Thank you! Of course, animal rescue is another matter. If there is a preserve set aside for rescued animals that cannot be returned to the wild, that's great. I think the metric should be, who benefits? Is there money to be made? Are the animals exploited for human entertainment/profit, or does the preserve exist solely for the animal's welfare. As you say, hard to determine but the ultimate test.
Thanks for stopping by. I love the picture :)
It is a difficult topic because of the multiple angles- social, cultural, political, scientific, educational, financial, and so on. Our attitudes in the western world have changed and continue to evolve. In other countries, not so much. This is why we need to have the discussion from time to time.
Being around the elephants was interesting. They're like big babies. Another group nearby actually had a baby elephant that was playing by sliding down a hill with his front legs spread out. Clever creatures!