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ANIMAL WATCH - In Defense of Animals has released its 20th annual list of the 10 Worst Zoos for Elephants in North America, this year spotlighting how zoos lead to premature aging and suffering of captive elephants. This year, Oakland Zoo has been recognized with a new award for its compassionate elephant care, while Los Angeles Zoo is named worst for failing to provide its suffering seniors with a retirement plan.
This year marks the first time in 20 years In Defense of Animals has honored a zoo on the list, applauding Oakland Zoo for its compassionate and forward-thinking decision to send its lone African elephant Osh to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, where his welfare is being prioritized. Osh now has opportunities to socialize, make his own decisions, and engage in natural behaviors. Despite having one of the nation’s largest elephant exhibits, Oakland Zoo publicly acknowledged it cannot provide the space elephants need to thrive.
Conversely, the Los Angeles Zoo remains at the top spot on the 10 Worst Zoos for Elephants list for the second year in a row — its ninth appearance overall. The primary reason is the dire situation faced by its two Asian elephants, Billy and Tina, who have spent decades in confinement and isolation.
Billy, 39, has been confined at the zoo for 35 years since being taken from his home in Asia at just 4 years old. He has been the subject of a long-running legal battle and a high-profile campaign to free him, backed by prominent celebrities, including Lily Tomlin and Cher. Tina, 58, was stripped from her family in Malaysia when she was just a year old and forced to perform in U.S. circuses for 30 years before being sent to the Los Angeles Zoo in 2010.
Both elephants at the Los Angeles Zoo suffer from severe zoo-related medical problems. Billy experiences recurring foot problems — one of the most common causes of death for elephants in zoos — while Tina suffers from osteoarthritis, joint disease, and bouts of lameness. But the most glaring and disturbing condition the elephants share is their chronic zoochotic behavior. Billy almost constantly bobs, paces, and sways — classic signs of brain damage caused by mental distress in captivity. He is also forced to perform, standing on his back legs for a “show and tell” about his training. Tina's zoochotic behavior has dramatically intensified since the death of her friends, Jewel and Shaunzi, leaving her isolated and suffering.
Their conditions breach the Association of Zoos & Aquariums standard of care for elephants, which requires elephants to live in social groups of at least three elephants.
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“As zoos recognize that captivity inevitably damages elephant welfare, 38 have closed their
exhibits and many elephants have been freed to sanctuaries,” said Courtney Scott, Elephant Consultant for In Defense of Animals. “In California, six zoos have already closed their elephant exhibits. We urge the Los Angeles Zoo to follow Oakland Zoo’s example and act immediately to send long-suffering Billy and Tina to sanctuary before it’s too late.”
In the wild, elephants thrive into their 60s, raising calves well into their 50s and roaming up to 30 miles a day. In zoos like Los Angeles Zoo, where enclosures are thousands of times smaller than their natural range, elephants are dying decades prematurely.
Elephant expert Bob Jacobs, Professor of Neuroscience at Colorado University, explains, “It’s likely that zoos contribute to premature aging of elephants through the cumulative effects of prolonged stress (with its neural consequences) and acceleration of health issues like foot and digestive problems.”
Wild elephants spend much of their time foraging on trees, wild plants, roots, and grasses. Billy and Tina are not only deprived of this natural behavior, they are actively prevented from doing it by electric wire that wraps the trees and fencing. In his desperation to fulfill his innate need, Billy manages to avoid or endure the electric shocks to snatch nibbles of plants that surround his barren yard.
Though Billy is not old by wild elephant standards, captivity has aged him prematurely. His chronic captive health problems are ones normally found in much older elephants. Tina, meanwhile, is already considered elderly for a zoo elephant. She and Billy must be retired to sanctuary urgently to slow their health decline, or even heal from years of debilitating zoo confinement.
Osh starts his new sanctuary life. Photo: Oakland Zoo
By contrast, Osh is enjoying new opportunities to explore, wallow in mud, knock down trees and browse at The Elephant Sanctuary. He is slowly being introduced to other elephants, including Artie, the sanctuary’s other African elephant bull. He almost had the chance to be reunited with Donna, who also came from the Oakland Zoo last year, but she passed suddenly on December 24. Her death highlights the urgent need to move aging elephants and give them an opportunity to experience peace and freedom with what time they have left.
Over 14,000 In Defense of Animals supporters have urged the Los Angeles Zoo to follow Oakland Zoo’s example and become the seventh California zoo to make this compassionate decision. Actors Mayim Bialik and James Roday Rodriguez are among those calling for the release of elephants from cruel confinement to true sanctuaries.
This year’s 10 Worst Zoos list is also dedicated to Tonka. After 43 years confined at Zoo Knoxville, he was finally slated for sanctuary retirement. Tragically, he was euthanized just weeks before moving to his happily ever after, as a result of chronic pain.
“Zoos drain the life out of elephants, then deny them a comfortable retirement,” said Marilyn Kroplick, M.D., President of In Defense of Animals. “Tonka’s premature death and missed freedom is a grim warning for Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens and its elephants Billy and Tina.. It is time for zoos to stop aging out elephants in misery and instead start moving out older animals to real sanctuaries where they can finally enjoy some peace and freedom before they die.”
2024 List of the 10 Worst Zoos for Elephants:
- Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens
- Bronx Zoo, N.Y.
- Edmonton Valley Zoo, Canada
- Cameron Park Zoo, Waco, Texas
- Two Tails Ranch, near Gainesville Fla.
- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Colorado Springs, Colo.
- Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center, Kan.
- Little Rock Zoo, Ariz.
- Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
- Phoenix Zoo
Path to Progress Award: Oakland Zoo, Calif.
(In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization based in California with over 250,000 supporters and a history of fighting for animals, people, and the environment through education and campaigns, as well as hands-on rescue facilities in California, India, South Korea, and rural Mississippi since 1983. www.idausa.org)
