HSI joined with the International Fund for Animal Welfare and the RSPCA to challenge a decision by Federal Environment Minister, Senator Ian Campbell, to allow the importation of the elephants from Thailand to facilities now shown to have been inadequate. While our primary position was for the elephants to stay in Thailand, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal has ruled that the elephants can come to Australia, but only if a number of important welfare conditions are improved.

As a result of the court case, the elephants will have more comfortable sleeping quarters and mandatory exercise requirements. Electric shock wiring will have to be removed from trees to allow the elephants to scratch and forage. Taronga zoo will have to install earth banks for their elephants to lie on and mud wallows for the elephants to play in will be increased. CCTV will record the elephants 24 hours a day so that behavioural problems can be identified. Both Melbourne and Taronga zoo will now have to comply with husbandry standards that were previously voluntary. The elephant enclosure at Taronga zoo is particularly small, and the Judge has ruled that if the elephants cannot be satisfactorily exercised there, and if other contingency plans fail, the elephants should move to the zoo's open range facility at Western Plains, Dubbo.

The Judge has also ruled that a male elephant to be housed in isolation at Taronga must retain social contact with the other elephants.

Elephants have long life spans and very complex social and biological needs. HSI is confident the elephants will be grateful for the stronger welfare provisions the court case has brought them.