IDA Announces the "Ten Worst Zoos for Elephants in 2007"

List demonstrates AZA-accredited zoos are failing elephants nationwide

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

Amid the controversy surrounding the Christmas Day tragedy at the San Francisco Zoo, IDA has just announced our fourth-annual list of the Ten Worst Zoos for Elephants. Though the SF Zoo closed its elephant exhibit in 2004 under pressure from IDA and other animal advocates, sending their pachyderms packing for a sanctuary, many other zoos throughout the nation persistently put profit before animal welfare in 2007. IDA's Ten Worst Zoos for Elephants list draws much-needed attention to those places that force elephants to live in cramped quarters that cause severe health problems, take bullhook beatings from their "caretakers," and even give people rides for amusement.

And the "winner" is...

For the fourth year in a row, the number one spot was taken by Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, Calif., where seven elephants live in the shadow of a rollercoaster amidst noisy, rowdy crowds. Nine elephants have died at the amusement park since 1995, including five who were euthanized as a direct result of the same foot and joint disorders that currently afflict at least two elephants. Despite these painful ailments caused by the elephants' cramped and barren exhibit, they are still forced to stack 600-pound logs and give rides to the public, and are controlled through the infliction of pain and violence.

Elephant Graveyards

Of seven elephants who died at Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)-accredited zoos last year, at least four suffered from arthritis and chronic foot disorders, caused by lack of space and inadequate, unnatural zoo exhibits. Among the worst cases were:

  • Clara at the St. Louis Zoo and Carol at the San Diego Wild Animal Park: Both elephants were euthanized after becoming crippled and debilitated by excruciating foot and joint disease.
  • The deaths of Hansa (age 6) at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle and Nisha (age 16 months) at the Dickerson Park Zoo in Missouri: A deadly infectious disease is spreading through the elephant population in U.S. zoos, prompting IDA to demand that zoos stop breeding Asian elephants and adopt strict limits on transfers between zoos.

See which other zoos made IDA's Ten Worst Zoos for Elephants in 2007 list and why.

2007 Victories for Elephants

The good news is that 2007 also saw the transfer of three elephants from archaic and inadequate zoo exhibits to natural habitat sanctuaries: Ruby from the Los Angeles Zoo, Dulary from the Philadelphia Zoo, and Maggie from the Alaska Zoo. The latter two zoos are shuttering their elephant displays, bringing the number of zoos that have closed or plan to close their elephant exhibits to a total of 17 nationwide.

Your Vote Counts!

2007 was the first year that IDA compiled our Ten Worst Zoos for Elephants list with public input through Internet voting. Thank you to everyone who cast their ballot for the zoo they thought most deserving of this distinguished dishonor. Your participation helps IDA draw attention to the fact that elephants are needlessly suffering and dying prematurely from inadequate and inhumane zoo conditions, and that mammoth changes are needed to improve the lives of elephants in zoos.