- Shipping of Captive Born Elephants to Kenya Called into Question

After announcing plans for the Aspinall Foundation to move captive African elephants from Howletts Animal Park in the UK to what remains of the wild in Kenya, critics came out of the woodwork to express their concerns. Not only did the zoo and the nonprofit not even bother to notify Kenyan wildlife authorities, they are sticking to their guns and letting blind ideology lead their decision.  

The Aspinall  Foundation has attempted these types of “rewildings” with other species that have turned out very bloody and in a deadly ending for the animals.

Meanwhile, the Charity Commission continues to investigate the Aspinall Foundation and Howletts Wild Animal Trust, which manages the private zoo that houses the elephants, over possible conflicts of interest and misuse of charitable resources.

We at NAWA believe the lives of the animals should come first and foremost, regardless of how people feel. These elephants are not at all acclimated to the harsh conditions of the savannah - this includes diseases, predators, knowing how and where to find food and water, and how to exist as a herd without any human intervention. We have seen time and time again what fate holds for animals subject to the wishes of moral authoritarians without any hands-on animal experience.

Attached is an expert critique of the move: