Picture courtesy of China Zoo Watch
Wild baby elephants (Loxodonta africana africana), born amongst the acacias of Zimbabwe, are being sold to zoos in China by the Zimbabwean authorities.
Late last year four baby elephants, one of whom is already dead, were transported to China and it is believed that more are due to follow shortly.
In Zimbabwe wild animals are a business commodity and, as such, they occasionally face export. However, this recent case of young elephants being sent to zoos in China has resulted in frantic, well-informed voices raising the alarm. The distressing photographic evidence suggests their concerns are well-founded.
In his recent series ‘Africa’ Sir David Attenborough made it clear that all those involved with wildlife in Africa realise the need for the successful interaction between animals and the communities they live amongst. Footage in the series shows how well the experts understand that on an increasingly crowded continent there is a need for all parties, animal and human, to benefit from living side by side.
Part of the ‘Africa’ series is devoted to elephants. The filming shows their social life, their bonding, and the harsh realities behind their survival in Africa. It includes unrelenting close-up footage of a mother elephant watching her calf die from thirst and lack of food. It is heartbreaking but in context.
To watch a wild, African-born baby elephant of a similar age try to survive in isolation on the concrete floor of a zoo in China is unbearable. The video clip below is distressing.

African elephants are creatures of legend, respected the world over as the largest animals walking on Earth. Zimbabwe’s elephants have survived drought, poaching and political turmoil – they are dignified symbols of hope and endurance.
The plight of the lonely, traumatised young Zimbabwean elephant in Taiyuan Zoo should haunt us all.
Has Zimbabwe sold its soul?
Has Zimbabwe sold its soul?
(Thanks to China Zoo Watch for the photographs and footage. Please click on this link for Animals Asia Foundation for further information.)
This is a disgrace. I want to do something but no one appears to know what to do. Can someone at least give the address of the Zoo so I can write and complain.
It is very distressing. The following is information provided by Dave Neale, Animal Welfare Director for Animals Asia Foundation. I would suggest visiting their website: http://asiaforanimals.com/coalition-voice/china-zoos-take-wild-elephants. Thank you for getting involved.
“Senior Animal Welfare Officer, Lisa Yang has been speaking extensively with the Chinese Zoo Association (CAZG) with regards the ongoing situation for the calf at Taiyuan and about the imports in general.
Throughout this despicable episode we have continued to offer to fund a behavioural management expert and a vet to visit the three calves and provide advice and support to the zoos on their immediate needs. While the CAZG are open to the idea, neither Taiyuan or Xinjiang Safari Park are willing to allow us to do this. They say they have the expertise to care for the elephant calves, this is blatantly not true as you can see by the condition of the calf and the fact one has already died. In reality the zoos are simply concerned about further bad publicity. But without the support of the zoos our hands are tied as we cannot access the elephant calves.
You may also know that further calf imports are pending, a number of zoos have reportedly already paid the Zimbabwe authorities for the delivery of elephant calves (these are the ones we managed to prevent from being exported) but these zoos are still wanting calves therefore the Zimbabwe authorities are likely to capture more claves for export. The groups in Zimbabwe are monitoring this.
The China zoo association’s position on the imports is that it is legal therefore there is no issue for them or the zoo to answer and this should be taken up with the CITES Management authority which is something that we (alongside both Chinese national and international groups ) are also doing.
We have been pushing the ethical viewpoint over the legal stance with the zoo association and they do understand our point of view but this is not going to change the zoo directors standpoint for the time being. We are going to look for a way to raise this issue within the zoo directors workshops (which we are invited to attend and speak at) but it is not going to be an easy one as the zoos are likely to see our stance as a criticism of their management.
Needless to say it has been heartbreaking to see pictures of this calf going rapidly downhill and having our hands tied to provide some help. We hope that the negative press generated internationally may deter some zoos from getting involved in future deals such as this but we need to keep up the pressure to ensure these deals do not simply slip under the radar. The groups in Zimbabwe are well positioned to get information on future deals with regards the elephants at least.
You can get further information on our Asia for Animals coalition website at http://asiaforanimals.com/coalition-voice/china-zoos-take-wild-elephants
Cant bear to see it…. breaks your heart!
I just hope no more have to go.