Have you ever shoveled elephant poop or seen someone stomp on a pile of elephant dung to compact it? Well, I can tell you, first hand, that these are not the most pleasant of experiences. They are, however, both necessary and part of the elephant keepers’ jobs at the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park.

Even though I was not too fond of cleaning up after elephants (I could barely lift the shovel, it was so heavy!) it is something that will stick out in my memory for years to come. First-hand experiences, such as this, (though most are not lucky enough to shovel elephant dung) are a primary method the Wild Animal Park uses to promote conservation as Jeff Andrews, animal care manager, explained to the interns. In this way, visitors are able to make a connection with a specific species, therefore being more aware and motivated to take action to save the species. The participants, leaving with a new appreciation for a certain animal, are inspired to make conservation efforts. This method has proven to be very effective on me, as I already have a greater appreciation for various animals at the Zoo and Wild Animal Park because of my interactions with them through the Zoo InternQuest program.

Zoos have not always been focused on conservation efforts. When they were first instituted, hundreds of years ago, their main draw was for entertainment. I was glad to hear that animals are now cared for much more according to their specific needs. Because of improved, more natural conditions, researchers are able to gather more information on various species, thereby increasing people’s awareness and efforts to save some of the world’s most endangered animals.

Some people, no matter how much they like visiting zoos, have the burning question in their minds: how fair is it to keep animals enclosed for, what seems to be, the sole purpose of humans’ enjoyment? Well, there is a lot more to zoos’ efforts than only offering a fun, recreational environment. Along with the joys of seeing exotic animals up close, zoos provide great learning opportunities for both the public and animal researchers, ultimately preserving species in danger of becoming extinct. In zoos, animals’ mental and physical health needs are met daily, allowing them to live longer, healthier lives. In addition, researchers are able to compare and contrast behavior data between wild and zoo animals. Overall, I am happy to report that the benefits of keeping animals in zoos outweigh the negative aspects.

Like many animals, even one of my dogs at home, the lives of the elephants at the Wild Animal Park did not begin as fulfilling as they are now. Only around fourteen years ago did things start to change for these elephants. In Africa, the elephants’ herd was facing a cull, a mass killing of an elephant herd due to species overpopulation in the game preserve, and the impacts of their natural, but destructive nature. In conjunction with a Florida zoo and various other organizations, the Wild Animal Park was able to negotiate an agreement with the Swaziland government to transport the elephants here in exchange for a financial contribution to support the conservation of the wild population in Swaziland. As of about a year and a half ago, the elephants have been living at the Park where a male calf has since been born. Baby elephants in captivity in North America have become more and more rare as it is difficult to house male elephants, and many of the elephants in North America are older females, at the end of their reproductive lives. The new elephants from Swaziland are healthy and thriving in their enclosure, and their presence plays a big role in the sustainability of African elephants in North American zoos.

International conservation is much more complex than I had thought. Shockingly enough, culls of herds of elephants and other big game are still instituted today, obviously spurring a lot of controversy. I would naturally be compelled to say “Save the elephants,” but Mr. Andrews presented to us the problems that arise from trying to keep elephants in game parks, even if the parks are really large. The elephants do not recognize the difference between park land and private land, and can cause serious damage to people’s farms and lives.

Because of the Wild Animal Park’s amazing efforts to save these massive, unique creatures, they now house 14 total elephants, and the space is large enough with sufficient food to go around. And, even for such a large place as the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park, Mr. Andrews says, “That’s a lot of elephants.”

Contributed by Shelby – Zoo InternQuest Conservation Team

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