Wildlife Refugees

Wildlife Refugees

In the fall of 2015, as the world watched a flood of Syrian refugees struggle to gain acceptance into the societies of Europe, another group of refugees from Swaziland was encountering opposition in the U.S.  Three U.S. zoos had applied to import 18 elephants that were scheduled to be culled from wild herds, and opposition by animal rights supporters was intense.

 Syrians and elephants

The comparison of Syrians and elephants may seem a stretch, but when a homeland is under siege or a specific group is being persecuted, seeking refuge in a foreign land would seem to be a reasonable alternative – for both groups.

When people argue against human migrations it is almost always on social or economic grounds. When people argue against animals being relocated to a foreign country they usually cite the need for animals to remain in their native land. Is that a double standard?

If elephant habitat is disappearing and they are being hunted to near-extinction for their ivory, is it acceptable to attempt relocation of animals to the U.S.?

Or should elephants, lions, and other creatures be forced to remain in Africa, even if that means certain extinction?

Would opponents be more accepting if zoos were more like ‘sanctuaries’ or ‘refuges’ and less like ‘prisons’?

What do you think?