Do most people agree that elephants belong in sanctuaries or left in the wild instead of circuses and zoos?

Elephants walk hundreds of miles in the wild, have exeptional memories, bond for life with their family members, and are very intelligent. If they are confined to an area where there is not enough room to roam, they develop extremely painful arthritis and numerous other foot/ leg problems due to lack of mobility. Not to mention, they start to sway back and forth from constant boredom. Is this the way any living creature should be forced to live?

Do most people agree that elephants belong in sanctuaries or left in the wild instead of circuses and zoos?
I hate zoos, and I never or wanted to go to a circus. I hate animal shows, I think WILD animal trainer, should train theyselves to stand on their heads and bark.
Reply:i agree with you, elephants should be left in the wild, but then again...all wild animals should be in the wild.


zoos are atleast a little better than the circus, but the animals still don't have enough room.
Reply:Yes I agree. They should be free.
Reply:I don't think so. I think elephants shouldn't be confined to cages like for the circus, but in Africa wildlife preserves and in the wild.
Reply:i think that all animals should be left in there natural habitat. and most animals are abused by the zoo or circus. they are in cramped and unsanitary surroundings.





i'm sure as humans we wouldn't wanna be locked in a 5' x 5' cage and be fed the same thing everyday and not be able to walk freely with family and friends
Reply:Right on! There's a reason this very issue is popping up all over the world. People are getting educated about how mentally and physically unhealthy circus and zoo animals are.





www.elephants.com
Reply:It would be nice if we could leave them in the wild. Unfortunately, human encroachment into their habitat is pushing them off their traditional lands and into marginal territory (not to mention people killing them for meat, ivory, "sport").





Short of that, yes, I think it's awful that African elephants are in zoos and circuses, and it would be better if they were in large sanctuaries.





I live in Los Angeles, and I know that our elephants in the L.A. Zoo would be better off just about anywhere else.
Reply:Absolutely! My favorite animal charity is the Elephant Sanctuary in TN (www.elephants.com). They have 19 elephants, older or ill, who have been rescued from circuses or zoos. They come with multiple health and psychological problems, but after months at the ES, roaming on 2700 acres, and just being elephants, the health improves and the mental problems fade away. The public has no access to them, just their loving caregivers. They make their own decisions to be out or in the heated barns (with soft floors). Even zoos who care about them cannot give them the space they need.