I was just taken aback after reading the following article about Have Trunk Will Travel taking the baby elephant, born 11/30/12 at the Oregon zoo, to join it's traveling show...ripping her away from her mom as early as 30 days old. Everyone knows elephant mother/daughters will live together for life (until humans intervene) and it is heartbreaking to think this baby could be taken away from her mom as official designation of ownership takes effect after the calf has lived 30 days.
I urge everyone ask Have Trunk Will Travel to leave this baby elephant with her family as well as any future babies.
Per their website: Have Trunk Will Travel is a family of people that truly cares about the well being of elephants." If that is a fact, why would they even consider removing this baby elephant (or any future baby elephants they have rights too by contract) - when 30 days old or anytime in the future from her family.
This is the news article for review:
King 5 News as saying: "They can't come here and take an animal. The zoo and Have Trunk have a positive relationship and the company also wants to have the calf remain at the zoo."
Kari Johnson, who co-owns Have Trunk Will Travel with her husband, Gary, told the Times that they were looking forward to visiting the newborn elephant and added that details regarding her future had not yet been worked out.
Meanwhile, publicly, the zoo still wears a happy face regarding their prized new addition. A large headline on its website home page reads, "Welcome to the herd, baby!" And the naming contest continues, via public voting, with submissions such as Jaidee, Sirikit, Rakhi, Lily and Siddhi under consideration.
Voting concludes Sunday, and perhaps by then zookeepers will know more about whether the young elephant will be able to stay with her family, or end up in a traveling show.
In the wild, the bond between mother and daughter is lifelong.
