Dumbo Humbug
Thank you for the informative article on Mari and Vaigai (“The elephant in the room,” 1/28), the two elephants at the Honolulu Zoo. As your article outlined, there is overwhelming scientific evidence that highlights that zoos cause pain, suffering and early death to elephants. If the children really understood the sad situation of elephants in zoos (i.e. separation from their families, weapon-like device called a bullhook/ankus, lack of space, health problems, premature death), they would sure not want the elephants to suffer for their entertainment.
The zoo’s claims of “education” and “conservation” are baseless and the facts (continued accelerated decimation of natural habitat and diminished wild elephant numbers in the past decades) proves that zoos are not improving the situation that elephants face. In fact, zoos consume hundreds of millions of dollars to house a handful of elephants and do little to nothing to help tens of thousands of elephants in the wild.
It’s time to think beyond our own entertainment and do what is best for elephants: redirect the millions of dollars spent on housing a few elephants in zoos to protecting thousands of elephants in the wild.
Deniz Bolbol, Redwood City, Calif.
