The Experts Speak

It is well documented that keeping elephants in urban zoos causes physical and psychological health problems for elephants. According to a study elephants in U.S. zoos die on average at 34 years which is half of elephants' natural 70 year lifespan. The majority of elephants in zoos today suffer from captivity-induced health problems including debilitating foot and joint problems, arthritis, digestive disorders, stereotypic behaviors (neurotic behaviors resulting from severe confinement) and reproductive system shutdown (flatliners).

Experts are speaking about elephants spacial, family-oriented social and environmental needs and the urban zoo's inability to provide adequately for the world's largest land mammal.