Ana Sofía García: What happend to Ely?

Walking around “San Juan de Aragón” zoo, which is located in Mexico city my intention was to walk around the zoo the same way I did as a child, but then I realized that it actually seemed more like a shopping site where people just stop to see what is for sale and just pay attention to what you like. I was finishing my tour when I walked by the elephants area and one particular elephant caught my attention from its cage that’s how I met Ely I was moved with Ely’s living conditions and so I decided to research more about her and I found out that her whole life story revolves around her rights being violated and that Ely’s wasn’t the only one. There are a lot of species in similar or even worse conditions than Ely’s. But for now, I will only focus on what caught my attention Ely is an African elephant That like many other elephants has suffered abuse, mistreatment and animal exploitation since she was a baby and for 25 years in the “Cinco Hermanos Vázquez” circus. At this moment she is deprived of her freedom and has been living for nine years at the “San Juan de Aragón” Zoo. Just imagine being at home enjoying your family and wake up 12 years later not knowing where you are where the ground is concrete and there are always people staring at you the metal fence surrounds you completely and it doesn’t even let you see anything beyond the crowds. After she arrived at the Zoo, Ely has presented a long list of injuries, infections and illnesses which include ulcerative dermatitis skin hyperkeratosis, cracked nails and feet, visible discomfort in the right leg due to an old fracture and a fistula in the left jaw caused by the use of the handling hook at the circus. Her enclosure, mostly concrete, intensifies the negative impacts on her physical health, since this situation increases the stress and pressure on her arthritic joints, and her sore feet. How would you feel if you were living in such a place suffering those conditions? At the Zoo, El’y shared her enclosure with another elephant named Maggie, an asian elephant for more than three years until Maggie was sacrificed because of problems with her feet, Illness that haunts most of these captive creatures. Do you find it fair everything Maggie did for the Zoo? forced to, of course. and that after all that the Zoo didn’t do everything in their power to save her? But maybe Ely has a chance for her situation to change. I found a movement whose purpose is to collect signatures to retire Ely, the elephant, into a sanctuary. This is a way to help so her situation finally changes through this movement i found. But Ely is not the only one we can help. There are a lot more petitions that fight for the respect of animal rights. You just have to help these petitions come true Signing and sharing them. But let me tell you something, that’s been in my head for a while Why is it even necessary that humans have to sign a webpage in order to save a life? Why don’t humans just have the initiative of just saying “Let’s save it” Imagine this: You’re in danger and on the verge of dying, But there’s a way to help you. But you have to gather 150,000 signatures. For me, is an excessive amount. And that’s the amount Ely needs In order to be moved to a sanctuary. Why don’t humans just have the initiative of just saying: “Let’s save it” Why is it? It is our decision The power is in our hands and in our decisions. Doing this, we can change the look Of our coexistence with all the living creatures, with whom we share our planet. My talk focuses on Ely. But here, standing in front of you, I want this talk to reach people who will take action and help solve one of the global conflicts It is time to stop treating animals like objects. It is time to treat them with the dignity and respect they deserve. Thank you. (Applause)