Animal activists are in rage as Chinese crews went into an animal park in Zimbabwe to reportedly fly elephants, lions and antelopes to a safari park in China.
National Geographic reports that on June 18, Chinese veterinarians and animal keepers flew to Zimbabwe and took over Hwange National Park, as preparation for transporting animals to China. The Chinese were said to be "rehearsing" on loading elephants hooked in their cages.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife service African branch chief, Richard Ruggiero told Nat Geo that flying large mammals like the elephants can be very difficult for those responsible, hence the on-going reports of long-time preparation.
"The challenges are: loading and unloading, the level of tranquilizers that keep them calm (they are stressed as hell during the operation), keeping them cool until you reach altitude, keeping their breathe-way open (trunk)," said Ruggiero. "And of course, they cannot move around and shift the center of gravity during flight, particularly take-off and landing,"
In November, the wildlife organization, Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force alerted that 34 elephants, 7 lions, and 10 sable antelopes in Hwange are set to be flown out to China.
Telegraph reported that these animals are going to be displayed in China's Chimelong Safari Park, which is considered to be the largest park to hold "most species in the world."
Although Zimbabwe's environmental minister, Saviour Kasukuwere told Nat Geo in December that officials have not allowed Elephant exports to China, Kasukuwere told the same source in March that the authorities are accepting orders and would then export purchased elephants.
According to the Telegraph, Kasukuwere also stated that these elephants were "tamed."
"Almost all training of wild-caught elephants involves breaking them using horrific abuse, including beating, chaining, stretching, food deprivation, and social deprivation," said Ainsley Hay of South Africa's National Council of SPCAs. "As these animals are destined for countries that have poorly controlled animal-welfare standards, it's safe to assume these calves will [have been] trained in this manner."
After Kasukuwere's confirmation of exporting elephants, Nat Geo tried to contact Meng Xianlin from China's CITES management authority, who has denied this issue in February. No response from Xianlin has been received.
