People Are Trying To Convince The Bronx Zoo To Release Happy The Elephant And This Thread Explains Why
The Bronx Zoo spans over 260 acres and has 600 animal species. 700,000 people, however, have signed an online petition, asking them to let one animal go. Happy is a 46-year-old elephant and from the tram, people can see her in her enclosure alone, which is the only way she has lived since her companion died 13 years ago. Animal rights activists have long argued she should be released to a sanctuary calling her isolation inhumane. Recently, writer Yashar Ali tweeted an in-depth take on what makes the elephant so miserable and why the zoo might not be interested in changing that.
More info: Twitter
Image credits: yashar
Image credits: yashar
Image credits: yashar
Image credits: yashar
Image credits: yashar
Image credits: yashar
Image credits: yashar
Image credits: yashar
Image credits: yashar
Image credits: yashar
Image credits: yashar
Image credits: yashar
Image credits: yashar
Image credits: yashar
Image credits: yashar
Image credits: yashar
Image credits: yashar
Image credits: yashar
Image credits: yashar
Image credits: yashar
Image credits: yashar
Image credits: yashar
Image credits: yashar
Image credits: yashar
Image credits: yashar
Image credits: yashar
Activists have been calling for the release of the gentle giant for years. “You’re not really seeing an elephant when you look at a captive situation like this; you’re seeing kind of a shell of an elephant,” said Kevin Schneider of the Nonhuman Rights Project.
At first, Happy was paired with another elephant named Grumpy. But in 2002, Grumpy was fatally injured in a confrontation with two other Bronx Zoo elephants, Maxine and Patty. Then, Happy started living with a new friend, Sammy, who unfortunately died in 2006. After that, the Wildlife Conservation Society said it would no longer acquire new elephants. Since then, Happy has been alone.
This week, the “Free Happy” campaign has blown up on social media, gaining a promise by New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, whose district includes the zoo, to look into the matter.
Zoo officials reportedly said that Happy appears to be content, is cared for by loving handlers, and might suffer from a transfer to an unfamiliar facility.
The Nonhuman Rights Project, however, was having none of it. “You can treat her to these standards, feed her, check her levels,” Schneider said. “But do you have the right to own her and keep her in this essentially solitary confinement? And we argue that no.”
People are really feeling sorry for the elephant
Image credits: JoyAnnReid
Image credits: PeterEgan6
Image credits: ChaChaChaChunis
Image credits: MissKDTrey
Image credits: DebHolloway
Image credits: joshgad
Image credits: britneegirardot
Image credits: debfene
This is so sad and cruel. Female Elephants are NOT solitary animals. Once the companion passed the zoo should have either handed Happy over to a sanctuary or organised another elephant companion. Elephants have very strong emotions especially when it comes to grief and loneliness. This is absolutely devastating. This zoo has failed this poor elephant. I hope Happy can find happiness before it’s too late.
Happy the elephant, It's time that you packed your bags and said good bye to this sad circus
Unlike most animals, elephants have drastically shortened life expectancies in zoos (yes even the very good ones) compared to the wild. They really shouldn’t be in any zoo.
Many do not know, but there is a third sanctuary now. Carol Buckley, who with Scott Blais started The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee has been working on a new place in Georgia. They are awaiting their first elephant. https://elephantaidinternational.org/projects/elephant-refuge-north-america/
Jesus Christ. Both Happy and the manager need to be freed. Happy from her cage and the manager from his job 😠
The zoo director does not care about humane treatment; he cares about revenue. Always put your money where your mouth is: sign the petition to include a vow not to support the zoo, and put the word out at local information stands for tourists, local hotel brochure stands, and online reviews.
Zoos like this give others, who try hard with breeding progams, conservation and put the animals welfare first, a bad name.
Yeah you can't compare a small city zoo to something like San Diego, which is HUGE and has massive enclosures that do actual mimic the wild. It's still not perfect but they're not even comparable.
Load More Replies...Contact the Animal Planet station, the Bronx Zoo has a TV show. Threaten Advertisers.
Solitary confinement is cruel and unusual punishment! She has done nothing to be punished for.
