Asian Elephant Research Paper

When people think of circuses, they think of not only the weirdly talented people, but also the extraordinary animals. The most successful circus animals, the Asian elephant, is a registered endangered animal. There is less than 35,000 Asian elephants left on the planet due to poaching, hunting, and the destruction of their natural habitats. The Ringling Brothers circus now controls 61 Asian elephants, the largest gene pool outside of Southeast Asia. They have formed a Center for Elephant Conservation (CEC), a captive breeding program that participates in the conservation of the elephants. This program does help significantly with the conservation of the Asian elephant, but these elephants still face their biggest threat, the loss of habitat.

The Ringling circus is good at diverting peoples concern for the treatment of the circus elephants, but the true facts are easy to find. Videos on PEETA or any other video sites show the abuse the elephants face most days. The trainers act rude and not as gentle as they appear in public with the animals. Even if animal rights organizations did not have issues with the elephants treatment, their living environments are still not acceptable. These huge elephants, especially the Asian elephants, live in chains and small spaces every day. Elephants are meant to live in the open, free to roam and interact together. Instead they are captive and controlled. Although their natural habitat is unsafe due to poaching and other dangers, organizations are working to stop these immoral acts. At the moment, captive breeding programs are the safest factor for the Asian elephants, but they should not have to. Not only do the elephants deserve to be safe, but also happy in their natural living conditions. Elephants are naturally family oriented, staying in close knit groups together and assist each other in controlling the young and supporting their sick. The older of the herd passes on their wisdom and knowledge, and both female and male elephants learn important social and survival skills from their mother and aunts. They have many unique skills, but for the elephants that have grown up in these captive programs, they never get to learn them. The elephants with in the care of the circus face abusive training, unhealthy living conditions, and not being able to develop their traditional social skills; therefore in order to properly conserve these animals species instead of relying on captive breeding programs, the attention should be directed towards eliminating the dangers brought by humans in their natural