Botswana has officially banned hunting wild game for sport.....

The government of Botswana has officially banned hunting wild game for sport beginning January 2014! Hunting zones will be converted into photographic areas and safaris will continue sustainably. 
  

'It will be interesting to see if photographers can provide this kind of revenue:'

Source: Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations

• Elephant: Up to $30,000, depending on weight
• Lion: $29,000
• Leopard: $7,150
• Buffalo: $3,744
• Giraffe: $3,500
• Zebra: $1,923        

Vintage Brookfield Zoo-1955

What a silly "publicity" tradition!!!!!!  Name the baby animal.  Additionally foot care and bathing of the elephants is often held up as an exemplary example of elephant care.  I suggest those are practices that have been carried out for decades and decades.  Possibly it is time to come up with a new schtick.....................

Vintage Franklin Park Zoo--1955

Walter Martin Elephant Keeper

Vintage Franklin Park Zoo--1939

Waddy

Vintage Lincoln Park Zoo--1910

Elephant Controversy

 

 

http://www.zoo.org/elephant-statement?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social_media&utm_campaign=Elephant_Statement#.UL6l_HeWSSo

 

 http://www.zoo.org/elephant-statement?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social_media&utm_campaign=Elephant_Statement#.UL6l_HeWSSo

 

Elephant breeding loan agreement between the Oregon Zoo and Have Trunk Will Travel

 The owners of Have Trunk Will Travel, the California company at the center of this week's controversy over ownership and possession of the Oregon Zoo's newborn calf, sent this letter Thursday morning to the Seattle Times, disputing what they call "inaccurate and inflammatory news reports.":

 December 6, 2012

Letter to the Editor

Seattle Times

Have Trunk Will Travel would like to correct the inaccurate and inflammatory news reports that led people to believe that we were going to take Rose-Tu's calf from her. This unnecessary controversy has taken away from the joy and celebration of the birth of the beautiful, healthy elephant calf born to Rose-Tu and Tusko. She is being nursed and nurtured by her mother. That is a great accomplishment. This birth epitomizes what we work toward and what we care about.  

Have Trunk Will Travel is a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan. We partner with zoos and others and work together to enhance the propagation and survival of this endangered species. The breeding loan agreement we have with the Oregon Zoo is common among elephant holding facilities. We cooperate and collaborate with many zoos.

We, along with our dedicated staff, care for our elephants every day. We donate our time and money for the elephant causes we believe in. We are proud to work with and for our elephants and earn the revenue it takes to care for them and to support our breeding program and the conservation work we contribute to.

We regret that misinformation has caused our partners and the public distress. The heavily edited video purporting abuse of our elephants taken by an animal rights extremist group is being run along with the story. The seven year old video is a blatant attempt to malign our character and reputation. The video was at the heart of a lawsuit brought against us by an animal rights extremist group. That case was dismissed with prejudice. No legitimate animal welfare agency or elephant management group has given the video any credence.

Everyone at Have Trunk Will Travel is grateful for the outpouring of support from our friends, fans, the elephant and zoo communities and especially the Oregon Zoo. We look forward to meeting the new baby.


Gary and Kari Johnson

Have Trunk Will Travel, Inc. 

 

The Circus "NO SPIN ZONE": Thonglaw's Tragic Family Tree

Asia's Wildlife Trade

 Investigative reporter Bryan Christy’s January 2010 story,“The Kingpin,” exposed wildlife trafficker Anson Wong.

An exposé of the world's most notorious wildlife dealer, his special government friend, and his ambitious new plan