Maruyama Zoo in Sapporo, Japan: STOP THE IMPORT OF 4 ELEPHANTS FROM MYANMAR

I’ve just heard some unbelievable, devastating news: A Japanese zoo has announced it’s going to import 4 elephants from South Asia: 1 male elephant, 1 young female elephant, a mother and a baby. The photo above shows the sad training that happens to prepare elephants for zoo life. Here are the obvious reasons why this act must (and can) be stopped:

1. THE ELEPHANTS WILL SUFFER IN THE COLD.
 In Sapporo, Japan— where the Maruyama Zoo is located — average winter temperatures are minus 7 degrees Celsius (19F). Elephants don’t have fur coats. Imagine what it would feel like to to have to stand outside in the snow, without a jacket, for months on end? It’s cruel and unnecessary. To subject four more elephants to these unnatural, sub-zero temperatures is unacceptable.

2. THEY WILL BE FORCED TO LIVE DECADES IN UNETHICAL LIVING CONDITIONS.
Four young elephants will be forced to survive a long, traumatic transport all the way to Japan. If they even make it that far, what will be their ‘reward?’ They will forced to spend the rest of their lives cold, bored and trapped. Some captive elephants in Japan live an average of 60+ years. Imagine the life this baby elephant would be sentenced to: confined to a space the size of a small parking lot (at best), forced to do circles its whole life. All so the zoo can attract more customers … and make a bigger profit.

So here’s the good news: WE CAN STILL STOP THIS.
The city of Sapporo, Japan has been trying to become a bigger tourism hot spot. The global community needs to send a clear message: This is NOT the type of activity a world-class tourism destination should be engaging in.

WE DEMAND TO STOP THIS TOTALLY UNNECESSARY AND UNETHICAL TRADE NOW! Sign the petition, share with your friends and we will send your signatures in a letter to the mayor of Sapporo.

Text credit: Ulara Nakagawa