This blog will appear in edited form in the Los Angeles Times Blowback section on Monday, December 15, 2008.

Zoos without elephants would be a lesson in compassion for the children of L.A.

Lori Marino, Ph.D.

Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology Program

Emory University

Gay Bradshaw, Ph.D., Ph.D.

The Kerulos Center

Randy Malamud, Ph.D.

Department of English

Georgia State University

In his recent article entitled “Zoos without elephants would be a loss for the children of L.A.” (Dec 9, 2008, Los Angeles Times) Hector Tobar protests the possibility that Billy, a 23-year old, Malaysian elephant held captive at the LA Zoo for nearly two decades might go to sanctuary and the exhibit might be closed forever. You see, Billy’s two remaining elephant companions recently died. Thirteen elephants have died at the LA Zoo since 1975. About half of them died before they reached the age of 20 even though the natural lifespan of elephants is 65-70 years. Given these statistics, Billy’s age is concerning. In light of the mountain of evidence that has accumulated over the past three decades showing the extensive and profoundly adverse effects of animals’ emotions on their physical health, this is not at all surprising.

Despite his youth, Billy already shows signs of aging and hardship. Beyond suffering from tail abscesses and other infections, he has developed a stereotypy – a repetitive head tic that is indicative of severe duress commonly found in confined animals and humans. This is not unexpected. Elephants share common brain structures and functions with us. They recognize themselves in mirrors and thus share a similar sense of self with us. Elephants also suffer from the stress of forced incarceration, physical deprivation, social isolation and other trauma. Consequently, when children see Billy they are looking at someone not too much different from the children they see on the news who are victims of war and genocide—sentenced to live without family and friends under harsh conditions resembling a prison.

Mr. Tobar is aware of all this evidence for trauma and suffering on the part of this animal, which makes his response nothing short of stunningly callous. He seems to think that people have a right to see and do whatever they want, even if it means great harm to another individual, in this case, an elephant. We are sure Mr. Tobar would not concede that this is his viewpoint but he appears oblivious to his own insensitivity. His argument is a chilling example of how our institutions of captivity (i.e. zoos and marine parks) have been successful at “breaking us in”, that is, conditioning us to think in ways that culminated in such attitudes.

Tobar claims he is concerned about the impact of losing the elephant exhibit on children. In doing so he attempts to frame the issue as “elephants versus children”. He knows better than that. He knows that there are many things that his and other children will never experience. Most children do not grow up to pet a dinosaur (indeed none do!), climb Mt. Everest, or dance in the American Ballet Theater. And Mr. Tobar knows that no child suffers because of lack of these experiences. They will grow up to lead happy meaningful lives without these experiences. The same is true of seeing elephants in zoos.

We argue that, in fact, seeing suffering animals held in confinement in zoos has a negative impact on children. They come to learn that other animals are commodities, to be controlled and exploited. They come to learn that we need not be concerned about suffering as long as we are entertained. Yet we expect these children to become ethical caring adults. It is irrational to do so.

We agree with Mr. Tobar on one point. Zoos without elephants would indeed have an impact on children. It would be a lesson in compassion.

Signatories (in alphabetical order):

Marc Bekoff, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder

Ron Broglio, Ph.D., Asst. Professor, School of Literature, Communication and Culture, Georgia Institute of Technology

Brenda McCowan, Ph.D., Assoc. Professor, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis

Franklin D. McMillan, DVM, Director of Well-Being Studies, Best Friends Animal Society

Henry Melvyn Richardson, DVM, Former Zoo Veterinarian

Michael Mountain, Former President and Co-Founder, Best Friends Animal Society

Carrie Packwood Freeman, Ph.D., Asst. Professor of Communication, Georgia State University

Kenneth Shapiro, PhD, ABPP, Executive Director. Animals & Society Institute