Preserving What Is Remarkable
By: Emma G
Age: 17
Atlanta, GA USA
By: Emma G
Age: 17
Atlanta, GA USA
Imagine a majestic herd of African elephants lumbering across the planes of their homeland. Suddenly, a bullet pierces the silence and a great beast falls to the ground. All of the remaining elephants flee fearfully as poachers come to retrieve their spoil. Poaching and habitat loss threaten to obliterate this precious species. However, animal conservation programs work together with modern day zoos to provide a chance for such animals to repopulate. Highly organized breeding programs allow zoos worldwide to foster the repopulation of many endangered species. Zoos educate people about the importance of maintaining wild animal populations while offering optimal life quality to their inhabitants. While some may still think them cruel, zoos ultimately promote the need to sustain wildlife, create safe environments to rehabilitate animals, and participate in excellent breeding programs that help to repopulate endangered species.
Threatened since 1976, the African elephant benefits largely from zoos that promote awareness about the elephants’ plight. Statistics from the International Affairs section of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services show a fifty percent decrease in the number of elephants living in the wild between 1976 and 1990 (African Elephants - International Affairs | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service). Luckily for the elephants, conservation groups fight to preserve the gentle giants. Zoos that work as members of such parties educate thousands of people per day about the elephants’ unfortunate situation. They feature keeper talks and information about the zoo’s partnership with the conservation organizations to inform people. When visitors see healthy, happy elephants in an exhibit and hear information about saving them, they often contribute to the cause.
In addition to their advocacy of wildlife conservation, zoos provide rehabilitation and proper housing for neglected and wounded animals. For example, zoos may rescue elephants from abusive situations such as circuses. Once underfed and mistreated, these elephants now receive the nourishment and care they need to regain full health. Zoos may also acquire diseased or injured elephants. Experienced veterinarians and keepers work together to treat animals who could not survive otherwise. Rehabilitation programs also include maintaining the animal’s health, both physically and mentally. These programs not only offer appropriate food and housing for the elephants, but ensure that the animals have plenty of enrichment activities, like training and even painting sessions, to keep them stimulated and happy. Under the care of the zoo staff, nearly all of these elephants live out their full life expectancy.
Once comfortably situated in the zoo, healthy animals may also participate in breeding programs. While not the most favored candidate for traditional breeding, elephants in captivity often reproduce with the aid of modern science. Artificial insemination, the process of surgically planting fertilized eggs into the uterus of a female animal, frequently results in a healthy pregnancy. Promoting the benefits of artificial insemination, the National Zoo states that “[artificial insemination] technique gets around problems of mate incompatibility while maximizing genetic management. It eliminates the need to transport elephants from zoo to zoo, and thus reduces stress and lets females remain with their herds” (National Zoo). Since its instigation in 1998, artificial insemination produces approximately three elephant calves per year (Koehl).
Surely modern day zoos consist of everything but cruelty. They help to repopulate endangered species and educate people about saving animals like the African elephant. Although habitat loss and illegal hunting continue to threaten these animals; zoos significantly increase public awareness about endangered species. By supporting and promoting wildlife conservation programs, zoos worldwide compel thousands daily to help preserve many species of animals not only in captivity, but ultimately in the wild. All the while, these animals live in supreme conditions while receiving superior treatment. Undoubtedly, zoos provide high-quality habitats for engendered species, while ultimately working towards preserving these remarkable creatures.
Bibliography:
“African Elephants - International Affairs | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service”. FWS. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 October 2014. < http://www.fws.gov/international/animals/african-elephants.html>
“Elephant Breeding and Reproduction – National Zoo | FONZ.” National Zoo. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 October 2014. <http://nationalzoo.si.edu/SCBI/ReproductiveScience/ElephantBreedRepro/default.cfm>
Koehl, Dan. "Artificial Insemination (AI)”. Absolut Elephant. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 October 2014. <http://www.elephant.se/artificial_insemination_of_captive_elephants.php?open=Elephant%20breeding>
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Threatened since 1976, the African elephant benefits largely from zoos that promote awareness about the elephants’ plight. Statistics from the International Affairs section of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services show a fifty percent decrease in the number of elephants living in the wild between 1976 and 1990 (African Elephants - International Affairs | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service). Luckily for the elephants, conservation groups fight to preserve the gentle giants. Zoos that work as members of such parties educate thousands of people per day about the elephants’ unfortunate situation. They feature keeper talks and information about the zoo’s partnership with the conservation organizations to inform people. When visitors see healthy, happy elephants in an exhibit and hear information about saving them, they often contribute to the cause.
In addition to their advocacy of wildlife conservation, zoos provide rehabilitation and proper housing for neglected and wounded animals. For example, zoos may rescue elephants from abusive situations such as circuses. Once underfed and mistreated, these elephants now receive the nourishment and care they need to regain full health. Zoos may also acquire diseased or injured elephants. Experienced veterinarians and keepers work together to treat animals who could not survive otherwise. Rehabilitation programs also include maintaining the animal’s health, both physically and mentally. These programs not only offer appropriate food and housing for the elephants, but ensure that the animals have plenty of enrichment activities, like training and even painting sessions, to keep them stimulated and happy. Under the care of the zoo staff, nearly all of these elephants live out their full life expectancy.
Once comfortably situated in the zoo, healthy animals may also participate in breeding programs. While not the most favored candidate for traditional breeding, elephants in captivity often reproduce with the aid of modern science. Artificial insemination, the process of surgically planting fertilized eggs into the uterus of a female animal, frequently results in a healthy pregnancy. Promoting the benefits of artificial insemination, the National Zoo states that “[artificial insemination] technique gets around problems of mate incompatibility while maximizing genetic management. It eliminates the need to transport elephants from zoo to zoo, and thus reduces stress and lets females remain with their herds” (National Zoo). Since its instigation in 1998, artificial insemination produces approximately three elephant calves per year (Koehl).
Surely modern day zoos consist of everything but cruelty. They help to repopulate endangered species and educate people about saving animals like the African elephant. Although habitat loss and illegal hunting continue to threaten these animals; zoos significantly increase public awareness about endangered species. By supporting and promoting wildlife conservation programs, zoos worldwide compel thousands daily to help preserve many species of animals not only in captivity, but ultimately in the wild. All the while, these animals live in supreme conditions while receiving superior treatment. Undoubtedly, zoos provide high-quality habitats for engendered species, while ultimately working towards preserving these remarkable creatures.
Bibliography:
“African Elephants - International Affairs | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service”. FWS. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 October 2014. < http://www.fws.gov/international/animals/african-elephants.html>
“Elephant Breeding and Reproduction – National Zoo | FONZ.” National Zoo. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 October 2014. <http://nationalzoo.si.edu/SCBI/ReproductiveScience/ElephantBreedRepro/default.cfm>
Koehl, Dan. "Artificial Insemination (AI)”. Absolut Elephant. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 October 2014. <http://www.elephant.se/artificial_insemination_of_captive_elephants.php?open=Elephant%20breeding>
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