From War Elephants to Circus Elephants: Humanity’s Abuse of Elephants
By Mike Jaynes
Journal for Critical Animal Studies, Volume 7, Issue 1 (2009)
Abstract: This paper examines the historical human use and abuse of elephants in an attempt to connect the contemporary use of performing elephants with the ancient use of war elephants and also examines two opposing opinions regarding elephant conservation. Beginning in ancient times, the now unheard of but once ubiquitous war elephants used by Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great, Hannibal and other Asian cultures is revisited and the abuse of war elephants is traced into modern warfare. Contemporary ―elephant crushing‖ in Thailand and the use of elephants to execute human beings will be examined. The argument is posited that western acceptance of the use of performing elephants is equally as reprehensible as the ancient use of the war elephant. The ivory trade is also examined along with elephant cognition and social behaviors including death rituals. The paper suggests the alternative of elephant sanctuaries. Statistics are provided regarding the highly endangered Asian and African elephants‘ declining total populations. The paper: connects contemporary western elephant abuse with the use of elephants in war; urges the reader to never attend or promote elephant circuses, buy ivory, or support the exploitation of the elephant in any way; and argues intrinsic valuing of elephants in lieu of other conservation approaches such as Sustainable Use.
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