General Discussion

Flaxbee

(13,661 posts) Sat May 28, 2016, 05:17 PM May 2016

Spare a thought or gentle wishes for Hanako, the "world's loneliest elephant" who died Thursday

And allow me to say that the humans who did this to her for decades are no better than pond scum. If it weren't for karma, I'd say what I really think.

World’s ‘Loneliest Elephant’ Dies After Decades In Concrete Enclosure
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hanako-loneliest-elephant-dies_us_57475cb9e4b0dacf7ad46a3a

The oldest elephant in Japan, dubbed the world’s “loneliest elephant“ by animal welfare activists, died Thursday at the age of 69.

Hanako the elephant lived at Tokyo’s Inokashira Park Zoo for 62 years, according to The Japan Times. Thailand initially gave her as a gift to Japan in 1949, and she lived at Ueno Zoo five years before being transferred to Inokashira in 1954.
Eugene Hoshiko/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hanako, whose name meant “flower child,” is seen earlier this year at Inokashira Park Zoo.

But it wasn’t until last year that Hanako came to international attention, after Canadian animal advocate Ulara Nakagawa visited the zoo and wrote a blog post for Medium titled “Hanako the Elephant: 61 Years (and Counting) Alone in a Concrete Prison.”

Nakagawa accused the zoo of keeping Hanako isolated with no mental stimulation or enrichment.

“Totally alone in a small, barren, cement enclosure with absolutely NO comfort or stimulation provided, she just stood there almost lifeless — like a figurine,” she wrote. “There was absolutely nothing else for her to do. It was beyond painful to take in.”

20 replies

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Highlight:

Spare a thought or gentle wishes for Hanako, the "world's loneliest elephant" who died Thursday (Original Post) Flaxbee May 2016 OP

Sometimes I hate people. That should never have been allowed to continue. SusanCalvin May 2016 #1

Sometimes? Flaxbee May 2016 #5

I'm with you on that n/t paleotn May 2016 #11

Definitely, me too. Duppers May 2016 #12

Thoughts and wishes are too late. Action is what was needed. n/t JimDandy May 2016 #2

I know. But if you believe in such things, hope her spirit is finally Flaxbee May 2016 #3

At least she is no longer being tortured. nt SusanCalvin May 2016 #7

Zoos pretty much suck. HassleCat May 2016 #4

That's about the size of it. nt SusanCalvin May 2016 #6

The "bad" ones do suck. Most of them do. Flaxbee May 2016 #8

Animals having the run of the place and people in trains is the way to go, yep. nt SusanCalvin May 2016 #18

Hanako... Dont call me Shirley May 2016 #9

Humans sometimes goddamn SUCK. Triana May 2016 #10

I hate the way people treat animals. Cobalt Violet May 2016 #13

RIP, Hanako! Different Drummer May 2016 #14

thank you. Flaxbee May 2016 #15

Hey! It's been a while since we talked. Hope all is well. madinmaryland May 2016 #16

Why was she imprisoned away for 60 years? Rex May 2016 #17

Really. How was that allowed to continue?? nt SusanCalvin May 2016 #19

.. Liberal_in_LA May 2016 #20

SusanCalvin

(6,592 posts)

1. Sometimes I hate people. That should never have been allowed to continue.

Reply to Flaxbee (Original post)

Sat May 28, 2016, 05:19 PM

May 2016

Flaxbee

(13,661 posts)

5. Sometimes?

Reply to SusanCalvin (Reply #1)

Sat May 28, 2016, 05:23 PM

May 2016

For me, it's about 90% of the time.

I know. It appalls me that supposedly sentient beings ("humans&quot would do this to other creatures.

paleotn

(17,931 posts)

11. I'm with you on that n/t

Reply to Flaxbee (Reply #5)

Sat May 28, 2016, 07:13 PM

May 2016

Duppers

(28,125 posts)

12. Definitely, me too.

Reply to SusanCalvin (Reply #1)

Sat May 28, 2016, 07:43 PM

May 2016

I could mention another observation about some peoples' lack empathy for animals but I'm always attacked for doing so.

JimDandy

(7,318 posts)

2. Thoughts and wishes are too late. Action is what was needed. n/t

Reply to Flaxbee (Original post)

Sat May 28, 2016, 05:19 PM

May 2016

Flaxbee

(13,661 posts)

3. I know. But if you believe in such things, hope her spirit is finally

Reply to JimDandy (Reply #2)

Sat May 28, 2016, 05:21 PM

May 2016

at peace.

I don't believe in a "god" but, to prevent myself from going insane with rage I like to think that perhaps she has some awareness somehow that her ordeal is over.

SusanCalvin

(6,592 posts)

7. At least she is no longer being tortured. nt

Reply to Flaxbee (Reply #3)

Sat May 28, 2016, 05:27 PM

May 2016

HassleCat

(6,409 posts)

4. Zoos pretty much suck.

Reply to Flaxbee (Original post)

Sat May 28, 2016, 05:22 PM

May 2016

Most zoos respond to the public demand that the animals be on display all the time. That means keeping the animals in small enclosures, where they can't hide from people. Do the animals a favor, and don't support the zoo.

SusanCalvin

(6,592 posts)

6. That's about the size of it. nt

Reply to HassleCat (Reply #4)

Sat May 28, 2016, 05:26 PM

May 2016

Flaxbee

(13,661 posts)

8. The "bad" ones do suck. Most of them do.

Reply to HassleCat (Reply #4)

Sat May 28, 2016, 05:30 PM

May 2016

I can tolerate them if there is appropriate habitat and stimulation. I also like to think that they provide some measure of preservation, since 96 elephants A DAY are being slaughtered for their tusks. However, this "life" for Hanako was just as grim.

I have a somewhat different perspective since family members are wildlife and marine mammal veterinarians. For the San Diego Wild Animal Park and yes, Sea World. While I don't like the captivity of the animals - especially the large ones who are in pools that could never approximate the ocean - I do know that at least at those facilities, the animals are extremely well cared for.

To have an elephant in an area with trees, grass, stimulation, and other company, while not ideal, would have been so much better than the life she had to endure.