UPDATE #37: Eminent zoologists, biologists and environmental scientists call on the Government of UK to phase out the keeping of elephants in zoos due to welfare concerns. The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation (CAWF) has today published a report endorsed by 25 leading specialists on the unique needs of elephants. 

Read the full report here.

Zoos, despite being well-intentioned, are not equipped to keep elephants, given the restrictions that captivity places on their complex socio-dynamics. Specifically, the report reveals: 

• The inadequacy of the current space provided in zoos
• High mortality rates for zoo born elephants.  
• Obesity in zoo kept elephants.
• Social deprivation amongst the elephant zoo population. 
• In a public poll 89% of people agree that elephants belonged in the wild and not in zoos. 
   

The report contains two key recommendations: 

1. End the import and breeding of elephants to prevent any more individuals from being brought into a life where they inevitably suffer physically and psychologically.
2. Consider repatriating all remaining elephants. If this is not possible, transfer them to one or more spacious refuges in a warm climate, where each elephant can have multiple companions and can access at least 100 hectares (247 acres) of varied, natural space. Zoos, private individuals, or charities are options for taking this forward.