Outrage as 30 wild baby elephants flown from Zimbabwe to China for lifetime in captivity
Humane Society International (HSI) said the baby elephants had already been held captive for nearly a year. Zimbabwe has exported 108 young elephants to zoos in China since 2012.
HARRY COCKBURN: ‘Wildlife campaigners have said they are “outraged and heartbroken” at reports authorities in Zimbabwe have sold more than 30 wild baby elephants to China, where they will endure a lifetime in captivity… HSI said Zimbabwe has exported 108 young elephants to zoos in China since 2012…
Animal protection experts at Humane Society International (HSI) said the baby elephants had already been held captive for nearly a year in Hwange National Park, but had now been flown out of the country via Victoria Falls airport.
According to the organisation their “sources on the ground” said army trucks arrived to remove the elephants, and that Zimparks staff on the scene had their mobile phones confiscated, “presumably to stop news of the shipment getting out”.
The news comes on the same day as several animal charities and organisations, including the Zimbabwe National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, filed urgent court papers at Harare High Court in an attempt to stop the shipment to Chinese zoos…
Elephant biologist Audrey Delsink, wildlife director at Humane Society International Africa, says: “We are left feeling outraged and heartbroken at this news today that the Zimbabwe authorities have shipped these poor baby elephants out of the country… Condemning these elephants to a life of captivity in Chinese zoos is a tragedy”.’ SOURCE…
RELATED VIDEO: