Imagine spending your entire life locked up with little to do. You're intelligent, sensitive, and curious, and over the years you become increasingly desperate for stimulation and interaction. This is the life of many captive elephants, including those at Rabat Zoo in Morroco.
And now, the elephants being mentally frustrated has led to a tragic death. An elephant picked up a large stone with its trunk and threw it. The stone hit a little girl on the back of her head and killed her. Experts believe that the elephant was acting out of understandable boredom, and didn't intend to hurt the girl.
If these elephants must remain captive, they clearly need better enrichment, and this is the zoo's responsibility. Experts have created elephant welfare guidelines that state: "The challenge of pushing, pulling, shoving, throwing, climbing, rubbing, and manipulating objects is excellent enrichment - evidenced by the destructive tendencies of many animals if they are not sufficiently occupied."
The elephants in Rabat Zoo need to be provided with a range of safe play objects and sensory enrichment, such as bouncy balls, scented oils, a water play and wallowing area, varied food, cardboard boxes and other safe items and adaptions. Please sign this petition to demand better enrichment for the captive elephants of Rabat Zoo. If enough people sign it will show that we want humane conditions for these intelligent, gentle and unique animals.
Rabat Zoo
I am writing today to urge you to ask that you introduce suitable enrichment for your elephants, following the advice of professionals.
The lack of stimulation is inhumane for the elephants, and recently led to the death of a young girl hit by a rock that a bored elephant threw.
Simple additions such as space for wallowing and playing with water, beach balls, varied food, cardboard boxes, varied scents and other stimulating items would improve the lives of these intelligent and sensitive creatures.
[Your comments]
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
