Let the elephants roam

This weekend I was able to go up to Yakima, WA to visit with my family. My mom flew into Seattle from Kansas City, and I was overwhelmed with excitement to see her. I haven't seen her since March when I flew down to take care of her for her surgery, so this time with family was much needed.

From left to right: My mom holding my nephew, my cute niece Aly, and my nephews Cody and Rowdy jumping on the trampoline with their dad.

The weekend was spent with family dinners, a birthday party for my niece and nephew, and long talks on my sister and brother-in-laws back porch.  While in Yakima, even though my time was filled, I couldn't stop sporadically thinking about an article from The Washington Post, that I had read in class. . 

Picture borrowed from Awf.org

In this  Washington Post article, "Let the Zoo's Elephants Go," Les Schobert, a professional zoo curator, tries to enlighten readers about the situation that the elephants have to endure in America's zoos.  Schobert wrote the article to bring to light the inadequate conditions in which the elephants have been held.  He feels that zoos across the country must change the concept of how the elephants are kept. Since the start of zoos, there has been a growth of knowledge about elephants, and that keeping them in tiny quarters is detrimental to their health. Schobert not only goes into detail about his history as a zoo curator, and what goes on with the elephants, but he also has a resolution to the problem.  

There are many elephant sanctuaries that have the acreage that the elephants need to do the appropriate amount of walking needed for their health, but also the social part of an elephant’s life as well.  Schobert feels that if the zoo cannot accommodate the elephants on their needs to survive a long life, they need to send the elephants to the sanctuaries. 

This made me think....

When reading the article, I not only started having anger toward the zoos, but also sadness toward what the elephants have to go through.  I cannot say with much education what is exactly needed to be done to prevent more elephants getting euthanized at such a young age, but I too feel that maybe it would be best to have the elephants go to a sanctuary.  The sanctuary can still allow people from all around to see the amazing wonder of elephants, and keep them healthy.  Because of this article I now will keep an eye open on what is going on in the world of zoos.  

As you can see I had a lot on my mind this weekend :-)  I had a great time in Yakima with my family, and I was able to reflect on the article that I had read as well.