"Nationally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is charged with inspecting zoos, and it has launched an investigation into the deaths at Lincoln Park. But it has only 100 inspectors to cover the country's 2,000 exhibitors - zoos, traveling roadside exhibits, aquariums as well as more than 7,000 more enterprises such as research labs, wholesale pet breeders and animal transporters."

--USDA spokesman Darby Holladay

Zoo vs. Sanctuary Comparison

	The Elephant Sanctuary	Performing Animal Welfare Society Sanctuary	AZA Zoos, Standards, and Practices
Access to between 30 and 2,000 acres of natural habitat	Yes	Yes	No
Provides permanent home	Yes	Yes	No
Prohibits use of bullhooks and other forms of corporal punishment	Yes	Yes	No
Prohibits chaining	Yes	Yes	No
Significant funding used for landscaping, sculptures, amusement rides, and other amenities to benefit the public rather than the elephants	No	No	Yes
Prohibits elephant rides and forcing elephants to perform circus tricks )	Yes	Yes	No
Offers choice of companions	Yes	Yes	No
Animal care staff live on premises and provide 24-hour monitoring	Yes	Yes	No
Activity level conducive to healing captivity-induced foot disorders and arthritis	Yes	Yes	No
Captures elephants from the wild	No	No	Yes
Greater ability to express natural behaviors such as foraging, running, playing, socializing, and swimming	Yes	Yes	No
Frequently a financial burden to taxpayers	No	No	Yes