Elephant rides at Knie Zoo spark controversy – rts.ch

Only one zoo in Switzerland still allows contact between its public and its elephants. At the Knies Kinderzoo in Rapperswil, young and old can ride on the backs of the pachyderms for a walk.

But this activity is not only criticized by animal rights associations, but also by the zoos themselves. Their global association (WAZA), to which Knie is related by its status as a member of the German Association of Zoological Gardens (VdZ), disapproves since 2021 of this practice “fundamentally in conflict” with its guidelines regarding “animal welfare, conservation and safety messages”.

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Animal welfare in question

“The problem with elephant rides is that the keepers have to use very strict methods to control the animal. Its behavior must be safe for the passengers,” explains Keith Lindsay, an elephant expert.

In June 2023, under mandate from the Franz Weber Foundation, this conservation biologist visited the three Swiss zoos which keep elephants, in order to assess their living conditions. At Knie Zoo, Keith Lindsay called elephant rides “very old fashioned.”

Keith Lindsay believes elephant rides require aggressive control methods and can cause physical suffering. Among them, elephant keepers often use an ankus (or “bullhook”), a stick with a metal hook, designed to poke the animal and control it.

Knie also uses ankus. In the walking videos posted on the Rapperswil Zoo Instagram account, the keepers hold one in their hand. We do not see any direct contact between the tool and the elephant. Several RTS archive images, up to 1964, show pachyderms being stung by these instruments at the zoo or at the Knie circus.

Asked about his current use of ankus, Knie only answers that he will abandon it by 2030, by changing his breeding method.

A practice that goes against the grain of other zoos

More and more zoos are abandoning all contact with elephants. This method, called “Protected Contact”, was adopted by Zurich Zoo in 2014 and Basel Zoo in 2017.

No more direct contact between the public and the animals. As for the caregivers, they no longer enter the elephant enclosure. They approach the animal from the outside, through bars, often presenting them with food or treats.

Protected contact also gives the animal the opportunity to develop its own social structure and its own hierarchy (…) behavior close to nature

“On the one hand, it is for the safety of animal keepers, because there can be dangerous accidents with elephants. And on the other hand, protected contact also gives the animal the opportunity to develop its own social structure and hierarchy (…) behavior close to nature”, explains Claudia Rudolf von Rohr, head of the Species Conservation and Animals sector at Zurich Zoo.

“The animal guardian is no longer part of the hierarchy,” she adds. “Previously, in direct contact, the keepers were still part of the herd in a way. They therefore participated in the social structure.”

And this trend is not only Swiss. All members of the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA) will have to move to “Protected Contact” by 2030.

We are already in the planning phase in order to make the necessary adaptations in terms of infrastructure and operations. The animals are professionally and gradually reaccustomed to “Protected Contact”

Knie, which participates in its breeding program (EEP), will also follow this change in standards: “We are already in the planning phase in order to make the necessary adaptations in terms of infrastructure and operations. The animals are rehabilitated in a professional manner and progressively to “Protected Contact”, which allows us to comply in all respects with all directives before 2030.”, explains Sven Fässler, Head of the animal sector, maintenance and cleaning at the Knie Children’s Zoo.

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Towards the end of the walks for Knie

Elephant rides are considered unworthy of a “modern” zoo by most of the zoos, scientists and associations we contacted.

Knie says he wants to change his practice. “The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) has clear guidelines that emphasize animal welfare. We are aware that WAZA considers elephant riding to be inconsistent with its principles. This is why we are in close contact with the European Endangered Species Program (EEP) and are already planning to put an end to elephant rides in our zoo.”

Mathilde Salamin and Mathias Délétroz