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Loading...3 Ways to Honor Ned’s Memory
On May 15, Ned, the emaciated elephant who was confiscated from a circus trainer by the USDA and transferred to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, died peacefully in the company of his caregivers. While I tear up whenever I think of Ned, I am also relived and thankful that he spent his final months at a lush, beautiful sanctuary among kind, selfless, and attentive people who only wanted what was best for him.
Ned was born at Busch Gardens in Tampa on October 10, 1987, to two elephants who were captured in the wild in Southeast Asia. At age 2, Ned was sold to a circus trainer who forced him to perform in the Big Apple Circus. When elephants were cut from the circus’s lineup in 2000, Ned was traded to another circus trainer and made to perform in the Royal Hanneford traveling circus. He was nearly a ton underweight.
But on November 8, 2008, Ned’s days of servitude ended and he was placed in The Elephant Sanctuary. It was just the second time that the USDA ever seized a mistreated elephant.
While at The Elephant Sanctuary, Ned was fed a much more nutritious diet than the one he had previously received, eating pumpkins, broccoli, corn, oatmeal, fresh hay, and other foods that he enjoyed. He spent time exploring his luxurious green surroundings, foraging in the woods, eating hickory branches and newly sprouted grasses, and playing with his favorite toy, a hanging tire swing.
While Ned had good days and bad, never fully recovering from his illness as was hoped, he was doted on by people who felt that every day that he was with them was a gift. His life ended in a better place than it began.
If you want to pay tribute to Ned—and help other elephants who suffer in circuses and zoos—consider taking these three simple steps:
1. Support The Elephant Sanctuary: To make a donation or leave a message in memory of Ned, go to http://www.elephants.com/Ned/Ned_inMemory.php. The 2,700-acre sanctuary is the nation’s largest natural-habitat refuge developed specifically for elephants. The sanctuary staff is devoted to caring for old, sick or needy elephants who have been retired from zoos and circuses. They deserve the utmost respect and admiration.
2. Stay Away From Zoos: Zoos cannot meet the needs of highly social and intelligent elephants. In their homelands, these majestic animals roam up to 30 miles a day, swimming in watering holes, playing in mud wallows, teaching their young, and foraging for food. One study found that elephants in zoos spend 22% of their time in abnormal actions, such as repeated head bobbing or pacing.
Captive-breeding programs like the one at Busch Gardens, where Ned was born, do little to protect wild populations. Returning captive-bred elephants to the wild is not a good solution since these animals do not learn the skills and behaviors needed to survive.
The American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) only requires zoos to provide elephants with outdoor enclosures that measure a measly 1,800 square feet. It does not prohibit zoos from chaining elephants at night and does not prohibit zoos from using sharp metal bullhooks to strike elephants. There are also no AZA standards that forbid keeping elephants in frigid climates even though elephants cannot tolerate cold weather.
More progressive zoos, including the San Francisco Zoo and the Detroit Zoo have closed their elephant exhibits. Zoos can best help elephants by tossing out their chains and bullhooks and becoming sanctuaries for needy animals who must be rescued from abusive circuses and pitiful roadside attractions and focus on rehabilitation and enrichment—not exhibition.
3. Patronize Only Animal-Free Circuses: Circus trainers routinely use sharp, metal bullhooks and electric prods to force elephants to perform frightening, dangerous, and demeaning tricks. When they’re not performing, elephants are chained by the legs for hours at a time. Ringling Bros. has even been sued for shackling elephants and beating them with bullhooks (http://www.care2.com/causes/animal-welfare/blog/ringling-s-elephants-finally-get-their-day-in-court/)
Modern circuses that use only willing human performers, like the wonderful Cirque du Soleil and the Flying High Circus, are truly worthy of our support. Go to http://circuses.com/pdfs/AnimalFreeCircuses.pdf for a complete list of animal-free circuses.
While we may not always be able to cure illnesses like that one that afflicted Ned, we can help stop the suffering inflicted on elephants and other animals for the sake of human entertainment and profit simply by boycotting animal acts and exhibits.
Rest in peace, Ned.
Read more: animal welfare
The Elephant Sanctuary
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God bless!!!
A good outcome, indeed.
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+ add your ownREST IN PEACE NED:0)
GOOD ON YOU NED what amazing creature we will miss you as all elephant are amazing. It's great you were in a beautiful sanctuary on your final days it's a ashame it wasn't sooner. Rest in piece buddy.
I was so saddened by this article about this poor sweet animal "Ned" and you made me aware of alot of information about the terrible ways that elephants are mistreated. I will NEVER again fo to a zoo because of this article. I pray that other elephants are saved from these horrific conditions before it is too late, as was the case for Ned. I am thankful that Ned had dignity and excellent care in his remaining days after being saved. God Bless all people that help any unfortunate animals that can be helped before it is too late. How can people be so cruel to animals, who only want our love and kindness and dignity.....
I have been a supporter of The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee for several years and have followed Ned since his arrival at the Sanctuary. It is so unfortunate for these magnificant animals that they are allowed to stay in zoos and circuses.
The sanctuaries need funds to continue their good work and be able to save more elephants.
It is very disturbing to see what happened to Ned. He was so stressed from his mistreatment, that he could not process his food. This trainer should be prosecuted and made to spend the rest of his life in chains and be behind bars, just as he subjected poor Ned.
I never agree with any kind of abusive action, including animal abuse. People have no right to do that. We have to protect animals from extermination. Animals also have right to live. They deserve to have a normal life.
I never agree with any kind of abusive action, including animal abuse. People have no right to do that. We have to protect animals from extermination. Animals also have right to live. They deserve to have a normal life.
May he rest in peace. As for the USDA they are USELESS and allow many many things to continue. In order for the USDA to get involved Ned must have been near death....
Guys PLEASE tell everyone you know to stop going to the circus or zoos for that matter. That is the only way to stop this cruelty.
Thank you for posting about Ned.
I love animals so much, and I think that they aren't to live in circus and in bad conditions. Cirque du Soleil was and is a great idea. Thanks to they for don't have animals.
I am very sad for all of the animals tortured by human beings...
Animals should be baned from circuses .
Or as Rachel Carson, environmentalist
says
The human race is challenged more than ever before to demonstrate our mastery - not over nature - but of ourselves."
I wouldn't know what to do in honor to this beautiful animal but pray for all the elephants that are abused in so many ways.
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