New Zealand animal rights group want Sri Lanka - NZ elephant gift dropped

An animal advocacy group in New Zealand  is urging  Prime Minister Key to reject an elephant being gifted to the Auckland Zoo by the Sri Lankan government, News Hub reported.

New Zealand has been "gifted" elephant Nandi as part of Auckland Zoo's plan to start a breeding programme.

But organisation SAFE says the move is less about conservation and more about bringing in revenue for the zoo.

Spokeswoman Mandy Carter says zoos are primarily concerned about the visitors, not the animals.

"There have been many studies now that show that elephants do die young in zoos. It's very common; it's not unusual in any sense.

"In the wild elephants would roam many kilometres every day, and the zoo can't provide that."

Ms Carter says ripping Nandi away from her family is detrimental to her wellbeing.

"At the moment there's not consideration for the animals as individuals, nor as a species. Keeping an elephant in the zoo is basically the equivalent of locking a human up in a hotel room."

Ms Carter adds that zoos have had their day, with countless studies proving they negatively affect animals' lives.

She says people don't realise the impact captivity has on animals.

"Many people don't know that Kashin died after losing a battle of chronic health problems, largely caused by being kept in captivity, and that was very painful arthritis and abscesses."

Leading animal welfare advocates in Sri Lanka have petitioned the Court of Appeal in an attempt to keep Nandi with her family.

Sir Lanka Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is in New Zealand for the first time ever.