Protection advocates and concerned citizens have been trying to end the elephant captivity program for decades and now some zoos are starting to sit up and pay attention. Like the Bronx Zoo in New York, in 2006 they ended their elephant program, but 10 years after the decision the zoo still holds 3 elephants captured and its not because they changed their minds its because they say and I quote that "elephants have the potential to live very long lives – some of them living well into their sixties." This is Happy's story.
In 1977, Happy was taken from the wild in Thailand along with her companion Grumpy. They were two of the seven captured that were put on display in the US. After 25 years in captivity Grumpy passed away and was replaced with Sammie to be kept with Happy. Four years passed and Sammie was euthanized due to the illness. After Sammie's death was when the zoo decided to end their elephant program. Most people would think that after the decision was made the zoo would move Happy somewhere else but that wasn't the case. They decided to "wait it out" or in other words wait until the elephants died out. And because of that rule Happy has been alone for almost ten years. In 2006 Happy participated in a study to test her intelligence. A mark was put above her left eyebrow and she was put in front of a mirror to see if she could recognize herself. In no time at all she noticed the mark and touched it with her trunk. This study proved that Happy should not b in solitary confinement all day. Also she is in danger from the fluctuating temperatures in New York and the stress of living in a too small of a enclosure for a full grown elephant.
People have made calls for the Bronx zoo to lose their accreditation but its not definite the outcome for Happy an the other elephants staying there. People have also made calls for Happy to be moved to a sanctuary but the zoo has showed no interest. No one knows what the best plan is for Happy but it would help if the zoo would show some interest. "Happy’s sad story is a poignant reminder that keeping elephants in zoos will not be phased out overnight and even if all the zoos made the right decision tomorrow, elephant-free zoos are still decades away while those already in captivity live out their lives." There needs to be some push to help elephants like Happy to be taken out of captivity and put into sanctuaries but the first step has to start with us. If we push the zoos to release these elephants their lives will be better
source: (http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/happy-the-loneliest-elephant-bronx-zoo/)
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