One of the many reasons I do not visit zoos. The animals seem so sad and often display repetitive stress behaviors such as pacing and chewing. I know for some endangered animals they can be helpful, but poor conditions are never excusable. We need a documentary like blackfish but for the elephants.
Over the last few years, I started to,dislike the idea of zoo's in general.
I think we're all chasing our tails. All of these enlightened public officials continue to turn their heads the other way! One sad, lonely creature doesn't mean anything to people who have no conscience, who only shrug their shoulders. Let them all spend 24 hours in the same surroundings and actually FEEL Happy's isolation...think it'll make a difference? Probably not. Have the ASPCA or PETA weighed in on this? I fail to see how this is good publicity for the Bronx Zoo or all of the boroughs of New York City. Why hasn’t anyone in authority or with some sense brought some reason into this horrific situation? GET RID of Director of the Bronx Zoo, Jim Breheny! He’s a blight…he’s evil! I am so disgusted and heartsick knowing that this poor creature Happy faces more of the same loneliness and isolation in her remaining life! All of the people who could make a positive change in Happy's life - and WON'T - can rot in Hell.
Can't the zoo get a 2nd elephant? Or let Happy go, and install an exhibit explaining why, and why elephants need pals.
The capture process is often very violent and cruel. Many of the clan/ family of elephants are killed in front of the youngest animals. The young animals are prized because the look "cute" and are easier to cage, feed, and take control of. * This applies to most animals taken from the wild.
Doutzen Kroes should know about this. She's a supermodel and does a lot for elephants. The hashtag is #knotonmyplanet It's a campaign by Tiffany&Co.
What evidence has anyone supporting this absurd campaign that Happy is in fact abused or negelected given? Happy has never shown any outward signs of being anything but a content animal. This is just a group of people pushing an agenda with out considering the animals feelings. The care takers at the zoo are her family. They care not only for her physical needs but her emotional needs as well. Anyone who condemns the actions of the Bronx Zoo is doing so from a subjective opinion, not a well backed objective base.
Elephants are highly sensitive and are highly intelligent animals. Studies have shown that they possess a variety of complex emotions and feelings, including deep compassion and surprising self-awareness. Elephants have deep family bonds and tight-knit groups of related females and their babies. Each herd consists of anywhere from 8-100 Elephants. They are known to be social creatures, and female elephants in particular. This is all based on years and years and years of extensive scientific research. If you were faced with the same fate I bet you would be depressed.
Load More Replies...This is absolutely dreadful, what has this poor creature done wrong that she is confined in solitary confinement. Shame on the US authorities for allowing this to continue!!
I think the last commentor is is right! I think until we get more traction for this in the celebrity world nothing is going to happen. Why aren't ALL the animal rights activists in on this? It could really start a domino effect! And I bet if you contacted Keanu he'd be all over this!
Whilst many zoos are terrible there are also many that are vital for the survival of vulnerable and endangered animal species. A few species have been bought back from almost extinction by zoo breeding programs. With the demise of so many species zoos do have their place in education, research and breeding. We just need to fight for better conditions, and to make it more about the animals than profit. The money raised by zoo tickets should be going into research, medical treatment, food, habitat maintenance, and money towards conservation projects etc and not to be made into a business. I believe they should be a not for profit organisation.
Load More Replies...This is so sad and cruel. Female Elephants are NOT solitary animals. Once the companion passed the zoo should have either handed Happy over to a sanctuary or organised another elephant companion. Elephants have very strong emotions especially when it comes to grief and loneliness. This is absolutely devastating. This zoo has failed this poor elephant. I hope Happy can find happiness before it’s too late.
Happy the elephant, It's time that you packed your bags and said good bye to this sad circus
Unlike most animals, elephants have drastically shortened life expectancies in zoos (yes even the very good ones) compared to the wild. They really shouldn’t be in any zoo.
