Elephant conservation news 13 - 19 June 2009Noise pollution from new tourist flights over Victoria Falls could force elephants out of the area, conservationists have warned.
The Zimbabwe Telegraph reports that conservationists and established flight operators have called on authorities to deny licences to eight new companies that want to provide helicopter rides over the area.
The operators are looking to make the most of an expected tourist boom when neighbouring South Africa hosts the World Cup next year.
Deliwe Utete from Environment Africa told BBC News that excessive noise could drive away elephants and upset the region's ecosystem.
Zimbabwe environment minister Francis Nehema said that he has asked for an environmental assessment of the plans and that nothing can be decided before this is complete.
The Parks Authority area manager for Victoria Falls, Trumber Jura, said: "There is a team on the ground from head office that is doing a study on the issue and obviously we need to protect the environment for the future generations. We cannot only think about us today."
Oregon Zoo's elephant enclosure extension 'inadequate', say protestors
Oregon Zoo's plan to extend its elephant enclosure has been blasted by animal rights protesters, OPB News reports.
Keepers say that the $3 million extension, taking the enclosure from three acres to six, will make it more open and allow the elephants to come and go as they please.
But animal rights group In Defense of Animals (IDA) has said that the money should be spent on a planned 200-acre off-site enclosure near Portland and the relocation of the zoo's elephants to this site.
In a report on the extension plans, the group wrote: "Oregon Zoo?s recommended three-acre renovation plan is woefully inadequate for elephants as it will not provide adequate space and appropriate conditions for those elephants currently at the Zoo and for future offspring."
Zoo spokesman, Bill LaMarch said that is was "disheartening" that IDA will not support the plans.
"For the longest time it was all about space and now it seems like it about something else."
