Calgary Zoo Elephant Rejected by Mother Dies

Zoo vows to continue with breeding program

Animal rights groups say the death of a baby elephant at the Calgary Zoo didn't have to happen.
Groups like Zoocheck Canada say programs to breed elephants in captivity are pointless.

The organization says breeding programs are designed to replenish the numbers of zoo animals and have no benefit to diminishing populations in the wild.

"The only way to conserve these kinds of animals is to protect the habitat and deal with poaching problems," said Julie Woodyer of Zoocheck.

I completely agree. If they wanted to effectively promote elephants in the wild, they would set up in situ facilities and help curb poaching. Zoos serve selfish ends, and do little to impact species conservation.