Zoos win condition approval for elephants.

Zoos win condition approval for elephants. :

"'This will enable us now to start the planning process to ensure that we are getting ready to move the elephants from Thailand to bring them here for the very critical conservation breeding program.'"

The Humane Society had been petitioning for them not to be brought here. It is a long trek for elephants to come form Thailand to Australia. We haven't really heard all of the arguments for and against. I understand the trauma of a long journey for the elephants. I understand they could be distressed in a new environment and a different climate. We have seen instances of wild animals like that in zoos. What I do know is we have a cohort of people in Australia who really do care about animal welfare. The Humane Society has become involved for this reason. Our animal keepers care very much about the animals under their protection and we do go out of our way to find ways and means of keeping them happy. These elephants are under threat. They need a breeding programme to help keep their species alive. We do have success in this area and now that the tribunal has heard all the information they have allowed the elephants to be imported around Easter next year. The Humane Society has argued for the conditions of the elephants and that is a good thing. We have to look after our animals but it is something we need to think out carefully and the tribunal process has put the checks and balances in. I look forward to hearing this has all gone well. It is risky transporting large animals long distances. Hopefully we are better at doing that these days because it might be something essential to keeping various species alive on our planet.