Animal welfare groups say 3 South African zoo elephants are depressed and sue to move them

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Category: Science/Environment

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. enclosure / ɛnˈkloʊ ʒər / (n.) – an area of land that is surrounded by a wall or fence, usually built for a specific purpose
    Example:

    For safety reasons, only zoo staff are allowed to step inside the tiger enclosure.


  2. forage / ˈfɔr ɪdʒ / (v.) – to search over a wide area for food to eat
    Example:

    Large bears forage for fish at the nature park’s rivers.


  3. listless / ˈlɪst lɪs / (adj.) – having no energy, enthusiasm, or direction; not wanting to move or do anything, usually because one is tired, sad, or sick
    Example:

    When the child had the flu, he became listless and did not want to play with his toys.


  4. compulsive / kəmˈpʌl sɪv / (adj.) – relating to an action that is nearly impossible to control or stop, often because one is dealing with severe stress, worry, or sadness
    Example:

    Because she felt so nervous before the exam, she began a compulsive biting of her nails.


  5. precedent / ˈpres ə dent / (n.) – an action or decision from the past that is used as an example to show that a similar action should be done
    Example:

    Allowing students to use mobile phones in this class sets a bad precedent for other classrooms.


Article

Read the text below.

The mental well-being of three elephants in a zoo in South Africa is the subject of an unusual court case, with animal welfare groups saying they are depressed and should be moved to a larger conservation park where they can be happy.


The case will ask a South African court to decide if the state is meeting its legal obligations with regard to the welfare of the animals and the conditions in which they are kept, according to David Bilchitz, a board member at Animal Law Reform South Africa, one of the groups bringing the case.


Experts would show in court that the elephants are unhappy, Bilchitz said. The animal welfare groups said a part of the South African Constitution puts an obligation on authorities to look after animals.


The zoo in question in Johannesburg is publicly owned and has defended its management of the elephants, saying they are well cared for.


Bilchitz said elephants have highly complex social structures and specific physical and mental needs, and generally live in herds of 20-50 animals that roam large areas in the wild.


He said that the three elephants at the zoo—named Lammie, Ramadiba, and Mopane—live in an enclosure not much bigger than a soccer field with none of the typical stimulation that elephants need, like trees to forage from and mud pools to bathe in.


“They are sad, depressed, and frustrated,” Bilchitz told The Associated Press. “They are listless and stand around.” He said the elephants had shown signs of psychological distress, like standing and rocking, and other “repetitive compulsive behavior.”


Johannesburg Zoo said in a statement that there had been a “media scourge” over the condition of the elephants and maintained they were healthy and also popular with zoo staff and visitors. It also said that relocating elephants from zoos to semiwild sanctuaries is not always successful.


There is a kind of precedent for the case. In 2024, an old bull elephant called Charley was relocated from another South African zoo to a game reserve after he outlived his elephant companions at the zoo, and animal experts believed he was lonely.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • According to animal welfare groups, the elephants are depressed and frustrated because they are restricted. How does this affect your view of animals in zoos? Discuss.
  • Knowing that animals can feel these complex emotions, what kinds of rules or limits should humans place on how we use them for work or entertainment? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • The article mentions that animal welfare groups believe the elephants should be moved from a zoo to a larger conservation park where they can be happy. What do you think are the pros and cons of wild animals being kept only in larger parks that are further away from the city? Discuss.
  • In 2024, an old elephant named Charley was relocated to a game reserve after his companions died, and animal experts believed he was lonely. If a social animal loses its companions, is it better to move them to a completely new environment, or keep them where they are comfortable and familiar? Why do you say so? Discuss.