After over 40 years of exploitation and suffering, Baby, the African elephant rescued from the wild when she was just two years old, has died. His life ended in the Belvédère zoo in Tunis, where he lived in conditions considered critical by independent associations and veterinarians.
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From capture at a young age until adulthood, Baby was used as an attraction in circuses, fairs and recreational contexts, without her ethological needs ever being respected. Transferred several times, deprived of contact with other elephants and adequate spaces, she only experienced a long sequence of detention and isolation.
Since May 2023 Baby had been moved to the Belvédère zoo in Tunis. Here she lived completely alone, in an enclosure deemed inadequate for a social animal like the elephant. The absence of stimuli, limited space and insufficient access to water have contributed to worsening an already compromised situation.
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A body tested by decades of suffering
Baby had suffered for years from a serious handicap in his hind leg, probably linked to his capture and detention conditions. In recent months, signs of deterioration in his front legs had also emerged, making every move painful. The repetitive behaviors observed indicated a state of chronic psychological distress.
The Free Life association had identified a concrete solution: transferring Baby to a specialized sanctuary, where he could receive adequate veterinary care and live in an environment more respectful of his nature. The facility was ready to welcome her, but the intervention was not authorized in time. Baby’s death is unfortunately the result of a model that continues to treat animals as objects and attractions. Even when concrete alternatives exist – such as specialized sanctuaries – the system tends to intervene when it is too late.
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