UPDATE #4: Recently Youth for Animals founder Nikita Dhawan interviewed Dr. Marion Garai on "All About Animals Radio" about the plight of elephants in captivity and possible rehabilitation options. Listen to this insightful interview here. Dr. Garai made some excellent points about why elephants should not be in zoos or any kind of captivity. She also provided insights into altered elephant behaviour in captivity and special circumstances for bull elephants. She also shed light on rehabilitation of captive elephants in sanctuaries and the option of rewilding.
Dr. Garai conducted her PhD in Zoology on “The Development of Social and Stress Related Behaviours of Translocated Juvenile Elephants”. She has been a valuable member of and served on multiple boards for almost 20 years. This included serving as chairperson of EMOA (Elephant Management & Owners Association) for 12 years. EMOA was instrumental in drawing up the National Elephant Norms & Standards. Currently she still serves as a member of the IUCN/SCC African Elephant Specialist Group as well as a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the European Elephant Group in Germany and Co-founder and Director of the Elephant Specialist Advisory Group NPC, South Africa. She is currently a trustee at the Elephant Reintegration Trust (ERT).