Etienne Benson
Slate
Aug. 14, 2008

Next time you go for a hike, keep an eye out for the hidden cameras. The first sign that you’re under surveillance might be a plastic or metal case, about the size of a hefty hardcover book, strapped to a tree and painted to blend into the bark. If you’re listening carefully, you might even hear the click of the shutter or the whirr of the film advancing… Read more

Sebastien Berger
The Independent
August 15 2008

Zimbabwe’s wildlife is being decimated by the impact of the country’s economic crisis, conservationists claimed yesterday.  Almost 2,000 elephants have been killed in and around the Hwange national park this year, the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF) claimed. It said that the national parks’ department intended to authorise the shooting of 1,000 more… Read more

Althea Peterson
Tulsa World
13 August 2008

A miscarriage means that Tulsa Zoo resident bull elephant Sneezy will not be a new father again, at least for the time being. The Tulsa Zoo partnered with the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle to breed Woodland’s Asian elephant Chai with Sneezy in January through artificial insemination… Read more

Claudia Rodas
The Local (Sweden)
13 Aug 08

A male baby elephant was born on Monday at Borås Zoo in western Sweden, the first male elephant ever born in the country. The birth was in fact a bit of a surprise as the baby’s mother ‘Dudu’ was not due until end of August, Expressen reports… Read more

UPI
13 August 2008

BORAS, Sweden, Aug. 13 (UPI) — An elephant at Sweden’s Boras Zoo has given birth to the first male elephant to be born in the country. Bo Kjellson, head of operations at Boras Zoo, said security camera footage shows the mother, Dudu, going into labor shortly before noon Monday — weeks before her calf was due, The Local reported Wednesday… Read more

Rachel Slade
Dallas Morning News
August 13, 2008

Representatives from a Mexican animal welfare group joined the debate on the future of Jenny the elephant at City Hall today, arguing for the aging star of the Dallas Zoo to stay in the United States. Ineffective animal welfare laws and a lack of law enforcement make Mexico a dangerous place for animals, said officials of Gente por la Defensa Animal (People for the Defense of Animals), a non-profit organization based in Mexico City… Read more

Dave Levinthal   
Dallas Morning News
13 August 2008

Jenny’s supporters are again on a rampage. A number of them are speaking before the Dallas City Council in what’s become a sort of weekly political effort before the city’s elected representatives. Pretty much the same message as before: Send Jenny, the Dallas Zoo’s lone elephant, to a sanctuary in Tennessee, not one in Mexico — and certainly, don’t keep her alone at the Dallas Zoo… Read more

Patrick Frater
Variety
10 August 2008

Imagi Intl., the Hong Kong- and Los Angeles-based animation group behind last year’s “TMNT,” is reviving DreamWorks’ India-set elephant tale “Tusker.” “Tusker” will be produced by Brooke Breton (”Avatar,”) from a screenplay by Ted Tally (”Silence of the Lambs”). Pic is tentatively set for delivery in the first half of 2011… Read more

Steven T. Jones
San Francisco Bay Guardian
August 13, 2008

The circus has come to town. Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, the largest and most profitable show of its kind in history, is in Oakland this week, and will be headed to San Jose next week. Spectators will see trapeze acts, clowns — and animals, particularly elephants, performing the trademark stunts that are considered the highlight of the event. But the show may soon be over… Read more

PETA Press Release
August 13, 2008

Chehalis, Wash. — This morning, PETA sent a letter to Chehalis Mayor Anthony E. Ketchum and the City Council urging the city to enact legislation that would ban the use of bullhooks, electric prods, and other devices commonly used to inflict pain on elephants. PETA’s request comes in light of Carson & Barnes Circus’ scheduled August 21 visit to Chehalis. Carson & Barnes is a chronic violator of the federal Animal Welfare Act, and its animal care director has been caught on videotape viciously attacking elephants with bullhooks and electric prods… Read more