A UK zoo will no longer keep elephants after admitting it can't provide the "necessary environment" for them. Paignton Zoo in Devon used to have two elephants – Asian elephant Gay, who died in 2010, and African elephant Duchess, who died in 2019.

The attraction has confirmed they will not be replaced. It said: “Elephants are highly intelligent and have very complex social and behavioural needs. “As much as we loved Duchess (and her companion, Gay) and as popular as she was with our visitors, we do not believe that we can provide the necessary environment for elephants here at Paignton.” The zoo added that it continues to support elephant conservation in the wild.