Part 3

Pro

Dear Ringling Bros, Barnum & Bailey Circus,

It is a well-known fact that your company utilizes many different Asian elephants as performers in your shows. I wanted to take this opportunity to express my opinion that the usage of these creatures is completely valid. Exposing audiences to the massive animals increases awareness about the species in general. By designing and performing these shows, you hold the power to influence masses of people to believe in the importance of conservation of all wild species. As many of your viewers are children, the shows and exposure instills a sense of curiosity for the animals and responsibility for their well-being from an early age. Increasing awareness for elephant conservation is imperative for the continued success of the species.

Similarly, the work at the Center for Elephant Conservation, your foundation for these animals, has demonstrated your commitment to the animals. Thanks to the conducted research into various elephant diseases, more information is known that can be used to promote elephant health across the globe. Also, the extensive breeding and fertility programs help the Center, and other organizations, to maintain a healthy and diverse Asian elephant population while attempting to bring the species back from their threatened status.

Some critics of your work may believe that keeping elephants in captivity is detrimental to their health on many levels. It is my understanding that you make every effort to ensure that the animals are in the best physical and mental health that you can possibly provide them. Critics might also suggest that the training and forcing them to perform is unnatural. Yes, performing is not exactly a natural habit but it ensures that the elephants have mental and physical stimulation. Also, your company repeatedly assures the public that all training methods utilize positive reinforcement as opposed to pain.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to the species. 

Medical Check-up

Con

Dear Humane Society of the United States, 

As an organization committed to the welfare of animals across the country and globe, I agree with your stance that against usage of elephants in the circus atmosphere. One of your expressed concerns is that laws that "protect" the animals do not provide enough structure to ensure adequate care. This is entirely true. Legislation cannot cover all of the small details that are necessary to provide for the large mammals, especially when the regulations are written by people who have very little personal experience and knowledge of the animals. Also, just because the rules are in place does not mean that they are followed or enforced. 

As wild animals, elephants are highly unpredictable even after being trained. Humans are incredibly small and weak compared to elephants so there is a very high risk for a trainer or a spectator to be harmed. Because they are not domesticated, we have very little control over their instincts and reactions which can lead to any number of dangerous situations. Many handlers resort to using pain as a method by which to control the animals but this is completely inhumane and can even provoke the animal to react more violently. 

Supporters of elephant's usage may argue that many circuses go above and beyond the regulations with caring for their animals. However, our care for them is no valid substitute for their native habitat in the wild. We know so little about them that we should not presume that we can take adequate care of their physical health or provide enough mental stimulation. They may also argue that the elephants' appearances are a mode of self-advocacy for their conservation and survival in the wild. The problem with this is that circuses do not exhibit elephants with their natural habits in their native habitats so audiences are left with a skewed perception of the species. 

Thank you for your concern for the well-being of the species.

Chained circus elephants

Compromise

There are several areas concerning the usage of elephants in circuses that need to be addressed to pacify all parties:

• Regulation. The usage, treatment, and care of elephants needs to be more heavily regulated to ensure that they are being properly taken care of at all circus facilities. Elephant experts should work with legislative bodies to identify weaknesses of current regulations and act as an advocate for the well-being of the elephants. All possible areas should be covered including: general care, physical health maintenance, mental stimulation, transportation, working conditions, breeding programs, research, and more. All regulations should be enforced heavily with monthly and surprise check-up and heavy fines for infractions
• Advocacy. Circus elephants should not be used with the sole justification that they advocate elephant conservation. They must have an additional purpose which elephants across the world will benefit from. Circus personal should also emphasize that these are learned behaviors to avoid enabling misconceptions.
• Captivity of wild animals. While holding wild animals captive is less than ideal, the improved legislative regulations will ensure that they are well taken care of on all possible levels. Also, using the animals for multiple purposes will ensure that their captivity does not go to waste. In other words, they should be used to promote elephant conservation while also allowing research to be conducted. This way, wild and captive elephants can benefit while minimizing the damage to the species overall.

