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Do Elephants Belong In Zoos? The Group That Wants the Woodland Park Zoo Elephants Freed

BY Rachel Belle  on January 23, 2013 @ 5:54 pm (Updated: 11:01 am - 1/28/13 )

Elephant_Watoto_High_Res_Vertical_Ryan_Hawk.jpg
Watoto the 44 year old elephant, at Woodland Park Zoo. Photo by Ryan Hawk.
When I arrived at Woodland Park Zoo this morning, it was bath time for Watoto, Bamboo and Chai. Those are the zoo's three elephants, all females, ages 44, 46 and 34, respectively. They've all lived at the Seattle zoo since they were one year old. After a life spent entertaining and educating at the zoo, a group called Friends of Woodland Park Zoo Elephants wants the elephants set free.

"Science has shown now that elephants are not good candidates for captivity," says Lisa Kane, an elephant advocate who collaborates with Friends of Woodland Park Zoo Elephants. "Zoos all sit on small footprints. Even if you gave over the entire Woodland Park Zoo to elephants, and I think it's only 40, 50, 60 acres, that would still be an incredibly small space."

Lisa says when the elephants aren't outside entertaining zoo patrons, they're kept alone, in a characterless barn the size of a large garage.

"There's not much for them to do. From the elephant's point of view, they've stepped out of the barn every single day for 25 years and looked at the same site line. The exact same trees. The exact same everything. There's no change, there's no variety, there's no novelty. These are creatures with enormous brains. It's hard for me even to fathom the tedium of the lives they lead at Woodland Park Zoo."

Woodland Park Zoo animal curator Martin Ramirez says the issues of space are merely an opinion.

"Our exhibit is about a quarter mile in length. They could walk that and often do. I saw a study a few years ago where they put GPS collars on wild elephants. When food was scarce, elephants traveled 50, 60, 70 miles a day. When food was readily available, they didn't go very far. That points to me, it is about resources and where their food is."

Lisa says that one of the elephants doesn't get along with the others, so she's forced to spend a lot of time alone, which is really depressing for an elephant.

"They've given up their families which mean more to elephants than human families. Female elephants never leave their mothers. This was research done by Iain Douglas-Hamilton in northern Kenya. I think it's hard for us to imagine the suffering we've inflicted on them."

Martin responds:

"We have one elephant who actually kind of prefers to be on her own and isn't as bonded with the African elephant as the others are. Rather than force the issue with them, we do give them their space. They do have plenty of opportunities to interact with each other. The only thing we don't give them is physical time together. For the most part, they are very much in contact with each other."

In order to create a natural family, the zoo has artificially inseminated Chai over 50 times, according to Friends of Woodland Park Zoo Elephants who site vet records. They say it was an invasive and cruel procedure.

"We're not going to going to force these animals to do anything they want to do," said Martin. "So the fact that Chai was willing to go into the space and do these artificial inseminations; it was a very positive experience for her."

This is a tough story. It's sort of a "He said, she said" situation. Hearing Lisa's side tugs on emotions. Knowing that elephants are highly intelligent animals and seeing the size and sparseness of the barn this morning, and the space the elephants have to move in, it's hard not to take her side.

She wants these elephants transferred to one of two United States sanctuaries so they can spend the rest of their lives free. She says other zoos have already taken steps to improve the quality of life for elephants.

"I think there are at least ten, or a dozen at this point, that have either closed down their elephant programs or have made public promises to do so once this last elephant dies," said Lisa. "Why can't we do that?"

But Martin argues that the elephants are treated very well and that they're a huge educational tool to teach the community about elephant conservation.

"The one thing that they don't have to experience here, at the zoo, that they would in the wild, is running for their lives. Constantly being aware of poachers. So I would say their life here is much better than in the wild."

When I stood just feet away from Chai and Watoto this morning, I was in awe of them, and was entranced by their every move. But does my excitement of standing so close to such a large, beautiful, gentle animal fairly override that animal's happiness? Are we being selfish?

"What we're looking at here is a bigger picture," said Martin. "Trying to conserve animals in the wild, trying to do whatever we can to stop poaching in the wild. I've already shown you that our animals receive excellent care. All of their needs are met."

"I like zoos, I think they are an important way for people to be linked to wildlife," said Lisa. "But there are some animals that don't flourish in zoos. When we recognize that, and there's evidence of it, then I think it's important to act on it."

