephant to California.
The former host of The Price is Right briefly visited the elephant along with members of several animal-rights groups after talking to zoo staff and city councillors.
Barker said he was delighted to meet Lucy, but got nowhere in his plight to have her moved south.
"The zoo is absolutely implacable. They won't consider even saying that when Lucy is feeling well, we can take her to the sanctuary," he told journalists.
"We're going to continue our fight. . . . The public, I hope, will absolutely inundate the zoo to get that elephant out of there."
Barker wants to send Lucy to a facility 150 kilometres northeast of San Francisco run by the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS).
There, he said, she would be kept in a 12-hectare enclosure with four other female Asian elephants. The$200,000 transportation cost would be covered by the society and other groups.
Gaviller said staff at the two Alberta zoos chat regularly. She acknowledged that the Valley Zoo is going through tough times, but added, "They are looking out for Lucy's best interests."
She said if it is best to move the elephant to another location, there are other considerations, such as travel and other stresses. Lucy also has respiratory troubles that could make travel difficult or fatal.
"We might be just one of many places that are a good situation," she said, "but there's more to it than meets the eye. Only(Valley Zoo)can say if Lucy is healthy enough to go through the transit process."
Gaviller said she was at the zoo nearly two decades ago when Lucy was twice brought to Calgary in an attempt to have her bred.
But, she said, she not only did not fit in with the other females, "the breeding with Calgary's bull didn't work out, either."
The stress of travel to Calgary and back make the animal sick.
Elephant herds do have a dominant hierarchy, Gaviller said. "Even at a zoo, there is a more dominant cow. One of ours is less dominant than the other two. They don't always play nicely. So, for a new elephant to come in is not just a done deal. It won't necessarily work in that well."
Calgary has three cows-- Swarna, Kamala and Maharani (Kamala's daughter)--and one bull, Ganesh.
Gaviller said the elephants' home, expanded in June 2008, has given them a great deal more space.
Plus, she noted, Lucy gets plenty of exercise on two-hour walks every morning.
http://www.calgaryherald.com/travel/Lucy+critics+well+informed+official+says/2012974/story.html
POACHERS GUN DOWN ELEPHANT NEAR KAZIRANGA
GUWAHATI: Poachers have gunned down an elephant and chopped off its tusks and trunk in Assam's Karbi Anglong district on the southern banks of the Brahmaputra near the Kaziranga National Park.
Forest officials found the carcass of the jumbo, with the mark of a bullet wound on its head, on Saturday. According to sources, the elephant might have been killed about "two days ago". A machete, belonging to a particular tribal group, was found in the area that lies between Panbari Reserve Forest near Kaziranga and Dalamara forest range in Karbi Anglong. Incidentally, elephants often use Panbari as a corridor to move between Kaziranga and Karbi Anglong.
"The injury marks showed that a rifle was used to kill the jumbo. And, in all probability, the poachers used the machete to cut off its trunk. They have killed the elephant in a gruesome manner," said Garga Mohan Das, project officer of WWF-India's Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Landscape Conservation Programme.
"This is very very worrying. We fear that the gang of poachers, who killed the elephant, might also target jumbos in Panbari and its adjoining areas," he added.
Honourary wildlife warden (Golaghat) Arup Goswami said it would be very difficult to save the elephants, rhinos and tigers in the area if the government does not construct a foolproof security network.
"Most of the animals are killed in transit between Kaziranga and Karbi Anglong.We aren't worried about the security of animals living in the protected areas like Kaziranga. Our concern is what happens to them once they go out of such areas. In fact, the poachers lie in wait for animals moving out of Kaziranga," he added.
Though elephants are frequently injured during conflicts with human beings in Golaghat and adjoining Karbi Anglong, forest officials said poaching of jumbos is a rare incidence. The last time an elephant was killed by poachers in the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong landscape was around two years ago.
In fact, Golaghat and the adjoining areas of Karbi Anglong have emerged as one of the most intense man-elephant conflict zones. People often use firearms to chase away herds of wild pachyderms, increasing the risk of them succumbing to bullet wounds.