Moral Vision

In today's world, it is unrealistic to not utilize animals in our daily lives. For thousands of years, humans have relied on animals to provide them with necessary building blocks to survive. It would be completely unreasonable to start living without using them now. However, we do need to realize the impact we have on other lives, human and non-human. We can no longer operate under an isolated ignorance; we must take responsibility for our needs and actions. This means that humans as a species must treat all other animals with the dignity and respect that they are due. Humanity sustains the idea of the Golden Rule: treat others how you wish to be treated. This philosophy must be extended towards all non-human animals, no matter what measures must be taken to get there.

Final Self-Reflection

Overall, the project was very eye-opening to me. I chose to investigate elephants because I have been fascinated with them since I was a child. I knew before the class that they were considered to be highly intelligent but I had no idea to what extent. Seeing various video clips in lecture piqued my interest even more and I knew they would be a good species to focus on. The project helped me dig much deeper into the elephant psyche and discover their extreme intelligent and emotional capacity. I also knew that there was opposition towards the usage of elephants in zoos and circuses but I found that there was more criticism that I had originally anticipated. The topics that impacted me the most were the subjects of animal emotion and intelligence. As a pet owner, I see on a daily basis the complex thought many animals are capable of and the emotions that they express. It was incredibly hard to watch videos with about animal cruelty while thinking about their emotions. Now, it will be completely impossible to avoid tearing up at the Sarah McLachlan commercials about animal cruelty. This course has open my eyes and made me much more aware of how we use and treat animals in our daily lives.

References

"About the Center for Elephant Conservation". Center for Elephant Conservation. Retrieved 13 December 2013.

"Circus Myths". The Humane Society of the United States. Retrieved 13 December 2013.

"FAQs". Feld Entertainment. Retrieved 13 December 2013.

Part 2

Elephants in Art

Elephants have been a focus of art since prehistoric times and people have found several instances of elephants in cave drawings. Several of these pieces have been named as World Heritage sites and other protected regions. Researchers believe that these depictions suggest that early humans had a deep understanding of elephant intelligence, family structure, behavior and communication and that they describe a symbiotic relationship between humans and elephants.

Elephants in cave paintings

They have also been a focus for many modern works. One of the most famous ones is The Elephants, by Salvador Dali. The painting plays upon the idea of elephants as a symbol of strength, dominance and power due to their bulk and size. Dali depicts the animals with long, spindly legs but emphasizes the traditional ideas of strength by placing heavy-looking obelisks on their backs. This piece is widely known as a good example of surrealist work where a phantom sense of reality is emphasized. 

The Elephants by Salvador Dali

Literature

Horton Hears a Who cover

Elephants have also been widely depicted in literature. One famous example is the popular book Horton Hears a Who by Dr Seuss. In this children's book, Horton the elephant discovers that a tiny speck of dust is actually a planet and goes through great lengths to protect the citizens even though he is tormented by his jungle companions. The book has been widely popularized due to the phrase "A person's a person, no matter how small" and has even been made in to a movie. The usage of an elephant for the main character is very fitting for the book considering it's message about conservation and protection. The book can be said to be a discussion on the measures that must be taken to protect wild animals (elephants included) against habitat destruction, fragmentation and deforestation. All of these things threaten the habitats of wild animals across the globe. Extending this message to children as a target audience would hopefully emphasize the need for awareness and action from a young age.

Film

Original 1941 release poster

One of the more popular appearances of elephants in children's films is the Disney classic Dumbo (click link for trailer). Released in 1941, it followed the story of a young elephant who is constantly ridiculed for his abnormally large ears. He overcomes various obstacles and learns to fly, using his ears as wings. An elephant was most likely chosen to be the main character because they are easy animals to anthropomorphize and most children are fascinated by exotic animals. The main message of the film was about overcoming fears, ridicule and other obstacles to realize your full potential. This message is better suited for children as they require positive reinforcement and are more susceptible to negative influence from others. Hopefully, the film would inspire children to ignore the negative people in their life to work for their dreams.

