The Skinny Elephant

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Few fauna manifest this paradox quite like Bali’s captive Sumatran elephants. As the name suggests, this critically endangered species is not indigenous to the Indonesian resort island – instead hailing from Borneo and Sumatra – but many have been moved to Bali as part of a government-run conservation programme “that entrusts privately-owned zoos and safari parks in Indonesia with the care of critically endangered Sumatran elephants”, according to an October 7 Al Jazeera article about the plight of 14 pachyderms at one such park.

Hutchins, M., B. Smith, and M. Keele. “Zoos as Responsible Stewards of Elephants.” In Elephants and Ethics: Toward a Morality of Coexistence, edited by C. Wemmer and C. A. Christen, 285–305. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008.

Later in the foraging trip, when seals had plumped up to 35% body fat, they rested just before sunrise. Only 30% of their rest dives occurred during the high-risk daytime. Gradual shifts in body condition and behavior over the 220-day foraging trip accumulated to an impressive six–hour shift in average rest time by the end of the trip. Haas says all of these problems were created by demand from tourists for elephant rides: “That one ride, that one selfie, it means a life sentence for these animals and now that Covid has hit it’s even worse because no more money is coming in and some elephants are starving.” You’re smart and curious about the world. So are The Conversation’s authors and editors. You can get our highlights each weekend.] Hoi An is one of Vietnam’s “key tourist destinations” that is set reopen to vaccinated visitors from countries deemed a low Covid-19 risk. Photo: Getty Images Clubb, R., M. Rowcliffe, P. Lee, K. U. Mar, C. Moss, and G. J. Mason. “Compromised Survivorship in Zoo Elephants.” Science 12 (2008): 1649.

They continuously dive, for long periods of time - 20 minutes on average and about 100 minutes at maximum - and deep - 500 meters (1,640 feet) on average and about 1,500 meters (4,920 feet) at maximum - with only a few minutes breathing at the surface," Adachi said. What Do Population-Level Welfare Indices Suggest about the Well-Being of Zoo Elephants?” Zoo Biology 29 (2008): 1–18. Newman, B. “Zoo Confinement Gives Elephants Problem Feet.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 17, 2006. http://www.post-gazette.com/nation/2006/11/17/Zoo-confinement-gives-elephants-problem-feet/stories/200611170141. Haas says Bakas’s owners are also crying poor and demanding government assistance: “It’s quite easy to say we have no money to feed their elephants, so hello government, come and take care of it. But the ones who are responsible are the owners.”

Drift dives provide the answers

Among the countless things that Covid-19 has shone a spotlight on is the complex, often harmful, relationship that humans have with nature. On October 7, the Indian government announced that it would start granting tourist visas again from October 15, after an 18-month hiatus. In a statement, the Ministry of Home Affairs said: “After considering various inputs, the MHA has decided to begin granting fresh Tourist Visas for foreigners coming to India through chartered flights with effect from October 15.” Poole, J. H., and C. J. Moss. “Elephant Sociality and Complexity.” In Elephants and Ethics: Toward a Morality of Coexistence, edited by C. Wemmer and C. A. Christen, 69–98. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008. Marino, L., S. O. Lilienfeld, R. Malamud, N. Nobis, and R. Broglio. “Do Zoos and Aquariums Promote Attitude Change in Visitors? A Critical Evaluation of the American Zoo and Aquarium Study.” Society and Animals 18 (2010): 126–38.