End the Suffering of Captive Elephants Before More Lives Are Lost
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Sponsor: The Animal Rescue Site
Captive elephants are dying young, suffering alone, and swaying in silent distress—it's time to shut down this cruelty and give them the freedom and dignity they deserve.
Elephants are not built for captivity. In the wild, they roam up to 50 miles a day, raise their calves in multigenerational herds, and mourn their dead. In captivity, they sway endlessly in place, suffer chronic health problems, and die decades younger than they should. It’s not enrichment—it’s imprisonment.
The United States still allows elephants to be held in zoos and safari parks, where they are denied the space, social bonds, and autonomy essential to their well-being. Even in the best facilities, captive elephants live in enclosures that are a fraction of the size of their natural habitats. Many are kept alone. Some never feel grass under their feet again1.
Captivity Is Not Conservation
Captive elephants are not thriving. They are deteriorating. Median life expectancy in U.S. zoos is just 17 years—far shorter than the 60 to 70 years elephants live in the wild2. Up to 40% of young elephants born in captivity die before age five, often from disease, stillbirth, or maternal rejection3. Elephants like Chai, who was subjected to more than 100 artificial insemination procedures before dying alone in a cold enclosure, are not exceptions. They are the rule3.
These animals are intelligent, emotionally aware, and capable of forming deep social connections. But instead of respecting that, we confine them for entertainment. Elephants in zoos display repetitive behaviors like swaying, head bobbing, and trunk twisting—signs of neurological distress that don't occur in the wild2. Some have been diagnosed with psychological trauma.
The World Is Moving On—So Must We
Despite global progress, the U.S. remains behind. Countries like the U.K., Austria, Mexico, and India have banned or are phasing out elephant captivity. Several American zoos, including those in Detroit, San Francisco, and Seattle, have voluntarily ended their elephant programs1. But most still cling to the outdated belief that captivity educates the public or supports conservation. The science proves otherwise.
Elephants born in captivity are rarely released to the wild. Zoos spend millions on breeding programs that mostly exist to keep elephants on display4. Some zoos still import wild-caught elephants, like the 17 taken from Eswatini and sent to U.S. facilities under the guise of “rescue.” One, Mlilo, was pregnant when she was flown to the Dallas Zoo. Her calf will likely be taken from her before reaching adulthood3.
The CHER Act Can End the Suffering
The Captivity of Helpless Elephants Reduction (CHER) Act would make it illegal to keep elephants in zoos and safari parks across the United States. It would end captive breeding and public display, and require all remaining elephants to be transferred to accredited wildlife sanctuaries within three years5. These sanctuaries offer space, peace, and dignity—not chains, separation, or spectacle.
This Is About Basic Decency
Some argue that elephants cannot be granted personhood or legal protections. Courts in the U.S. have upheld their status as property—even while acknowledging their intelligence and suffering6. That makes this legislation even more urgent. If we cannot rely on the courts, we must act through Congress.
By passing the CHER Act, the United States can end a legacy of harm and align its laws with both science and compassion. We have the power to give elephants the freedom they deserve. All we need is the will to act.
Add your name to demand that lawmakers pass the CHER Act and give elephants a future free from suffering.