Asian Elephants at Taronga Zoo, The Australian

Not sure of date.

John Stapleton
ASIAN elephants, given the green light to be imported into Australia by the Federal government, will be taken for long walks around Melbourne and Taronga Zoos and trained to deal with the public. The walks are designed to help counter criticism it is cruel to keep the animals in confined spaces.

Despite fierce opposition from animal welfare groups Environment Minister Ian Campbell yesterday announced approval for the importation of eight young elephants from Thailand to form part of a breeding program.

The domesticated animals, previously used for tourist rides, have been in quarantine in Thailand for the past nine months.

The decision has been roundly condemned by the RSPCA, Humane Society International and the International Fund for Animal Welfare who filed an application in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal yesterday seeking a review of the Minister's decision and an injunction to stop the importation.

The RSPCA's Australian President Dr Hugh Wirth said elephants should not be treated as tourist attractions.
``Scientific evidence has clearly demonstrated that elephants in zoos breed poorly, suffer myriad health problems, including serious foot and joint complaints and die at a younger age,'' he said. ``Keeping elephants in zoos is simply cruel. This plan places the welfare of these precious animals at risk and we will fight it to the very end.''

Melbourne Zoo's CEO Laura Mumaw said the days of sad elephants in concrete enclosures were long gone. ``The walks keep the elephants happy and are stimulating for the elephants, the public and other animals in the zoo,'' she said. ``Intimate face to face contact with such a magnificent animal creates conservationists for life amongst our young children, but it is not just the walks that form the backbone of the program. Each elephant will be given customised interaction.''

Taronga Zoo Director Guy Cooper denied the claims of animal welfare groups that zoos were simply motivated by profit. ``You need facilities that in terms of a commercial investment would make your eyes water,'' he said. ``You would never want to launch elephants on the Australian stock exchange.''

He said the zoo planned to take the elephants, already housed in a highly stimulating $40 million rainforest complex, on a 1.5 kilometre walk around the zoo each day.

Senator Campbell said opponents had mounted a strong case but all Australians could now be satisfied they were involved in the preservation of a species.

He described the project as a long-term ``generational commitment''. ``I am satisfied the zoos' objectives are based on the conservation status and needs of the Asian elephant and aims to make a significant contribution to the preservation of the species,'' he said.