Action for Elephants in Zoos

Happy Fursday, Missians!

Thanks for checking out another edition of The Missy Show Blog.  In this post, we'll be discussing today's animal holiday, "International Day of Action for Elephants in Zoos".  By default, that makes today's featured animal be the Elephant. 

In this post, we're going to share some information about the plight of elephants in zoos and some facts about elephants themselves.  I found some great information on doobert.com that tells how this animal holiday got started and why.  Hope you enjoy!

https://www.doobert.com/international-day-action-elephants-zoos/

International Day of Action for Elephants in Zoos

June 8, 2017 Alyssa Grunfelder

 

IDA first launched ‘The International Day of Action for Elephants in Zoos’ (IDAEZ) in 2009, a global event to raise awareness about the plight of elephants in zoos and to end their suffering – and ideally – to send elephants in zoos to accredited sanctuaries. In its first year, committed activists in 33 cities in 7 countries held outreach events and demonstrations, drawing media attention and educating the public about the tragic effects of keeping elephants in small, unnatural zoo pens where they have been suffering and dying prematurely.

 

Elephants were never meant to live in small urban zoos where lack of space and unnatural conditions lead to painful and often deadly conditions such as chronic foot infection and arthritis, and abnormal repetitive behaviors not seen in the wild such as rocking, swaying and head bobbing. Some deem it a cruel practice to keep elephants in zoos. 

 

On a positive note, lets celebrate these magnificent creatures with some facts you might not know:

• Elephants are the largest land animals in the world.
• Elephants can live to be over 70 years old.
• The average weight for an elephant heart is about 27 to 46 pounds!
• Elephants have a highly developed brain and the largest of all the land mammals.
• An elephant’s skin is an inch thick.
• Elephants have poor eyesight but an amazing sense of smell.
• Elephants purr like cats do, as a means of communication.
• Elephants prefer one tusk over the other, just as people are either left or right-handed.
• Elephants have four molars, one on the top and one on the bottom on both sides of the mouth. One molar can weigh about five pounds and is the size of a brick!
• The elephant trunk has more than 40,000 muscles in it.
• Elephants cry, play, have incredible memories, and laugh.
• Elephants can swim – they use their trunk to breathe like a snorkel in deep water.
• Elephant feet are covered in a soft padding that help uphold their weight, prevent them from slipping, and dull any sound. Therefore elephants can walk almost silently!
• Elephants are social creatures. They sometimes “hug” by wrapping their trunks together in displays of greeting and affection.

Don't forget, our "Big Cat" episode airs this Saturday on Google Hangouts at 5pm Central.
Until then, here's to wishing you all a wonderful remainder of your Fursday!

This is your host J,
signing off.