Elephants are among the earths most majestic creatures. This very day, though, hundreds of them suffer, pining away in small, lonely zoo enclosures, deprived of space to roam and the companionship of other elephants.

Concerned Americans have started dozens of petitions to see these majestic creatures moved from their tiny enclosures to free ranging elephant sanctuaries where they can live out the rest of their days in comfort. These petitions, though, fail almost 100% of the time.

There's something that most people don't know about zoos. It's not that many zoos aren't willing to retire their elephants to a sanctuary. It's that, if they do, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums will strip them of their AZA accreditation because sanctuaries, despite providing unparalleled care, aren't AZA accredited.

The AZA refuses to recognize elephant sanctuaries with accreditation because most sanctuaries are against the captive breeding of elephants, while the AZA deems breeding to be necessary to maintain the population of captive elephants.

If a zoo sends an elephant to a sanctuary, the AZA will take away their accreditation. That cuts a zoo out of the national network, preventing them from achieving breeding loans and exchanging animals with other zoos.

Zoos are the last refuge of many critically endangered species and breeding loans are essential to keep these precious creatures from going extinct. No zoo should be forced to choose between their elephants and their other animals. That's why we must bring about a change. 

Petitioning zoos alone will not help captive elephants. We need to turn our attention AZA, as they represent the single greatest obstacle between elephants and a sanctuary retirement.

We can't keep asking zoos to send their elephants to sanctuaries if we aren't willing to help them fight for the rest of the endangered species they safeguard. Zookeepers love their animals and want to do the right. Let's give them a fighting chance. 

The AZA should give accreditation to elephant sanctuaries who meet their housing standards, regardless of their stance on breeding, and stop taking it from zoos who send them there.

Tell the AZA you care about elephant welfare more than you care about seeing elephants when you go to a zoo. 

Please join me in standing up for compassionate zookeepers and zoo elephants everywhere!