What do you think? Is he "better off" if he is euthanized? Or is he "better off" with the leg removed, fitted with a prosthetic, and then lives in a sanctuary for the rest of his days? My response without thinking twice, knowing the difficulties ahead, based on 34 years of working closely with animals would be to euthanize, if there is no loss of valuable genes needed to sustain a population.
This was a human emotion, with no thought to the future, or feeling good today. Often called a "knee jerk reaction/emotional reaction:" I personally would go for the prosthetic leg for the elephants, if I was in charge.
This is a theoretical response, if you could form or create a perfect world based on assumptions and wishes, ie. here's what I would do if I had a million dollars. Except you have now control over the future, and the world is not what "you" want it to be: I'm going right there, to the wellbeing and - yes - happiness of this elephant. Should he be kept alive to lead a miserable existence? No. I don't believe that should happen to any animal, including humans. Do I have enough information to judge whether he will be leading a miserable existence? No, and I probably never will. If Mosha notably enjoys playing with other elephants, that's probably a sign that she has a decent quality of life. It would vary depending on the elephant, the injury, the treatment, the setting.
The twisted back, the deformed legs, is from having to compensate with a prosthetic for many years. It is something that is not natural for an animal, and we can not tell them, "don't put so much weight on that shoulder/hip. They are not people, with a spoken language. Those other problems would occur in the most wonderful case scenario. Have they been done a favor by being kept alive?
If Mosha notably enjoys playing with other elephants, that's probably a sign that she has a decent quality of life.
A2, You will note the elephant above actually has what is "feel good" referred to as "care givers", and other elephants to "play" with. LOL Note the male is blind. His eyes were damaged with buckshot. Can you see the difference between "poor" condition and the equally "poor" condition of over weight as we have noted on the Tenn. Sanctuary elephants. What do you think of the bull elephant in the top picture? "Poor condition?" or "Good condition?" What caused his condition, good or bad, you tell us, his environment, his disability, or he genetics? Or without answering any of those things, let's just take him, because we know better?
Monday, March 16, 2009
Point/Counter-Point to the elephant prosthesis post 3/15/09
Posted by
Wade G. Burck
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3 comments:
I did say "if" she is enjoying life. I would not take the sanctuary's word on it. Judging from the one photo of her, she must be suffering with every step.
If that is the case, as I said, I would vote to euthanize her. However, I would no more base that decision on a photo than I would on the people who own her telling me that she's happy.
There is an elephant here in the US who has, reportedly, one leg significantly shorter than the other. She walks with a severe limp, and this throws the rest of her body off kilter, as happens with all animals who have to use their body unnaturally to compensate for a handicap. Obviously, not nearly as bad as Mosha but a constant sustained unnatural walk is hard on all parts of the body, and she has to be in pain. She is used as a ride elephant. I would think that would be extra hard on her, but the USDA allows it.
A2,
Case closed. It is in the books.
Wade
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