17 elephants flown to U.S. from Swaziland despite protests

Altogether 17 giant elephants, aged from six to 25, have been flown from the game reserve in Swaziland to their new home country, the United States, over the weekend despite conservationists' protests against the relocation.

CNN reported that the elephants were put in crates during the flight after being sedated.

Friends of Animals, a non-profit international animal advocacy organization, said the elephants have adapted to the natural environment in the landlocked country of Africa, thus it is harmful for the elephants to live in zoos across half the world.

The Connecticut-based organization has appealed against the move approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in January to a court, and a hearing is scheduled for Thursday, CNN reported.

The giant animals were transferred to three separate zoos. Five will start their new life in the Dallas Zoo, Texas, while the rest are new comers to the Sedgwick County Zoo in Kansas and the Henry Doorly Zoo in Nebraska.

However, the zoos claimed that considering the drought in Swaziland as well as the potential risks the elephants faced in the wild, it is much better for them to live in the United States.

"There are those who would rather see elephants die than live in accredited zoos. We strongly disagree with that position," Gregg Hudson, president of Dallas Zoo, was quoted as saying by CNN.

He added that the Dallas Zoo is vast enough for the animals to live. Endi