Monday 21 January 2013

Animal Abuse In Zoos

Source(google.com.pk)
Animal Abuse In Zoos Biography
 Council has had the benefit of receiving a lot of information over the past year. It still thinks the sanctuary is the best place, and zoo management is now prepared to accept that, Tracogna said.
“The public debate on this issue has occurred, and so we’ve got the direction and we’ll move on.”
Zoo staff vehemently disagreed with council’s decision in October 2011, in part because of PAWS’s lack of accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and then because of concerns about disease at the sanctuary in San Andreas, Calif. Staff hoped to send the elephants to a new, accredited sanctuary under construction in Florida instead.
“There was concern around tuberculosis at the facility,” Tracogna said. “But council’s heard all this and made their decision so we have to respect that.
“We’ve had a public debate. The information has come out fully. Council has made a decision.”
He noted that there are logistical hurdles to overcome, and stressed it’s up to PAWS to come up with an acceptable plan to fly the elephants westward.

“A good part of it is having a sound transportation plan that is going to move the elephants safely,” Tracogna said, adding he believes retired game show host and animal advocate Bob Barker, who had offered to pick up transportation costs, is still willing to do so.
“Basically we need a transportation plan from PAWS that’s going to be safe and meet all the requirements to fly three elephants all that distance. Along with that, we need the proper permits and the proper crate training.”
Tracogna couldn’t give a timetable to move the elephants, but councillors who pushed for the move want to see it happen as soon as possible.
“We just want to do what’s best for our elephants, and that’s what we did here today,” said Councillor Michelle Berardinetti, who has fought hard for the move.
“We did that a year ago, but we saw that they dragged their feet. They found every reason to drag their feet. You saw a sound decision by council once again. Sending them to PAWS is the best place.”
Not so, said Councillor Gloria Lindsay Luby, who fought the move.
“They’re sending them to a facility that’s got TB, active TB. Why would you do that?” she said.
“I can’t understand what goes through some of these people’s minds. They are our elephants; one was born here. How could you do that to them? But council rules supreme, even though I certainly can’t agree with it.”
 News Link:-http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/cityhallpolitics/article/1294168–toronto-council-votes-to-send-zoo-s-elephants-to-california-again

The bill, if passed, could impact some circuses and animal facilities.

Julie Woodyer, campaigns director for Zoocheck Canada Inc., said bullhooks are not found at the Toronto Zoo but circuses make use of the sharp devices to force elephants to perform tricks.
“This is used to beat elephants and they’ll use it to hook elephants in the most sensitive parts of their bodies, behind their ears and under their legs,” Woodyer said. “It is a tool of discipline and it is based on the animals having fear of the tool.”
If it were used as a guide, as some elephant handlers claim, than why isn’t it made of foam, she said.
Progressive zoos use positive reinforcement to encourage the elephants to carry out activities such as lifting their foot to inspect for infection, she said.
Bill 69, introduced by Liberal MPP Lorenzo Berardinetti would prevent elephant handlers from using electric prods, bullhooks or similar devices to “shock, poke, strike, hit, stab, pierce or pinch the skin of an elephant.”
The use of chains and ropes to restrain elephants would also be severely curtailed.
Berardinetti said elephants are one of the few animals that has self awareness.
“They’re extremely intelligent and shouldn’t be in captivity, especially not in circuses because they’re forced to do stuff that they don’t want to do,” he said.

The bill says these types of elephant handling practices date back hundreds if not thousands of years and are used to dominate an elephant by breaking its spirit.
“Modern, progressive zoos around the world have stopped using fear or dominance-based training of elephants in favour of safer, more humane systems, such as protected contact management systems,” the bill says
Ringling Brothers Circus, which has been the focus of animal rights campaigns in the U.S., says on its website that it has the most “pampered pachyderms” in the world.
“Our training methods are based on reinforcement in the form of food rewards and words of praise. Verbal or physical abuse and the withholding of food or water are strictly prohibited,” the circus says.
Community Safety Minister Madeleine Meilleur said she will look at the bill to assess its possible impact.
“But the protection of animals is very serious, we take it very serious, and there’s no place in Ontario for any cruelty to animals,” Meilleur said.

Animal Abuse In Zoos
Animal Abuse In Zoos
Animal Abuse In Zoos
Animal Abuse In Zoos
Animal Abuse In Zoos
Animal Abuse In Zoos
Animal Abuse In Zoos
Animal Abuse In Zoos
Animal Abuse In Zoos
Animal Abuse In Zoos
Animal Abuse In Zoos

            

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