Animal rights groups say elephants are stuck in tight enclosures and stand for hours on concrete floors that cause arthritis or painful and often fatal foot infections.
The jumbo row mounted earlier this year after several elephants died in zoos across the US, some from complications of sore feet.
"The state of elephant health in the US is appallingly poor," said Elliott Katz, a veterinarian and president of California-based In Defense of Animals.
PHOTO: AFP
Katz reviewed records of 35 zoos between 2000 and 2005 and came away disgusted and convinced the facilities were killing the elephants.
"I am sickened by members of my own profession who know the (sick) elephants need to be on soft soil to have any chance of getting better and yet they never speak out," he said.
But the zoo industry rejects such charges saying that while much could be said about elephant care in years past, zoos have gradually upgraded facilities and the almost 300 elephants in state zoos today are doing quite well.
"You have one or two people who are not working with elephants everyday, making assertions that are not based on science," said Steve Feldman, spokesman for the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
"Every zoo is upgrading the standards for the animals," said Willie Theisson, head elephant keeper at the Pittsburgh Zoo, who has been on the job for 29 years and cares for six elephants.(AFP)
動物權團體指出,大象被關在緊密的圍欄,且在水泥地站好幾個小時,可能會引發關節炎或痛苦不堪和足以致命的足部感染。
前陣子大象風波愈演愈烈,全美動物園大象死亡事件頻傳,有些是足痛併發症引起。
獸醫師暨加州的捍衛動物組織會長艾略特.卡茲指出︰「美國大象的健康狀況慘不忍睹。」
卡茲在二○○○年至二○○五年評估了三十五家動物園,結果痛心不已,相信是動物園的設施殘害了大象。
他說︰「我厭倦那些同仁,他們明知患疾大象必須身處軟土才有機會復元,但卻隻字未提。」
不過動物園界駁斥這樣的指控說,過去幾年來雖然有許多對大象養護的批評,但動物園已逐漸改善設施,現今約三百隻公立動物園大象都相當安好。
美國動物園水族館協會的發言人史帝夫.費德曼說︰「總會有一兩個並非天天與大象為伍的人,做出無科學根據的指控。」
匹茲堡動物園的大象管理員主任威爾.泰森說︰「每家動物園都在改善動物的生活品質。」他入行已有二十九年,目前照顧六隻大象。
(法新社/翻譯:賴美君)
A: Artificial intelligence technology has been causing controversy lately: a student was caught cheating with AI to win the grand prize in an art contest. B: That’s so absurd. Does this mean that AI paints better than humans? A: Maybe. Luckily, the student was later disqualified. B: And more absurdly, it’s becoming more and more popular to use AI technology to “resurrect” people. A: Yeah, some netizens even posted videos featuring the late singer CoCo Lee, who was “resurrected” by them with AI software. A: 人工智慧的爭議不斷,有學生違規使用AI參加美術展,甚至贏得首獎。 B: 真誇張,這是不是代表AI比人類還強大? A: 或許吧,幸好得獎資格被取消。 B: 還有更誇張的︰讓死者重現的「AI復活」技術越來越熱門。 A: 對啊,還有網友製作已故歌后李玟「復活」的影片呢! (By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times/台北時報張聖恩)
It’s no secret that Japanese people have a deep affection for noodles. Like in the rest of East Asia, noodles are an important staple food, second only to rice. Japanese people have enjoyed noodles for over 1,000 years. The first noodles came from China and were introduced around 800 CE. As time passed, noodles in Japan not only became widespread but also developed some unique Japanese characteristics. The three most popular types of noodles in Japan are ramen, soba, and udon. Ramen, typically made from wheat flour, is usually thin and firm. The dough is kneaded and left to
Rice is an essential ingredient in Taiwanese cuisine. Many foods are made of rice, adding more variety to our cooking, such as rice cake, or “gui.” Wagui is made by steaming rice flour batter in a bowl. The term “gui” refers to a type of food made from rice, while “wa” refers to a bowl. The pronunciation of “gui” in Taiwanese Hokkien is similar to the word for “nobility” in Chinese, so it is common for people to prepare various types of gui, including wagui, as offerings to the gods or ancestors,. 米是台灣重要的主食,用米製成的食品十分多元,豐富我們的飲食,如米做成的「粿」。粿的意思是米做成的糕點,碗粿是將在來米漿倒入碗中蒸熟,因而得名。粿因為音同「貴」,因此碗粿等粿食常用作供品祭拜神明和祖先。 nobility (n.) 高貴,高尚;貴族 offering (n.) 供品 While Taiwan may not be
Continued from yesterday(延續自昨日) https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang As with many aspects of Japanese culture, there is etiquette to follow when you enjoy noodles. To fully experience noodles like a local on your next visit to Japan, consider these simple guidelines. First, be careful where you put your chopsticks. Don’t leave them sticking up in the broth or set them at the side of the bowl. When you have finished eating or if you’re taking a break, place them on the chopstick rest next to the bowl. Also, it is impolite to wave chopsticks around or bring them above mouth-level. Second, don’t take too