L.A. to Ban Using Bullhooks on Elephants?
June 5, 2012 by Michael Mountain
The circus is coming to town. In a few weeks, Ringling Brothers will be arriving in Los Angeles with all its elephants and other caged animals. But this time they may be getting a muted welcome from the city council. A city panel is set to consider a recommendation from the L.A. Board of Animal [...]
Shanthi and the Harmonica
May 8, 2012 by Michael Mountain
Many people have been enchanted by this video of Shanthi, a 36-year-old elephant at the National Zoo, playing the harmonica. "Fantastic" and "Awesome" are some of the comments on YouTube. I’m less than enchanted. In the video, elephant keeper Debbie Flinkman tells us how much Shanthi enjoys her life at the zoo: "We offer the [...]
Cole Circus Pays to Settle Abuse Lawsuit
May 3, 2012 by Michael Mountain
Cole Brothers Circus has agreed to pay the U.S. Department of Agriculture $15,000 to settle a lawsuit alleging abuse of the animals. Allegations against the circus included that elephant handlers has repeatedly struck an elephant with an ankus — a hook or goad used in elephant training — during performances, according to a USDA report.
Elephants Practice for Move to Sanctuary
April 26, 2012 by Michael Mountain
At the Toronto Zoo, Toka, Thika and Iringa are, so to speak, packing their trunks. In their case, that means trying out the crates they’ll be using for their flight to their new home, the PAWS sanctuary in California. One of the crates is sitting at the door to their indoor area, so they need [...]
Zoo Association Tries to Punish Toronto for Humane Decision
April 23, 2012 by Michael Mountain
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is miffed about the Toronto Zoo and the Toronto City Council making the wise and humane decision to send their three elephants, Thika, Iringa and Toka, to a sanctuary in California. So the AZA has retaliated by pulling the accreditation of the Toronto Zoo. What’s their rationale? Very [...]
Elephant Tries to Flee Irish Circus
March 29, 2012 by Michael Mountain
In Ireland, yesterday, one of the elephants tried to do just that. While being steered around a Blackpool, Cork, parking lot by trainers from the Courtney Brothers circus, a depressed-looking elephant decided she’d had enough, dodged her captors, and began running away.
Bob Barker Rents Jumbo Jet!
March 27, 2012 by Michael Mountain
The irrepressible Bob Barker has offered pay $880,000 for the three elephants at the Toronto Zoo to be flown to the PAWS sanctuary in California.
Art by Other Animals
February 1, 2012 by Michael Mountain
In the late 1950s, the surrealism painter Salvador Dali saw one of the canvases by Congo, a chimpanzee, whose artworks had been shown on the British TV show Zoo Time.
Elephants Mourn Loss of Baby
January 25, 2012 by Michael Mountain
Elephants gathered around 3-month-old Lola after she had died from a pulmonary embolism at Germany’s Hellabrunn Zoo.
Lola had been taken to the hospital, but she died during a cat scan prior to going into surgery.
Elephants Won’t Be Split Up
January 24, 2012 by Michael Mountain
Shaba was 2 years old when she was placed with Connie. Elephants have very close family bonds, and, far from their original families and homes, the two have basically known only each other.