Till recent years, elephants used to pass through the Panbari Reserve Forest in Golaghat to Karbi Anglong and Nagaland without any disturbance. But the situation is no more the same. The entire route, which traditionally covered areas like Panjir Pahar, Kakokchang, Deothar, and up to Nambor-Garampani and Lengrapahar, is in a shambles owing to endless encroachment and relentless deforestation.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/guwahati/Poachers-gun-down-elephant-near-Kaziranga/articleshow/5031678.cms
ELEPHANT CALF DIES IN BANKURA FOREST
BANKURA: An 18-day-old elephant calf died after it fell into a small waterbody while roaming with its herd at Chanchor forest in the Bankadaha forest range in Bankura early on Friday.
The calf was born in this forest after the herd about 25 elephants wandered from the Dalma forests a few weeks ago. The elephants come into the South Bengal forests in search of food during this time of the year, their breeding season.
Balai Ghosh, the ranger of Bankdaha forest range, said that the calf had fallen into the waterbody at about 3 am. Local villagers rushed to the spot after hearing the cry of its anguished mother. By the time a veterinary doctor reached, however, the calf had died. "After post-mortem, the forest workers buried it in the forest," Ghosh said.
He said forest officials were keeping a constant watch on the herd. "We are keeping tabs on them, especially on the mother, from a distance," he said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/kolkata-/Elephant-calf-dies-in-Bankura-forest/articleshow/5028975.cms
GUWAHATI: Poachers have gunned down an elephant and chopped off its tusks and trunk in Assam's Karbi Anglong district on the southern banks of the Brahmaputra near the Kaziranga National Park.
Forest officials found the carcass of the jumbo, with the mark of a bullet wound on its head, on Saturday. According to sources, the elephant might have been killed about "two days ago". A machete, belonging to a particular tribal group, was found in the area that lies between Panbari Reserve Forest near Kaziranga and Dalamara forest range in Karbi Anglong. Incidentally, elephants often use Panbari as a corridor to move between Kaziranga and Karbi Anglong.
"The injury marks showed that a rifle was used to kill the jumbo. And, in all probability, the poachers used the machete to cut off its trunk. They have killed the elephant in a gruesome manner," said Garga Mohan Das, project officer of WWF-India's Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Landscape Conservation Programme.
"This is very very worrying. We fear that the gang of poachers, who killed the elephant, might also target jumbos in Panbari and its adjoining areas," he added.
Honourary wildlife warden (Golaghat) Arup Goswami said it would be very difficult to save the elephants, rhinos and tigers in the area if the government does not construct a foolproof security network.
"Most of the animals are killed in transit between Kaziranga and Karbi Anglong.We aren't worried about the security of animals living in the protected areas like Kaziranga. Our concern is what happens to them once they go out of such areas. In fact, the poachers lie in wait for animals moving out of Kaziranga," he added.
Though elephants are frequently injured during conflicts with human beings in Golaghat and adjoining Karbi Anglong, forest officials said poaching of jumbos is a rare incidence. The last time an elephant was killed by poachers in the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong landscape was around two years ago.
In fact, Golaghat and the adjoining areas of Karbi Anglong have emerged as one of the most intense man-elephant conflict zones. People often use firearms to chase away herds of wild pachyderms, increasing the risk of them succumbing to bullet wounds.
Till recent years, elephants used to pass through the Panbari Reserve Forest in Golaghat to Karbi Anglong and Nagaland without any disturbance. But the situation is no more the same. The entire route, which traditionally covered areas like Panjir Pahar, Kakokchang, Deothar, and up to Nambor-Garampani and Lengrapahar, is in a shambles owing to endless encroachment and relentless deforestation.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/guwahati/Poachers-gun-down-elephant-near-Kaziranga/articleshow/5031678.cms
ELEPHANT CALF DIES IN BANKURA FOREST
BANKURA: An 18-day-old elephant calf died after it fell into a small waterbody while roaming with its herd at Chanchor forest in the Bankadaha forest range in Bankura early on Friday.
The calf was born in this forest after the herd about 25 elephants wandered from the Dalma forests a few weeks ago. The elephants come into the South Bengal forests in search of food during this time of the year, their breeding season.
Balai Ghosh, the ranger of Bankdaha forest range, said that the calf had fallen into the waterbody at about 3 am. Local villagers rushed to the spot after hearing the cry of its anguished mother. By the time a veterinary doctor reached, however, the calf had died. "After post-mortem, the forest workers buried it in the forest," Ghosh said.
He said forest officials were keeping a constant watch on the herd. "We are keeping tabs on them, especially on the mother, from a distance," he said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/kolkata-/Elephant-calf-dies-in-Bankura-forest/articleshow/5028975.cms
