Frequently Asked Questions:
Elephants in Zoos

Rev. February 2007

What are the AZA Standards for elephant care?

The AZA Standards for Elephant Management and Care set minimum requirements for such things as minimum space requirements, enclosure design, nutrition, reproduction, enrichment and veterinary care to ensure a quality living environment for elephants. The standards, which became mandatory in 2006, were developed in consultation with zoo elephant experts, as well as field researchers and animal welfare advocates. AZA's standards go far beyond what is required by the United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) or state regulatory agencies. Our members have a history of going above and beyond AZA standards to provide the best care they possibly can, and many AZA facilities not only meet, but also exceed these standards.

AZA standards continually undergo review and change because there is much that scientists are still learning about zoo elephant management and care. AZA and its members are committed to establishing research priorities, supporting research studies and continuously improving our standards based on what we learn. To meet this goal, the AZA Elephant SSP has been developing an action plan to both improve care and to expand even further the contributions of AZA zoos to elephant conservation in Africa and Asia.

You can download the full version of AZA Standards for Elephant Management and Care (in PDF)

How do AZA accredited zoos contribute
to elephant conservation?

AZA and its members are actively involved in many elephant conservation projects. AZA members currently support more than 85 elephant conservation, research and educational projects. AZA and its members were also the driving force behind the creation of the Bushmeat Crisis Task Force, a coalition of more than 30 major conservation organizations and zoological parks whose mission is to curb the illegal commercial trade in wildlife for meat in Africa (www.bushmeat.org). The bushmeat trade is one of the major threats to forest elephants in central and western Africa. AZA members are also the primary supporters of the International Elephant Foundation (IEF) (www.elephantconservation.org), a 501c(3) non-profit organization that provides financial support for a wide variety of elephant conservation and related scientific and educational projects worldwide.

The conservation mission of AZA-accredited zoos encompasses a wide range of activities, including conservation education, research, development of relevant technologies, professional training, habitat restoration, ecotourism, community-based conservation, the direct support of national parks and equivalent reserves, and fund-raising to support these initiatives.

Is it a problem to have elephants
in cold climates?

People often believe that all elephants live in hot climates in Africa and Asia, but in reality, elephants live in surprisingly diverse environments, ranging from deserts to tropical jungles to cool forest regions. In addition, these animals are more flexible than most people think and can acclimatize to cold temperatures. What is most important is that the animals have access to heat and shelter when they choose to get out of the cold.

Are AZA's elephant care standards adequate
for the needs of the animals?

Yes, we strongly believe that these are good standards, and we fully expect them to change as scientists learn more about the care of elephants, just as they have changed since 2001 when they were first adopted. The AZA Standards for Elephant Management and Care set minimum requirements for such things as space, enclosure design, nutrition, reproduction, enrichment and veterinary care to ensure a quality living environment for these amazing animals. They were developed in consultation with zoo elephant experts, as well as field researchers and animal welfare advocates over several years and were updated in 2003.

AZA's standards go beyond what is required by the United States Department of Agriculture, (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) or state regulatory agencies. It should be noted, however, that AZA member institutions have a history of going above and beyond AZA standards to provide the best care they possibly can, and many AZA facilities not only meet, but also exceed the standards.

None of these specific standards should be viewed in isolation. For example, the minimum space requirements must be viewed in the broader context of the entire elephant care program. While large enclosures may be appealing from an aesthetic viewpoint, space is not the only consideration when evaluating the appropriateness of any given facility. Also important are group size and composition, behavior and social compatibility of individual animals, quality of veterinary care and facilities, environmental enrichment programs, and financial stability.

AZA and its members are committed to establishing research priorities, supporting research studies and continuously improving our standards based on what we learn. To meet this goal, the AZA Elephant SSP has been developing an action plan to improve care and to expand even further the contributions of AZA zoos to elephant conservation in the wild.

Are private elephant ranches (also known as sanctuaries) good places for elephants?

We cannot answer that question, as neither of the two private elephant ranches in the U.S. have undergone AZA review and thus have not been certified by AZA. AZA has an accreditation process for zoos and aquariums, as well as a certification process for animal care facilities that are not open to the public, such as wildlife research organizations and nature centers.

When AZA evaluates a zoo or other facility, the following are among the following factors we consider, and believe should be considered by anyone with responsibilities for elephant transfers, placement and care:

Is the facility adequately funded? Elephants are long-lived animals and financial stability is a major concern when deciding on appropriate facilities in which to place them. Is there a succession plan in place to ensure the facility's operational viability should the owner or founder retire or die and not be able to continue operating the facility?
Does the facility provide full-time veterinary care on site? Are its veterinarians properly trained and licensed and do they have practical experience in caring for elephants? Is there a fully equipped veterinary hospital on the grounds or nearby? Are there appropriate control protocols in place to both prevent and monitor infectious and deadly diseases?
Does the facility have adequate environmental enrichment programs to provide the animals with physical and psychological challenges appropriate for their species?
Does the facility provide expert care that meets or exceed AZA's Standards for Elephant Management and Care?
Does the facility have appropriate indoor holding areas to bring the animals in at night (to ensure their safety from intruders) or to hold them during emergencies (e.g., severe lightning storms or other inclement weather)?
Are the animal managers and keepers properly trained to work with elephants? What is the extent of their practical experience and academic training? Have they graduated from AZA's "Principles of Elephant Management Course" which all elephant program managers in AZA accredited facilities are required to attend and pass?
What protocols are in place to ensure the safety of the keeper staff, the animals and visitors? What procedures are in place to monitor and ensure that these protocols are consistently followed? If an injury does occur, what procedures are in place to study the event and prevent it from happening in the future?
Does the facility employ an effective and humane training system that meets AZA standards? Can the elephants at the facility perform all of the behaviors recommended for appropriate and professional care?
Depending on the management system, does the facility have the appropriate equipment to manage the animals safely with minimal risk to keeper staff?
Are appropriate barriers in place to effectively contain elephants? What procedures are in place to ensure the safety of the public should an animal escape from its enclosure? Is there a perimeter fence around the facility to protect the animals from unwanted intruders (including unauthorized people, feral dogs and diseased wild animals) and to contain animals in the event of an escape from the primary enclosure?

For detailed information about AZA's standards for accreditation and certification, please read the Accreditation Standards and Related Policies.

Is sending an elephant to a private elephant ranch analogous to setting the animal "free?"

No, these private elephant ranches are essentially large, unaccredited zoos. Although some may have more space than some urban zoos and are not open to the public, the animals must still be contained behind barriers, fed, have their health monitored, and be provided with veterinary care whenever necessary. Some of these facilities allow public visitation.

Private elephant ranches, unlike zoos, do not breed animals and usually do not have well-organized conservation, research and education programs. It should be noted, however, that many national parks in Africa now require the kind of intensive wildlife management practiced by zoos. This may include population control, veterinary care, food and water supplementation and habitat enhancement. Some African national parks are fenced 360 degrees to prevent conflict between wildlife and people. Thus, in our human-dominated world, the distinction between the terms "free" and "captive" has been greatly diminished, at least when applied to elephants.

Frequently Asked Questions:Elephants in Zoos