Rachel Belle, Ron and Don Show Reporter
Rachel Belle is a feature contributor and personality on The Ron & Don Show on KIRO Radio (weekdays 3-7pm), and host of Ring My Belle Weekends (Saturdays at 5pm and Sundays at 3pm).
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Comments (25)


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  • fartforce1 wrote...
    Get rid of the elephants, now not later.
    January 24, 2013 3:14 am
    The stress captivity is breaking then down both physically and mentally. Besides, you don't need elephants to make a zoo.
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  • Osito wrote...
    Wake up!
    January 24, 2013 6:13 am
    Come on guys lets wake up this is totally wrong. Just like Sea World keeping dolphins in captivity for our own enterteinment and profit for them. It makes me sick what we are doing with our animals. I see the space where this anmilas live in and it's a joke. There is bars to keep them secluded. Oh but wait some of them have to spend more time in asolation becuase they don't get along with others. I wonder why?? Elephants are not ment to be away from their families. If you ever seen then in the wild they all travel in packs along with their families. Elaphants are far more intelligent then what we give them credit for.
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  • Seattle Dad wrote...
    Absolutely
    January 24, 2013 8:00 am
    There are animals that could not live in the wild who go to zoos. Zoos have played a vital role in preserving wild animals like elephants where they can be studied, admired and learned about. Animals that would normally have died in the wild do to numerous issues live longer and safe lives in a zoo where they are loved and protected
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  • Barb202 wrote...
    Seattle dad is living on another planet, methinks
    January 24, 2013 12:27 pm
    There is nothing a human can learn from an elephant in captivity, because the environment isn't real, and the abuse is rampant. Elephants can live as long as humans in the wild, but most die young in captivity. If only you would research your subject before spouting silliness! I am proud to stand up the rights of animals, because they are voiceless.
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  • Newton wrote...
    Elephants are a Social Animal.
    January 24, 2013 8:43 am
    They need the wide open areas for life. They travel long distances in groups. They need a much larger area to enjoy life in.
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  • mja31575 wrote...
    Belong is the wrong word
    January 24, 2013 10:23 am
    Of course elephants don't "belong" in zoos. No animals "belong" in zoos, they belong in their habitat. That said, I do think there's a place for well-run zoos. But for the WPZ employee to claim that the life of elephants are better in captivity than in the wild because they avoid poachers is absurd and is focusing on one thing without acknowledging what is lost by being in captivity. I would avoid getting in a car accident if I stayed home all day all the time, but I don't think my life would be better spent entirely in my house.
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  • Mike in Pioneer Square wrote...
    Hypocrisy
    January 24, 2013 12:19 pm
    Seriously, the hypocrisy of these people who want elephants removed from the zoo is amazing.
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  • Osito wrote...
    Why do you say we are hypocrite
    January 25, 2013 6:20 am
    Don't come on here and state that when you don't even have a valid reason. Come into a discussion and just say that is ignorant of your part.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • lynnie wrote...
    WPZ spokesperson statements
    January 25, 2013 8:47 am
    Martin Ramirez: "Our exhibit is about a quarter mile in length. They could walk that and often do. I saw a study a few years ago where they put GPS collars on wild elephants. When food was scarce, elephants traveled 50, 60, 70 miles a day. When food was readily available, they didn't go very far. That points to me, it is about resources and where their food is." >> Zoos frequently cite this study to justify the small spaces they keep elephants in. I would suggest that even in the wild when elephants have plentiful food and water resources in an area that they range more than an acre and definitely more than the space of the WPZ barn where the zoo’s eles spend much of their time. In addition, I would propose that mother nature “planned” for elephants to have to roam miles and miles to find resources on purpose to keep them healthy and stimulated. Martin Ramirez: "We have one elephant who actually kind of prefers to be on her own …. ” >> This statement stuns me. He cannot actually believe this. As has been said numerous times before and as also has been cited by the zoo as one reason to breed elephants, elephants (particularly females), live their lives in strong family groups. Bamboo is FORCED to spend so much time alone because they have to keep her separate from Watoto. The fact that he made this statement actually leaves me speechless. Martin Ramirez: "We're not going to going to force these animals to do anything they want to do," said Martin. "So the fact that Chai was willing to go into the space and do these artificial inseminations; it was a very positive experience for her." >> First of all, I would assume he meant to say they are not going to force these animals to do anything they DON’T want to do (misquote or typo, I don’t know). Really? Pretty much their whole lives in captivity are spent being forced to do what their “keepers” want them to do or what they have been trained to do, including artificial insemination. Chai has been trained to stand still for the procedure and is also restrained the whole time. If what he says is true then why do they have to keep her in the crush while they do the AI? WPZ, you can do better. Please release these 3 elephants to a more appropriate home for them. The power struggle needs to end for their sake.
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