A popular adult movie featuring elephants is the 2011 film Water for Elephants (click link for trailer). The film focuses on the story of a young man who joins a circus as their vet and tries to deal with abuse and violence towards animals, women and several other circus hands. The movie was an adaptation of Sara Gruen's novel by the same name. While Rosie the elephant is only a minor character, she plays an important role in the exposure of the abuse that is present in the circus. Because circuses are so often critized for their usage of elephants, featuring this species was probably an easy choice. This film has a much more mature message than Dumbo, being that individuals have the right, if not the responsibility, to stand up for the defenseless when they are being abused or mistreated. Many adults struggle with this idea and it is always a good message to reinforce.

Religion

Ganesha, a Hindu god

Elephants have long since been a focus of religion as they are a large subject of focus in their native landscapes. In Africa, they have a large spiritual significance in several ways. Certain tribes believe that elephants contain the souls of their ancestors while others believe that chiefs are reincarnated in the animals. Many important leaders are also buried with elephant tusks when they die. In Asia, elephants are linked with gods with much more significance. Hindus have the elephant-headed god Ganesha that is ranked as equally important as their supreme gods. In Buddhism, it is said that Buddha was a white elephant reincarnated as a human. Also, the Islamic tradition, the Prophet Muhammad was born in the year 570 which is known as the Year of the Elephant. Lastly, Romans believed that elephants themselves practiced a form of religion, worshiping the sun and stars. All of these beliefs solidify the role of the species in their native landscapes. They become protected from humans to a certain extent because they are revered, respected, and worshiped through the religions. Both species of elephants probably would have become extinct or even more endangered than they already are.

Controversy

One of the most controversial uses of elephants is their feature in many circuses. Organizations such as the Humane Society of the United States and PETA have accused circuses of mistreating and abusing the animals in order to provoke certain responses. Many circuses acknowledge that tools such as bull hooks are necessary in order to ensure the protection of the human trainers but deny that they cause harm to the animal. Nevertheless, critics are adamant about the need to change current practices regarding circus elephants. Some have pushed for methods that do not use physical punishment while more extremist groups demand the discontinuation of elephants in the circus. Since the animals are mainly being used for our entertainment, it is not necessary for us to continue to employ them in circuses. However, I believe that it is possible to use more positive training and handling methods in order to continue their feature. They can be used as a great source of learning and exposure concerning issues with deforestation and conservation if they are utilized and featured effectively.

References

Paterson, Andrew (December 2004). "Elephants of the Cederberg Wilderness Area". The Digging Stick 24 (3): 1-4. ISSN 1013-7521.

Pickler, N. (4 March 2009). "Circus CEO says elephants are stuck, but not hurt". Associated Press.

"Salvador Dali Gallery - Memories of Surrealism: Space Elephant". SavadorDaliExperts.com

Sukumar, R. (2003). The Living Elephants: Evolutionary Ecology, Behaviour, and Conservation. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-510778-4.

Van Riper, A.B. (2002). Science in Popular Culture: A Reference Guide. Greenwood Press. pp. 73-75. ISBN 0-313-31822-0.

Wylie, D. (2009). Elephant. Reaktion Books. ISBN 978-1-86189-397-0.

Part 1

The animals that we know of as elephants are technically part of the family Elephantidae which contains two species: the African elephant (Loxodonta Africana) and the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus). They are typically classified as exotic species, being found mainly in the wild, but also being featured in zoos and circuses and occasionally used for work.

Social History and Domestication

Elephants have never truly been domesticated, but they have worked extensively alongside humans. Humans have used them as working animals since the Indus Valley Civilization in the Bronze Age. In many cases, they help carry out large tasks requiring lots of manual labor. Some of these tasks include: hauling large loads, moving logs into trucks, transporting tourists, and pulling wagons. It can be highly advantageous to use elephants in certain cases because they can be trained, work in deep water, and require relatively little maintenance aside from basic food, water, and shelter.

Elephants being used for manual labor

Historically, elephants were also considered a highly valued component of warfare. Equipped with full sets of armor including metal tipped tusks, they were also trained to dispose of enemy soldiers. Between the sheer size and great charging speeds, they were a formidable sight for any enemy forces. References to these war elephants are seen as early as the 4^th century BCE in the Mahabharata, an Indian epic. Their usefulness spread across the Asian and European continents until they were being used by even Alexander the Great.  

