Elephant Cruelty
Elephant Cruelty Explored Through Circuses
There is no creature among all the Beasts of the world which hath so great and ample demonstration of the power and wisedom of almighty God as the Elephant.
~Edward Topsell "The Historie of Foure-Footed Beastes" (1607)
Elephants are currently suffering in two distinct ways. They are suffering as a species, and as individuals. The following essay will introduce elephants and their plight as a species, but will focus on the suffering of circus elephants. Circuses are major culprits of elephant exploitation. Elephants in circuses are not cared for properly and often experience abuse. The purpose of this essay is to not only point out these cruelties, but to discuss how we can change the fate of elephants in circuses worldwide.
Elephantidae is the familial classification of elephants. There are two distinct species of elephants; the African elephant (Loxodonta arficana) and the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus). In the wild an elephant’s geographical location is synonymous with its name. The habitat of the African elephant is usually a wooded or shrubby area that is near a water source. Asian elephants have a greater range in habitat which can include rain forests, dry forests, and grass jungles. Together, elephants are the largest living terrestrial animals on Earth.
Elephants are regarded as highly intelligent and social animals. They live in herds which are lead by the eldest and often the most dominant female elephant called the matriarch. Elephant families provide their members with knowledge, life skills, security, and companionship. Social learning is an important feature of elephants. They learn things like how to forage for food, communicate, play, attract a mate, and protect themselves from watching and the imitating behaviors of other elephants in their herd. Elephants are also well known for the ability to express an array of emotions. Emotions allow elephants to form closer bonds and to communicate
There is no creature among all the Beasts of the world which hath so great and ample demonstration of the power and wisedom of almighty God as the Elephant.
~Edward Topsell "The Historie of Foure-Footed Beastes" (1607)
Elephants are currently suffering in two distinct ways. They are suffering as a species, and as individuals. The following essay will introduce elephants and their plight as a species, but will focus on the suffering of circus elephants. Circuses are major culprits of elephant exploitation. Elephants in circuses are not cared for properly and often experience abuse. The purpose of this essay is to not only point out these cruelties, but to discuss how we can change the fate of elephants in circuses worldwide.
Elephantidae is the familial classification of elephants. There are two distinct species of elephants; the African elephant (Loxodonta arficana) and the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus). In the wild an elephant’s geographical location is synonymous with its name. The habitat of the African elephant is usually a wooded or shrubby area that is near a water source. Asian elephants have a greater range in habitat which can include rain forests, dry forests, and grass jungles. Together, elephants are the largest living terrestrial animals on Earth.
Elephants are regarded as highly intelligent and social animals. They live in herds which are lead by the eldest and often the most dominant female elephant called the matriarch. Elephant families provide their members with knowledge, life skills, security, and companionship. Social learning is an important feature of elephants. They learn things like how to forage for food, communicate, play, attract a mate, and protect themselves from watching and the imitating behaviors of other elephants in their herd. Elephants are also well known for the ability to express an array of emotions. Emotions allow elephants to form closer bonds and to communicate
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