The Tragedy of Zoo Elephants

12/03/2026

A 5½-year-old elephant calf, ‘Mun’, has given birth at Copenhagen Zoo (aka Zoologisk Have), Denmark.

Considering that an elephant’s gestation period is around 22 months, this means Mun must have been impregnated when she was just 3 years old.

Why was this allowed to happen❓

In the past year alone, Copenhagen Zoo has already lost two elephant calves, and now more elephant lives are potentially at risk.

Copenhagen Zoo is a member of EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquaria). Situations like this only further undermine public trust in EAZA and its member institutions.

How can the public believe that zoos truly put elephant welfare first when such reckless and irresponsible breeding practices continue❓
Post from the zoo celebrating the birth - https://fb.watch/FOCilKyciz/?

Elephants deserve better.

19/09/2025

A “diplomatitic gift” to India from Zimbabwe has died a lonely death at Delhi Zoo. Shankar was an African bull elephant. Nowhere in this article do they question why an African elephant was in India. In fact there were two,the other is 28 year old bull elephant Rambo who remains in isolation in Mysore zoo. At the end of the article,again with zero questioning,they say that last year an attempt were made to acquire mates for these two lonely bulls from either Zimbabwe or Botswana. At what point do we say,enough is enough? These animals should not be in any zoo,let alone on another continent where they can’t/don’t care adequately for their own elephants.

The lonely life and death of Delhi's only African elephant https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2nlevy2gpo

16/09/2025

Continuing their appalling record of elephant deaths, Zoo Zürich have announced the death,on September 11,of elephant calf Zali who was less than 5 months old. He apparently suffered a serious leg injury in an accident 2 days previously,followed by a “bowel distortion” that led to his untimely death. Again we have to ask: why is this zoo permitted to continue to breed when so many of the calves meet untimely deaths while their mothers are left to grieve? The stress experienced by the remaining elephants can only be imagined.

By way of explaining/excusing this tragedy, zoo director Severin Dresson said “As sad as it is, such a complication can always arise when an animal experiences stress and pain and was irreversible and therefore deadly under the given circumstances”

Please see in the comments our other posts about this atrocious zoo.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ACozwr1jn/?mibextid=wwXIfr

27/06/2025

This is truly horrendous and heartbreaking.
This is what happens when wild elephant calves are captured from the wild and shipped halfway round the world to venues that have no idea how to care for them or any understanding of their needs or social structures,and quite honestly couldn’t care less. The psychological damage done to these young elephants is off the scale and the trauma they are living with devastating to see. Shame on Zimbabwe,shame on China, and shame on CITES for allowing this to happen.
Thank you to ElephantVoices for exposing and addressing this truly terrible situation.
‼️Caution required. The video is hard to watch‼️

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1An6xiHcxi/?mibextid=wwXIfr

24/06/2025

🇨🇭 THE GREED OF BASEL ZOO!
* Deliberately allowed a bull to impregnate wild caught 'Heri' at 47 years old despite knowing that any resulting pregnancy would carry a grave risk to life!
* Sadly Heri fell pregnant from the reckless mating and the calf died in her womb in December 2023
* Heri was then forced to carry the co**se of her rotting calf inside her for 18 months whilst IGNORANT zoo patrons looked on and waved
* Inevitably the rotting calf inside Heri caused multiple issues and the zoo euthanised Heri
* Heri’s only previous pregnancy resulted in a still birth in 2004
This is NOT conservation this is playing Russian roulette with elephant lives!!
BASEL ZOO intentionally killed Heri with their recklessness and GREED 🤬

24/05/2025

🇬🇧 NEW BRITISH ZOO LEGISLATION COMES UP SHORT 😢
Whilst any increase in space is welcome, this legislation falls heartbreakingly short.

Less than 5 acres for 5 elephants? That’s just one acre each — a shockingly inadequate amount of space for such intelligent, wide-ranging animals.

Elephants will continue to suffer, deteriorate mentally and physically, and die prematurely in UK zoos — all for our entertainment.
How deeply sad that, in 2025, we’ve yet to evolve beyond this self-centred mindset.

📰 - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14743585/Britains-zoo-OVERHAUL-animal-aquariums-government.html

⚠️Be sure to also read this from Born Free which details just how inadequate this new legislation actually is -https://www.bornfree.org.uk/news/born-free-laments-missed-opportunity-of-new-zoo-standards/?fbclid=IwY2xjawKekehleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFDYUQzRnYwVDZjeTllWk1kAR4x8lAvLT6cXMi2jVPtfh3HMIAt9bw3vp6QrCQ_JORuCuNLpU5gru4mPzAkig_aem_b6oUCt1ETEJ6F7fsJNnizQ

22/04/2025

Facts about elephant Miyako in Utsunomiya Zoo in Japan
• Miyako was sent to Japan as a 6 month old baby from Thailand
• Miyako despite being a herd animal has not seen another elephant since 1973 (52 years)
• Utsunomiya Zoo fails to meet almost ALL Miyako’s species specific psychological & physical needs causing her endless suffering.
• Miyako is suffering overgrown nails and cuticles which will cause her discomfort.
• The moat around Miyako’s tiny enclosure is dangerous and a threat to her safety.
• Miyako exhibits stress related stereotypical behaviours.
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
🇯🇵 JAPAN: SHAME ON YOU! TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED, EMPATHETICALLY RE****ED!
🇯🇵 日本：恥を知れ！技術的には進歩しているが、共感力は遅れている！

02/04/2025

A film about 'Lucy' a lone elephant incarcerated in a zoo for the purpose of entertaining the zoo going public in Edmonton. Canada.🇨🇦
'Lucy: The Stolen Lives of Elephants.'
👀Watch the trailer here https://vimeo.com/1056187773?share=copy&fbclid=IwY2xjawJZ5alleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHfdfu6UG7kEmrpQMtq5DYKHrkrfesCFShx8Bm4inZVpfADDGRT_dWNyXTQ_aem_-_Akjk3Bc7xdT43MZZi3RA

This is "Lucy: The Stolen Lives of Elephants - Trailer" by CCI Entertainment on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

25/02/2025

Good to see a politician speaking out! 👏👏👏

21/02/2025

Even when they have a tiny new baby to care for,the Oregon Zoo elephants are still exploited for entertainment. It’s despicable that they reserve the best nutritious food and vegetables as treats for these spectacles. Isn’t even a new calf enough for them that they need to force them to perform for food to entertain the public? What does this teach them about elephants and their natural behaviour? They all need sanctuary now.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1A2VK756bR/?mibextid=wwXIfr