Your browser doesn’t support HTML5
In Johannesburg Zoo, Should the Last Elephant Stay or Go?
The last African elephant at the Johannesburg Zoo, Lammie, lost her male partner to a sickness in September.
Lammie was born in the zoo 39 years ago. She had lived for 17 years with Kinkel, who died at age 35. Kinkel had been rescued in the wild after his trunk was caught in a trap in 2000.
Around the time of her partner’s death on Sept. 4, Lammie had stopped eating. The day before Kinkel died, she was seen trying to help him get up.
Elephants are known for their intelligence, strong social ties and even the ability to mourn. Some people argue Lammie should be sent to another place where she can be with other elephants.
FILE -- In this Tuesday, June 19, 2018, file photo Lammie, an elephant at the Johannesburg Zoo, kicks around a ball made of plastic hose piping. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell, File)
Audrey Delsink is wildlife director of Humane Society International/Africa. She said Lammie “is in desperate need of a happier existence and the chance to live out her years with other elephants.” Delsink added that a wildlife rescue place is ready to take Lammie if the Johannesburg Zoo agrees to let her go.
But the zoo says Lammie is staying. The zoo says it serves an educational purpose, especially for the poor who cannot pay to visit wildlife parks.
Michele Pickover disagrees. She is director of the EMS Foundation, a South Africa-based African wildlife rights group. She said “nobody learns anything” by seeing an elephant in captivity. She said that watching a film about elephants would be more educational.
But, a spokeswoman for the Johannesburg Zoo, Jenny Moodley, says it is looking for a new partner for Lammie. She said the zoo is following guidelines in its search set by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
She added that experts are closely observing Lammie and that the elephant might not adapt well to a new environment.
Moodley said of Lammie: “She is coping incredibly well, considering that she has lost her partner.”
I’m Caty Weaver.
The Associated Press reported this story. Hai Do adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.
Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.
________________________________________________________________
Words in This Story
desperate – adj. very severe or strong
adapt – v. to change your behavior so that it is easier to live in a particular place or situation
cope – v. to deal with problems and difficult situations and try to come up with solutions
incredibly – adv. extremely