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What's to become of Arna?

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How close is the bond between humans and animals? Must an animal be with its own kind?

In the case of Arna, the elephant that travels with Stardust Circus in Australia, Animal Liberationist groups are claiming it is cruel to keep her isolated from her own kind.

Until recently, Arna had a companion elephant, who died. Like anyone with feelings, Arna grieved. But is she grieving for her species or for her friend? And if she is consequently separated from her human friends, will she have to grieve for them as well?

If Arna was human, there would be no question that she would remain with the people who have loved and cared for her.

But Arna is an elephant and under the reasoning of the Species Police type of thinking, Arna needs to be with other elephants, probably in a zoo. The bonding of separate species is "inappropriate".

This is nonsense, as anyone who has worked with animals can tesitify. Animals do not exclusively bond with their own species. They make good companions or foster parents for other species. Animals do not question the differences. Humans invented bigotry.

The harrassment by these groups of well run circuses that care for their animals is outrageous. Only last week, in an Australian program called "Talk to the Animals", The TV crew investigated a complaint that lions at Stardust Circus were being punched and hit with sticks.

During my time as a journalist, I did many stories on Stardust Circus and the owners, Lennon Bros, were friends of my parents when we first came to Australia. This outfit has bent over backwards to apply all new regulations regarding circus animals. Their lion enclosures are a model for others to follow.

The animals themselves are relaxed and healthy. The TV team could find no evidence of mistreatment.

If the victims were anyone but circus folk, this kind of malicious harrassment would not be acceptable.

I know circus people who have studied animal behavior in the wild and captivity and who know thoroughly what is required to keep the animals healthy.

I know animal liberationists who think all you have to do is open the cage. They have committed criminally stupid acts such as freeing captive animals who then have to be shot, usually by police.

They will never understand the love and trust that can exist between an animal and a human, and they will never understand why Arna should remain with those who love her.