Depiction of elephants in war

These giant creatures have also been kept for display in zoos and circuses. This has been in practice since the times of Ancient Egypt, China, Greece and Rome where ownership of an elephant was a sign of wealth and power. The practice has lasted until today’s times where we keep both Asian and African species in captivity in zoos and circuses. Captive reproduction programs have not fared too well due to a limited understanding of the male and female reproductive cycles. Asian elephants are typically more common than African in captivity.

Circus elephants for entertainment

Social Perceptions

In today’s society, many people consider elephants as “gentle giants”. In some cases, this is far from the truth because they have never been fully domesticated. We use them for work, entertainment, and research but as large, intelligent mammals, they do have wills of their own that can be exerted with a great deal of force. But as an exotic species, many people hold a special place in their hearts for these creatures. Zoo elephants remain popular as zoos tend to have a better record for the medical, physical and social care of the elephants whereas circuses present a novelty factor of a trained elephant. Location is also a factor in how elephants are used. In the US, they are an exotic animal that show us glimpses of other countries while in parts of Asia, they are seen purely as working animals.

Elephant Emotion and Intelligence

Elephant calf playing with a ball

Elephants are currently considered as one of the more intelligent species in the Animal Kingdom. We use common phrases like, “an elephant never forgets” and they are commonly used as symbols of proper or exemplary behavior. We perceive them as very intelligent for several reasons: the ability to grieve, self-medicate, a sense of humor, use of tools, problem-solving abilities and self-awareness. Elephants have a large capacity for grief as seen when any one of their herd members die. Mothers will mourn the death of a calf and a herd will go through great lengths to bury the body of the deceased. Years later, elephants will revisit the site where a loved one died and mourn for several days. Regarding self-medication, pregnant mothers will chew on certain plants to induce labor when she knows she is due to give birth. Elephants also play and have a sense of humor when throwing sticks, passing objects or squirting water out of the trunk into a fountain. Zoo elephants have been known to steal hats and hide them, teasing the onlookers. They also use tools on a regular basis, especially in the form of digging for water when they know that there has been a water source at a particular source although it looks dried up. Sticks have been used as useful tools for scratching those hard to reach itches.  Some elephants in captivity have used their capacity for problem-solving to figure out complex locks in order to free themselves and their fellow “inmates”. Lastly, elephants have shown that they recognize themselves in a mirror, demonstrating self-awareness. All of these aspects further our respect and recognition of elephants as some of the most intelligent creatures in the Animal Kingdom.

Speciesism

One of the main cases of speciesism that we see in regards to elephants is poaching for their ivory, meat and skins. Many cultures value ivory for ornamental decoration and it is a very expensive commodity worldwide. Bans on ivory have been placed in many countries but the trade continues regardless. This leads to the unnecessary butchering of elephants in the wild. There only other sources of ivory are walruses and narwhals, which are much less accessible than elephants so they bear the brunt of the poacher's focus. Working elephants are also susceptible to abuse by their handlers. Because they are large animals, abuse is sometimes seen as the only way to control their actions. There is legislation in place to deter handlers from abusing the animals but it still happens. Elephants were also one of the few species to be used to perform human executions. Practiced in Asian countries by royalty, it was seen as a status symbol of absolute power and the ability to control wild animals. While the practice is not continued today, it is one of the few cases where humans force animals to do their dirty work of execution.

Execution by elephant

For the most part, all elephants are viewed similarly. There are some differences between captive and wild individuals but we have a degree of fascination with them regardless. We like to consider captive individuals, both in zoos and in circuses, as less dangerous because they have become accustomed to being around humans. However, they can be just as violent as the wild ones when provoked. Also, males are universally viewed as more volatile because they are more aggressive and can be provoked more easily than females.

References

Bist, S. S.; Cheeran, J. V.; Choudhury, S.; Barua, P.; Misra, M. K. "The domesticated Asian elephant in India". Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. Retrieved 24 September 2013.

Shoshani, J., ed. (2000). Elephants: Majestic Creatures of the Wild. Checkmark Books. ISBN 0-87596-143-6.

Wylie, D. (2009). Elephant. Reaktion Books. ISBN 978-1-86189-397-0.