The US should have a Elephant Polo league

I accepted this debate "to prove its a terrible idea." I apologize to my opponent, I will have to forfeit the other as I will be at camp. A plea on the Polo Elephants" behalf: While a human may consent to the dangers and travel of such a game, an elephant was certainly not given the choice. Sources:(http://mentalfloss.com...) (http://motherboard.vice.com...) An orphaned calf refuses to leave his mother"s side: http://www.youtube.com... (http://www.peta.org...) http://news.nationalgeographic.com... http://news.nationalgeographic.com... Elephant Trauma (All credit for the provision of this chart goes to my opponent) According to my opponent, "We have about 250,000 elephants that can start creating us some money." My opponent"s statement infers taking Elephants from the wild. Elephants, along with humans, are incredibly attached to family members. "Elephants show a wide range of behavioral and emotional patterns in their up-to-60-year lifespans. They grieve over the bodies of dead herd members, and can even recognize their own reflections in a mirror." " Researchers from the University of Sussex found that elephants who were orphaned by an elephant cull in Kruger National Park are still socially maladjusted".. elephants were exposed to trauma and dislocation and dissolution of their family unit, with behaviors "akin to the post-traumatic stress disorder " Asian Elephants are an endangered species, and to think we should cause mental health problems and remove more from the wild is preposterous. History has shown time and time again human"s greed can completely dissipate a species. A disaster awaiting: The Bull Hook and Polo Sticks My opponent has cleared players are aware of the safety issues, but truly this is more about the elephant. Bull hooks are designed for the purpose of plunging into an elephant"s flesh. These bull hooks are used to guide the elephant. You can see some of the wounds inflicted in this video: If a polo stick were to strike an elephant harshly, this could lead to a potential disruption of commands. The elephant would be under constant stress if it were previously trained with a bull hook. Opponent Title: "Better funding, conservation, and healthcare for American Elephants" My opponent presumed Elephant polo would bring more conservation and zoo efforts because "African and Asian elephants are endangered, and slowly dying off." For "rescued" wild Elephants and Polo Elephants is a life in captivity any better? Captive Elephant Life Span; 19 years Wild Elephant Life Span; 56 years "A WEPA league in America would cause 1000's of zoo sponsorships, grants, and triunes. It will lead to better healthcare and conditions for our zoo animals, and likely breeding programs" Elephants have been exhibited to the public to as far back as Rome and to out modern day zoos. I ask my opponent then, despite all an elephant"s popularity, why are they still endangered and kept in awful conditions? I withdraw stating, the thought "A WEPA league in America would cause 1000's of zoo sponsorships, grants, and triunes. It will lead to better healthcare and conditions for our zoo animals, and likely breeding programs" is based off a theory and not at all a help to our fellow elephants. The Physical Problems of Captivity: Under this section I will discuss the inhumane aspects of WEPA"s plan as well as transportation issues. I will restate my evidence: Captive Elephant Life Span; 19 years Wild Elephant Life Span; 56 years My opponent has stated "Like WPEA rules, all Elephants must be kept in a conserved enviorment. We have 1000's of zoos, parks, and enviormental centers that can give our elephants proper healthcare and treatment." Elephants, "travel as far as 30 miles per day, and are active for 18 hours per day. Zoos" lack of space creates health problems in elephants, such as muscular-skeletal ailments, arthritis, foot and joint diseases, reproductive problems, high infant mortality rates, and psychological distress (as is evidenced by repetitive swaying, head-bobbing, and pacing). Captivity-induced health problems are the leading cause of death of elephants in zoos"they are dying decades short of their expected life span." To have a captive elephant, with painful health issues, urged to run around a ring with an average of 280 lbs on it"s back is inhumane. Transportation As stated above, Elephants travel around 30 miles per day, other sources have quoted even up to fifty! To have an Elephant with such great endurance locked in a transportation crate for an unknown number of days, and hours is inhumane. WEPA RULES: WEPA"s rules are discriminatory: Men may only use only their right hand. However, women may use two hands to hold the polo stick if they so wish