Zimbabwe: Animal Welfare Advocates Condemn Export of Elephants
The corrupt and cruel trade in live elephants is repeatedly dressed up as a rescue operation — a level of cynicism that is hard to surpass. In reality, it is a lucrative business for a handful of kleptocrats and traders who enrich themselves through mismanagement and corruption.
Just weeks after a resolution by the World Wildlife Conference (CITES) in favour of a trade ban, the government of Zimbabwe covertly flew 32 elephant calves to zoos and amusement parks in China under cover of night.
Elephant Calves Forcibly Torn from Their Herds
The animals had already been forcibly captured from their herds in Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park back in February and were loaded into containers aboard a Saudia Cargo aircraft on the afternoon of 24 October. "Young elephants torn from their herds are severely traumatised for the rest of their lives. The capture and trade of wild elephants for entertainment purposes is absolutely unacceptable and must finally come to an end", said Daniela Freyer of Pro Wildlife.
Since 2012, Zimbabwe has sold at least 140 baby elephants to China; some have already died during transport or shortly after arrival. The CITES trade ban, which Pro Wildlife had campaigned for, does not officially come into force until 27 November. It stipulates that wild African elephants from Zimbabwe and other countries may only be traded for conservation measures may be carried out in their natural habitat, but no longer for zoos and circuses. Zimbabwe apparently wanted to get ahead of the law coming into force. The animals were kept out of public view for months under strict guard, with animal welfare advocates and journalists denied access. Legal actions pending against the export were also ignored by Zimbabwe's autocratic government. On Wednesday, despite protests from Zimbabwe and around the world, the loading took place. Five other animals intended for export were not fit for transport due to their poor health condition.
Elephants do not thrive in captivity
«Elephants do not thrive well in captivity — few young are born, and the mortality rate is high. That is why some zoos and amusement parks continue to seek a supply of young animals from the wild», says Freyer. Elephants are highly intelligent and social; in the wild, their entire lives revolve around the cohesion of the herd. In captivity, life expectancy is shortened, birth rates are reduced, and many animals suffer from husbandry-related illnesses and behavioural disorders. To make them compliant, these powerful animals are typically broken through force, and especially in Asia they are trained for degrading tricks and performances .
Zimbabwe's former environment minister publicly stated that the country would sell elephants to anyone who wanted them. The price for one animal is around 30’000 euros. Zimbabwe is in the grip of an acute political and economic crisis. The EU maintains sanctions against a list of individuals in Zimbabwe due to human rights violations, repression, and restrictions on freedom of expression.
