Despite temptation: REFRAIN FROM RIDING ELEPHANTS!
 

RELOCATION OF 9 ELEPHANTS

In April this year, 10 elephants were captured from the wild by Basil Steyn and taken to Sondelani Ranch to be trained for elephant back safaris. As it is a well known fact that it is very difficult, if not impossible to train a wild elephant without inflicting pain and suffering, the matter was reported to Glynis Vaughan, Chief Inspector of the ZNSPCA.

It was decided to call in South African wildlife specialist, Karen Trendler to assess the condition of the elephants. The ZNSPCA were unable to pay for her travel expenses so we sent out an appeal and thanks to those of you who responded, Karen was able to come to Zimbabwe. She confirmed that there had been cruelty involved in the training of these elephants.

Much more............
http://www.bushdrums.com/forum/showthread.php?id=1211

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I've never liked the practise of elephant back riding, it is totally different to what happens in Asia where elephants have worked and been bred to work for generations. Not that I would ride an elephant in Asia either …

It seems that the report is quite old (last year?), I wonder if there has been any updates on what has happened since.

twaffle
Here is a link you can use for direct contact if you would like to have an update.

http://www.zctf.net/

But it's for certain that small ele babies get kidnapped for training quite regularly.

It's a disgusting business. Even ABU can't explain without a doubt where those elephants come from. The only explanation one gets: RESCUED ;-)

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SV, it is a great shame that some people, i.e. Daphne Sheldrick can spend so much energy and time to rescue and rehabilitate orphaned elephants (usually by the hand of man) so that they can become wild living elephants again. Then others can only see the elephant as a device to make them tourist dollars by subjecting them to great cruelty. There seems no excuse that is even remotely acceptable. I would rather be shot by a trophy hunter than be treated like those elephants are when being 'trained' … if I were an elephant. :(

Thanks for the link.

A late reply, so apologies.
Can anyone tell me who this Basil Steyn is?
What's his background and weighting in the industry?
What other involvements does he have?

Basil Steyn has got a FB page but not much info shown to non-buddy's except hometown BULAWAYO.

Google search did show up his business in "in" elephants but the info found says presently no elephant on site.

The data provided regarding the elephants are anything but certainly not convincing this is "elephant heaven"!

Lots of relocations have been carried out - wild born eles ended up in Zam/ZIM "ELEPHANT EXPERIENCE" - what this means is well known.

To me the B.S. business stinks.

I would check it out when traveling Zimbabwe.

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Part of what twaffle writes - "SV, it is a great shame that some people, i.e. Daphne Sheldrick can spend so much energy and time to rescue and rehabilitate orphaned elephants (usually by the hand of man) so that they can become wild living elephants again."

Ok, hold on, here goes.
Does Africa need more wild elephants?
Would the resources (see above) Sheldrick uses better serve mankind by directing it toward human orphans in Africa?
Just wondering.

regards - tom

Tom, you make points which have been made many times and may appear quite valid (in fact they may be valid! :) ), however I would make these points.
1 South Africa, Botswana, Zambia (?) may have enough elephants, but there are many countries in Africa where elephant numbers are low and falling.
2 Is mankind better served by only directing resources to humans. If humans create and cause devastating loss to another species, by whatever means, perhaps it is up to us to redress the situation somewhat.
3 Do we give some consideration to the integrated species of the world or do we only consider human needs. This is a difficult issue because, as humans, we like to thing of ourselves as more deserving or more important than any other species. But when this self interest destroys other species, be it animal or plant, then we need to work hard to right some of these wrongs.
4 If there were no programmes and no resources going to human orphans, then I would be very concerned, but I don't believe this is the case. Even Sheldricks provides a lot of resources to raising living standards of poor villagers in areas bounding National Parks.

It is possible that with some digging, you would/may find that those of us who choose to support Sheldricks also support human charities to a similar or greater degree.

Jambo Cary999,

Money would best be spent for population control - human population. In pre-european days, Africans had to have large families, as children were the parents social security. They had to have around a dozen to have one or two to look after them in their old age. Now with health care, etc. 6 or 8 of the dozen may live to adulthood and the population is exploding. There is no problem in the world today that would not be less of a problem with less people - not just Africa.

Go Twaffle!
I totally agree with you.
And we happily support Sheldricks, AWF & St Judes to name only a few we try and help.

CHAMEAU Twaffle - you have put it perfectly right!

Bwana_Masharubu - bought!

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This thread has gone a little off track....
Back to Basil Steyn, Sondelani Ranch and the cruel treatment of catching, training and handling elephant.
What practical steps can be taken to highlight this practise and shut down the kidnapping of baby elephant for this commercial trade?
Is it possible to get this "industry" on a banned list from local and international TA's and other tourist authorities?
Stopping the financial incentives (drying up revenues from the tourist) would seem the best way to stop this out-of-date & barbaric practise.