Many do not know, but there is a third sanctuary now. Carol Buckley, who with Scott Blais started The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee has been working on a new place in Georgia. They are awaiting their first elephant. https://elephantaidinternational.org/projects/elephant-refuge-north-america/
Jesus Christ. Both Happy and the manager need to be freed. Happy from her cage and the manager from his job 😠
The zoo director does not care about humane treatment; he cares about revenue. Always put your money where your mouth is: sign the petition to include a vow not to support the zoo, and put the word out at local information stands for tourists, local hotel brochure stands, and online reviews.
Zoos like this give others, who try hard with breeding progams, conservation and put the animals welfare first, a bad name.
Yeah you can't compare a small city zoo to something like San Diego, which is HUGE and has massive enclosures that do actual mimic the wild. It's still not perfect but they're not even comparable.
Load More Replies...Contact the Animal Planet station, the Bronx Zoo has a TV show. Threaten Advertisers.
Solitary confinement is cruel and unusual punishment! She has done nothing to be punished for.
One of the many reasons I do not visit zoos. The animals seem so sad and often display repetitive stress behaviors such as pacing and chewing. I know for some endangered animals they can be helpful, but poor conditions are never excusable. We need a documentary like blackfish but for the elephants.
Over the last few years, I started to,dislike the idea of zoo's in general.
I think we're all chasing our tails. All of these enlightened public officials continue to turn their heads the other way! One sad, lonely creature doesn't mean anything to people who have no conscience, who only shrug their shoulders. Let them all spend 24 hours in the same surroundings and actually FEEL Happy's isolation...think it'll make a difference? Probably not. Have the ASPCA or PETA weighed in on this? I fail to see how this is good publicity for the Bronx Zoo or all of the boroughs of New York City. Why hasn’t anyone in authority or with some sense brought some reason into this horrific situation? GET RID of Director of the Bronx Zoo, Jim Breheny! He’s a blight…he’s evil! I am so disgusted and heartsick knowing that this poor creature Happy faces more of the same loneliness and isolation in her remaining life! All of the people who could make a positive change in Happy's life - and WON'T - can rot in Hell.
Can't the zoo get a 2nd elephant? Or let Happy go, and install an exhibit explaining why, and why elephants need pals.
The capture process is often very violent and cruel. Many of the clan/ family of elephants are killed in front of the youngest animals. The young animals are prized because the look "cute" and are easier to cage, feed, and take control of. * This applies to most animals taken from the wild.
Doutzen Kroes should know about this. She's a supermodel and does a lot for elephants. The hashtag is #knotonmyplanet It's a campaign by Tiffany&Co.
What evidence has anyone supporting this absurd campaign that Happy is in fact abused or negelected given? Happy has never shown any outward signs of being anything but a content animal. This is just a group of people pushing an agenda with out considering the animals feelings. The care takers at the zoo are her family. They care not only for her physical needs but her emotional needs as well. Anyone who condemns the actions of the Bronx Zoo is doing so from a subjective opinion, not a well backed objective base.
Elephants are highly sensitive and are highly intelligent animals. Studies have shown that they possess a variety of complex emotions and feelings, including deep compassion and surprising self-awareness. Elephants have deep family bonds and tight-knit groups of related females and their babies. Each herd consists of anywhere from 8-100 Elephants. They are known to be social creatures, and female elephants in particular. This is all based on years and years and years of extensive scientific research. If you were faced with the same fate I bet you would be depressed.
Load More Replies...This is absolutely dreadful, what has this poor creature done wrong that she is confined in solitary confinement. Shame on the US authorities for allowing this to continue!!
I think the last commentor is is right! I think until we get more traction for this in the celebrity world nothing is going to happen. Why aren't ALL the animal rights activists in on this? It could really start a domino effect! And I bet if you contacted Keanu he'd be all over this!
Whilst many zoos are terrible there are also many that are vital for the survival of vulnerable and endangered animal species. A few species have been bought back from almost extinction by zoo breeding programs. With the demise of so many species zoos do have their place in education, research and breeding. We just need to fight for better conditions, and to make it more about the animals than profit. The money raised by zoo tickets should be going into research, medical treatment, food, habitat maintenance, and money towards conservation projects etc and not to be made into a business. I believe they should be a not for profit organisation.
Load More Replies...
206
41