“Make JAZA’s elephant guidelines legally binding to protect Miyako and all elephants in Japan”
Petition 
We, the undersigned, call on the Japan Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA) and all relevant Japanese authorities to finally turn voluntary elephant‑welfare guidelines into real, enforced law.

Miyako, the Asian elephant at Utsunomiya Zoo in Japan, has lived in solitary confinement for over 49 years. She was taken from Thailand when she was just a baby and has never had a proper elephant companion. Her small, barren enclosure offers very limited space, exercise, or enrichment, and she is at high risk of serious physical and mental suffering. Her case is a symptom of a wider problem: many elephants in Japanese zoos are kept in tiny, isolated enclosures that fall far below even JAZA’s own “Guidelines for Appropriate Facilities for Asian Elephants.” [web:20][web:26][web:27]

True conservation should never mean a lifetime of loneliness and confinement. We therefore demand that:

1. **JAZA must make its elephant guidelines legally binding for all members.**
   - Turn the “Guidelines for Appropriate Facilities for Asian Elephants” into **mandatory conditions** for any JAZA member that keeps elephants.
   - Require every elephant‑holding zoo to provide:
     - Enough outdoor space (at least 500 m² per elephant, and more for groups).
     - Properly sized, deep pools and shaded, enriched outdoor areas.
     - Safe, non‑dangerous barriers (no deep moats that can cause falls).
   - Actively monitor compliance and **suspend or remove** zoos that fail to meet these standards.

2. **Move Miyako into a proper social group.**
   - End Miyako’s solitary life by **transferring her to a facility where she can live with compatible elephants** once it is safe and feasible.
   - Plan and supervise the transfer with independent elephant‑welfare experts and give the public clear updates.

3. **Strengthen national standards and inspections.**
   - Work with the Ministry of the Environment and local governments to **turn these strengthened elephant standards into national or prefectural requirements** under the Act on Welfare and Management of Animals.
   - Require **regular, unannounced inspections** of all elephant‑holding zoos and publish simple, public reports on each facility’s compliance.

4. **End harmful elephant shows.**
   - Ban **trick‑based performances, chains, and bullhooks** in elephant shows.
   - Replace them with **calm, educational talks** that respect elephants’ natural behavior and welfare.

We urge JAZA, the Ministry of the Environment, and Utsunomiya Zoo to act now. Miyako’s time is running out, and every elephant in Japan deserves space, dignity, and the chance to live with other elephants. Please sign this petition to demand legally binding rules that protect Miyako and all elephants in captivity.