Australia: Zoo slammed for elephant's 'under-age pregancy'

Times of London ^ | 02/14/08 | Philippe Naughton

[TigerLikesRooster]

February 14, 2008

Zoo slammed for elephant's 'under-age pregancy'

Philippe Naughton

Sydney's Taronga Zoo has been reprimanded by animal rights activists for letting an Asian elephant fall pregnant even though she is only nine years old.

The zoo, famed for its views over Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, proudly announced today that Thong Dee was five months into a 22-month pregnancy and should become the first captive elephant in Australia to give birth. It even released ultrasound images to confirm what it called an "historic event".

But Erica Martin, who heads the Asia Pacific office of the International Fund for Animal Welfare, said that allowing such a young elephant to get pregnant was the equivalent of allowing your 12-year-old daughter to become pregnant”.

“It is completely irresponsible,” she said.

The ultrasound images identify a 10cm foetus with the beginnings of a spine, front and hind legs, although it is too early to determine whether it is male or female.

Thong Dee was a part of a group of eight Asian elephants imported from Thailand in November 2006.

Animal rights groups said today that there was little conservation benefit in Thong Dee’s pregnancy and that the young elephant faced health risks.

“We know that calves born in zoos have double the mortality rate in the wild, and this pregnancy will put both mother and calf at great risk,” said Bidda Jones, chief scientist of the Australian RSPCA. “Stillbirth, infanticide and rejection of calves are the main causes of infant mortality and Thong Dee’s age and lack of maternal and social experience make this pregnancy very risky."

The zoo says that its four female Asian elephants have all been assessed by reproductive specialists as eligible for breeding and points out that the early Asian Elephant pregnancy in a European zoo was five and a half years.

Mr Cooper said: “The well-being of all animals in our care is of paramount importance and our breeding programmes are carefully managed to exacting standards that ensure our specialist staff employ the latest advice and scientific research."

Asian elephants are smaller than their African cousins and are listed as endangered. They live for about 80 years in the wild and about 60 in captivity.

[colorado tanker]

But it is unnatural to think that she will be a virgin until graduation. So time for safer sex and of course the abortion mill. Wont do ANYTHING to your fertility later dearie.

I just got an awful image of our lovely lass out on a "date" with a bull elephant and some animal rights nut trying to put a condom on the bull elephant.

[Chickensoup]

some animal rights nut trying to put a condom on the bull elephant.

Brings a smile to MY lips!

[Beowulf9]

Her name was ‘Thong’ Dee. Get it? Slut elephant.

[Tax-chick]

I agree. Although stillbirth is still a risk - as it is in any birth, of any species - surely the zoo can keep her or the other elephants from killing the baby, or can hand-rear it if the mother neglects it.

[IMissPresidentReagan]

Ahhh teenage elephant pregnancy...stop the insanity...wait, strike that, stop the inanity.

[muir_redwoods]

"Australia: Zoo slammed for elephant's 'under-age pregancy'(sic)"

"Lord knows we've tried mate but the damned bulls just won't use the condoms"

[Hot Tabasco]

“It is completely irresponsible,” she said.

So much for "safe sex education".......Abstinance works every time.

[C210N]

You know, elephants can be quite kinky. Here is Horton incubating an egg:

[Tax-chick]

She would care for it if she was in the wild....it is called Mother instincts.

Maybe, maybe not. Some mother animals in the wild reject their young, for reasons that are unclear. Maybe they can suffer from post-partum psychosis, as some human mothers do.

[It's me]

OH MY GOSH!!!

Thank you everybody, so far and yet to come, with all your posts. I really needed a laugh and I’m laughing out loud here in the office!

[Louis Foxwell]

Elephant condoms, a truly stupendous concept.

Why’s that? I have to use that size already :D :D :D
“concept” ooops missed a letter, “conceit”

[El Gato]

Does this mean that if she was in the wild, no male elephant would have knocked her up?

Possibly if her mother or "aunt" objected. Don't mess with the female elephants, not even if you are a male elephant. They are very matriarchal

[El Gato]

Well that was the age decided by Mother Nature . Isn't demanding elephants following cultural norms set by human society a little specieist?

Just a bit, but most female mammals, at least the larger longer lived ones, become fertile before they are really mature enough to be carrying a pregnancy to term. It can be pretty ugly. The 12 y/o analogy is pretty good. Most are able to become pregnant, but they are too small, especially in the hips, for a safe pregnancy. Social matter aside.

I don't know enough to know how that is handled in the wild, probably the same way as with humans, by social structures.

[Louis Foxwell]

Are you calling me stupen????

Your alliteration is perfect.