In Defense of Animals (IDA), which operates through campaigns and animal rescue facilities in India, Korea, and the United States, sought an end to the misery of captive elephants. Representational file image.
| Photo Credit: A.M. Faruqui

A California-headquartered international animal protection organisation has called for ending elephant exhibits in zoos around the world, arguing that the confined animals age rapidly and die slowly.

In Defense of Animals (IDA), which operates through campaigns and animal rescue facilities in India, Korea, and the United States, sought an end to the misery of captive elephants to mark the 20th anniversary of its ‘10 worst zoos for elephants in North America’ campaign that has led to 41 zoos having closed or pledged to close their elephant exhibits so far.

Courtney Scott, the IDA’s elephant consultant, told The Hindu via email that the campaign applies to zoos beyond North America and that “all elephants and animals that suffer for lifetimes in zoos and tourist facilities” need to be retired with dignity.

“While elephants in the wild continue to have calves into their 50s and live far longer, zoos often stop breeding and start individuals as young as 30 on ‘end-of-life’ care. Instead of addressing this premature decline, zoos perpetuate a vicious cycle of suffering by eagerly replacing ageing elephants with ticket-selling babies, condemning more animals to suffer,” the IDA said.

“As we have long reported, zoos are directly killing young elephants through reckless breeding programmes. Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus or EEHV kills half of all elephants in zoos under 13 years. Those who survive past this grim threshold often endure a slow, painful march toward death,” it said.

Worst zoos

According to the IDA, zoos across North America are ageing elephants into early graves and denying them timely retirement. It named the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens as the worst among 10 zoos for elephants for the second successive year and the ninth time overall.

“Premature ageing and death are the unavoidable consequences of keeping elephants in captivity. We are heartened by the progress of 41 zoos that have closed or pledged to close their exhibits but time is running out fast for elephants like Billy and Tina (Los Angeles Zoo),” Ms. Cox said.

The IDA said Billy and Tina endure health conditions brought on by cramped spaces and deprivation of natural behaviours. Electric wires wrap trees and fencing, blocking access to plants. Driven by instinct to fulfil his foraging needs, Billy endures shocks to nibble on vegetation surrounding his barren yard.

“Zoos likely contribute to premature ageing of elephants through the cumulative effects of prolonged stress (with its neural consequences) and acceleration of health issues like foot and digestive problems,” Bob Jacobs, Professor of Neuroscience at Colorado College, said.

The 2024 list of 10 worst zoos for elephants includes the Bronx (New York, U.S.), Edmonton Valley (Edmonton, Canada), Cheyenne Mountain (Colorado, U.S.), Cincinnati (Ohio, U.S.), and Phoenix (Arizona, U.S.). This list has been dedicated to Tonka, an elephant euthanised after spending 43 years confined at the Knoxville Zoo.