Comments on: Zoo Elephants’ Lives Cut Short by Obesity, Loneliness http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/12/12/zoo-elephants-lives-cut-short-by-obesity-loneliness/ 80beats is DISCOVER's news aggregator, weaving together the choicest tidbits from the best articles covering the day\'s most compelling topics. Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:16:34 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: kyle debruyn http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/12/12/zoo-elephants-lives-cut-short-by-obesity-loneliness/comment-page-1/#comment-27534 kyle debruyn Tue, 19 May 2009 18:04:24 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/12/12/zoo-elephants-lives-cut-short-by-obesity-loneliness/#comment-27534 I think elephants should be put in a place like an animal reserve so they can be in the wild and protected so thet dont get shot and killed. That way the elephant population will grow and not decrease.In zoos elephants die early so in the reserve they can still have wild conditions so they can live longer. Thats my point of view about elephants being kept in zoos.^_^ I think elephants should be put in a place like an animal reserve so they can be in the wild and protected so thet dont get shot and killed. That way the elephant population will grow and not decrease.In zoos elephants die early so in the reserve they can still have wild conditions so they can live longer. Thats my point of view about elephants being kept in zoos.^_^

]]> By: Lisette Root http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/12/12/zoo-elephants-lives-cut-short-by-obesity-loneliness/comment-page-1/#comment-23770 Lisette Root Wed, 15 Apr 2009 05:03:54 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/12/12/zoo-elephants-lives-cut-short-by-obesity-loneliness/#comment-23770 Willful ignorance of the emotional, social and physical needs of All creatures, especially those known to be intelligent, is wrong, and cruel. If there is a creator, it must be sad when it peeks in on Earth. Willful ignorance of the emotional, social and physical needs of All creatures, especially those known to be intelligent, is wrong, and cruel. If there is a creator, it must be sad when it peeks in on Earth.

]]> By: Christi http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/12/12/zoo-elephants-lives-cut-short-by-obesity-loneliness/comment-page-1/#comment-15952 Christi Tue, 16 Dec 2008 17:13:42 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/12/12/zoo-elephants-lives-cut-short-by-obesity-loneliness/#comment-15952 I second that motion: boycott zoos We have enough resources for people to become educated about elephants, and ALL animals stuck in zoos for human "needs", without holding them captive in cages. When are people going to realize that nature does just fine without our intervention? Put the money used to sustain zoos toward protecting natural habitats. I second that motion: boycott zoos
We have enough resources for people to become educated about elephants, and ALL animals stuck in zoos for human “needs”, without holding them captive in cages.
When are people going to realize that nature does just fine without our intervention? Put the money used to sustain zoos toward protecting natural habitats.

]]> By: Iza http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/12/12/zoo-elephants-lives-cut-short-by-obesity-loneliness/comment-page-1/#comment-15853 Iza Mon, 15 Dec 2008 02:49:34 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/12/12/zoo-elephants-lives-cut-short-by-obesity-loneliness/#comment-15853 Boycott zoo's. Boycott zoo’s.

]]> By: Darr Sandberg http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/12/12/zoo-elephants-lives-cut-short-by-obesity-loneliness/comment-page-1/#comment-15811 Darr Sandberg Sat, 13 Dec 2008 20:29:33 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/12/12/zoo-elephants-lives-cut-short-by-obesity-loneliness/#comment-15811 There is a real need to keep a viable population of elephants in a protected environment, where they can also facilitate education. Poaching and habitat loss remains a huge risk, and will probably get worse with climate change. While focusing on saving habitat and eliminating poaching is crucial, failing to have a backup plan is planning to fail. But, like everything else, elephants in conservation at zoos or sanctuaries have to have not just sufficient, but optimal living conditions, for it becomes necessary to re-introduce them to the wild from captive stock, it would take the healthiest and sanest for success. There is a real need to keep a viable population of elephants in a protected environment, where they can also facilitate education. Poaching and habitat loss remains a huge risk, and will probably get worse with climate change. While focusing on saving habitat and eliminating poaching is crucial, failing to have a backup plan is planning to fail.

But, like everything else, elephants in conservation at zoos or sanctuaries have to have not just sufficient, but optimal living conditions, for it becomes necessary to re-introduce them to the wild from captive stock, it would take the healthiest and sanest for success.

]]> By: nita taefi http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/12/12/zoo-elephants-lives-cut-short-by-obesity-loneliness/comment-page-1/#comment-15799 nita taefi Sat, 13 Dec 2008 17:20:14 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/12/12/zoo-elephants-lives-cut-short-by-obesity-loneliness/#comment-15799 It should be against the law to cage these animals. They should be housed in greater acreage and allowed to have room to exercise and walk the distances they need. It's a crime what is done to these beautiful and soon to be rare creatures It should be against the law to cage these animals. They should be housed in greater acreage and allowed to have room to exercise and walk the distances they need. It’s a crime what is done to these beautiful and soon to be rare creatures

]]> By: apeshift http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/12/12/zoo-elephants-lives-cut-short-by-obesity-loneliness/comment-page-1/#comment-15780 apeshift Sat, 13 Dec 2008 02:53:08 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/12/12/zoo-elephants-lives-cut-short-by-obesity-loneliness/#comment-15780 treadmill for elephants has already been tried: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/05/060519_elephant.html the simple answer is that elephants do not belong in captivity. there is no need to breed them, trade them, train them or do anything with them. all elephant conservation efforts should be focused on preserving their natural habitat and enforcing anti-poaching laws. it is that simple. treadmill for elephants has already been tried:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/05/060519_elephant.html

the simple answer is that elephants do not belong in captivity.
there is no need to breed them, trade them, train them or do anything with them. all elephant conservation efforts should be focused on preserving their natural habitat and enforcing anti-poaching laws.
it is that simple.

]]> By: Jumblepudding http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/12/12/zoo-elephants-lives-cut-short-by-obesity-loneliness/comment-page-1/#comment-15764 Jumblepudding Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:49:01 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/12/12/zoo-elephants-lives-cut-short-by-obesity-loneliness/#comment-15764 The solution seems obvious: somebody needs to develop a treadmill for elephants. The solution seems obvious: somebody needs to develop a treadmill for elephants.

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