Zimbabwe ships more than 30 baby elephants, torn from the wild, to Chinese zoos
Just recently, we had acquired footage of the baby elephants eating dry branches and walking around a small water hole in an enclosure in Hwange National Park. Photo by Oscar Nkala
More than thirty baby elephants, torn from their mothers in the wild in Zimbabwe almost a year ago, embarked on a new journey of captivity and suffering this week when they were flown to China, where they are expected to spend the rest of their lives in zoos or circuses.
Humane Society International/Africa had been tracking the babies since we received news in February that they were being held in an enclosure in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park. When we told you about plans to transport these calves — all under six years old — 7,000 miles away from their home, many of you joined us in expressing outrage. For months we had been supporting local groups in the hope of stopping the export, and just recently, we had acquired footage of the young animals eating dry branches and walking around a small water hole in the enclosure, called a boma.
As soon as we learned of plans that the elephants would be flown out of the country this week, the Zimbabwe National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, supported by HSI/Africa and Sibanye Animal & Welfare Conservancy Trust, filed urgent papers in Harare High Court. The groups were seeking to force the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority to allow them to assess the welfare of the elephants – an effort the Authority had rebuffed in the past, and that might have stopped the shipment. We were dismayed to learn the transport had happened the same day.
This is heartbreaking news. As Audrey Delsink, wildlife director of HSI/Africa and an elephant biologist, told me, the life that awaits these elephants in Chinese zoos and circuses will be one of deprivation and suffering, and as far removed as can be from the life they would have led in the wild. Elephants are extremely social animals and in the wild they live in large family groups. Forcing them into loneliness and lifelong captivity leads to immense psychological distress and deprivation — a fate these gentle giants do not deserve. We are working with advocates in China to track down the whereabouts of these newly arrived elephants and will closely monitor the situation on the ground, including the welfare of the juvenile animals.
Zimbabwe’s rush to export the baby elephants also appears to have been motivated by a landmark vote in August at the meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), where member countries imposed a near-total ban on the capture of wild African elephants from Botswana and Zimbabwe for export to zoos. That rule, which Zimbabwe fought tooth and nail, takes effect after November 26, so it appears that the Zimbabwean authorities arranged to ship out these young elephants before the deadline. The African Elephant Coalition, an alliance of 32 African countries, had also called on Zimbabwe to end the export of wild elephants to zoos and other captive facilities.
African elephants, who face extraordinary threats from poaching for ivory, trophy hunting and habitat loss, are currently listed as a threatened species, with less than 500,000 remaining in the wild. In 2017, the Great Elephant Census found that the population of elephants in Zimbabwe had declined six percent overall between 2007 and 2014, and the drop was as high as 74 percent in some regions in the country. Removing elephants from the wild and sending them to be exploited in foreign lands causes unnecessary suffering and destabilizes the population on multiple fronts.
It’s too late for these baby elephants, who are now condemned to a lifetime of trauma, and for the 108 other elephants the country has exported to China since 2012. Before Zimbabwe can do more harm to its remaining elephants with actions like selling them for hard cash for short-term benefit, we are calling on the country to keep them on African soil, at home, to bring in millions of tourists and bolster the country’s economy in the long run.
This is beyond vile and atrocious. How about a boycott of anything made in China? No trips to China, no nothing made in China. I would have hoped that Zimbabwe would improve without Mugabe, but maybe not. What a cruel, heartless thing they have done to the mothers and baby elephants. A pox on all who did this.
Of all the countries in the world to ship these babies to, China is the worst. Animal welfare is nonexistent there, and those who survive the trip are doomed to lives of misery, pain, loneliness and early death. Shame on everyone who was involved in this evil, from the corrupt Zimbabwe officials who profited from the selling of innocent souls, to the greedy Chinese who will exploit them for profit. I hope the HSI can do something to save them, but I fear they are lost already.
China is and always has been a Communist society, They are no different then their N. Korean brothers. They care about nothing except themselves and how to be entertained. Their faith is only in their government and expect the government to keep everything in order. They love money and what it can buy for them. Animal life to them is for entertainment or to eat. In China and Korea they eat dogs, cats, rats snakes and anything else. Chinese are very superstitious and do not believe in a higher power such as God. They will lie, cheat, steal or do anything to get what they want. The only way to get them to change is to convince them whatever it is will bring harm to them. I been there I know.
This news breaks my heart into a million pieces. Between Zimbabwe and China, it is difficult to choose which country is the most vile. I absolutely hate the idea that we continue to place such high importance on trading with China. The leaders of this country are bereft of conscience and morality. I will never visit there and I wish with all my heart that we could break off ties with Zimbabwe as well. They do not value their wildlife. They’re only interested in making money. Their leaders, too, are soul-less and pathetic. I hope they are judged harshly for their sins when they stand before their creator one day. No one escapes justice forever!
This story is heartbreaking 💔 I pray these gentle giants are rescued and are able to be tr ansported to sanctuaries.
We are so short sighted… You are selling your own resources… Why would they want to travel to your country and spend foreign currency when they have them in their own country… So shortsighted so stupid never mind the anguish these poor creatures go through… I hate Idiocracy
Heartbreaking, tragic and a huge injustice based entirely on financial greed!
Ban live animal shows we are in 2019
Cruelty what an existence for these poor animals. Another example of human greed of money and disgusting people going to see these precious animals not thinking about them and this unnatural habitat.
Disgusting. How much blood money are they getting.
THE DAM HUMANS ARE AT IT AGAIN!!LEAVE THE ELEPHANTS ALONE .THIS WILL ADD STRESS AND THEY WON’T REPRODUCE. IN THE FUTURE THEY WON’T BE ANYMORE ELEPHANTS TO ENJOY WATCHING AND HOW THEY INTERACT WITH ONE ANOTHER.THEY ARE VERY SMART AND THEY WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM.THERES’ LOTS TO BE LEARN FROM THEM….DAM HUMANS AGAIN AND AGAIN.HUMANS WON’T BE HAPPY UNTIL THEY DESTROY EVERYTHING AND THEN ITS TO LATE!!!!!