Zoo Elephants Thriving

CONTACT: Steve Feldman, (301)562-0777, x 252

Washington, December 12, 2006 – Comments filed yesterday by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reveal new data that demonstrates elephants in accredited zoos are in very good health.

"Anti-zoo extremists should call off their orchestrated attacks against zoos. The facts are indisputable — elephants in accredited zoos are thriving," said AZA Executive Director Kristin Vehrs. "AZA-accredited zoos care for more than 280 elephants across North America. We have compelling data to show that AZA's mandatory Standards for Elephant Care and Management are working. The elephant population in AZA-accredited zoos is healthy."

AZA comments to USDA state:

Elephants in AZA-accredited zoos are in very good health

"The AZA elephant survey results show, without any doubt, that the overall health and foot health of these elephants is excellent and that the AZA Elephant Standards for Management and Care are resulting in improvements to the care and condition of elephants in AZA-accredited institutions. On a 10-point scale, with 10 indicating the highest level of overall health, the average score for 284 elephants in AZA-accredited-institutions was 8.74."

Elephant exhibits are improving

"Over 40 AZA facilities have committed to expand and upgrade their facilities over the next 5 to 10 years to hold larger social groupings and focus on improved long-term reproductive success in the elephant population. Twenty-one AZA accredited zoos have significantly upgraded or completely rebuilt their elephant facilities in the last 10 years and three of these zoos built new facilities that brought elephants to their collections either for the first time or for the first time in more than ten years. Five AZA elephant holding institutions moved elephants out of their collections, primarily because they believed that they did not have the resources to commit to effective long-term elephant management."

AZA-accredited zoos have significant elephant expertise

"The survey showed that the 78 AZA elephant holding facilities (out of a possible 80) that responded to the survey employ an average of 4.89 full-time equivalents (FTE) in elephant care staff totaling 382 FTEs. Each FTE represents an average of 11.3 years of experience working with elephants, which taken together represents over 3,880 years of current elephant expertise."

Public support for zoos is also strong. A recent Harris Interactive poll revealed that 95 percent of Americans said that seeing elephants in real life helps people appreciate elephants more and encourages people to learn more about them. That same poll showed that 85 percent thought zoo visits encourage people to donate money or time to conservation programs that help protect animals.

AZA-accredited zoos are meeting the conservation test. When people visit an accredited zoo, they are supporting more than 85 elephant conservation projects in Asia and Africa, including field-based training, habitat restoration, reduction of human-elephant conflict and community-based initiatives.

"Based on the health of the animals, based on major investments in new facilities, based on the collective expertise of more than 1,000 dedicated professionals, and based on significant contributions to elephant conservation, AZA-accredited zoos are providing outstanding care for elephants," added Vehrs. "If extremist groups really care about elephants, they should join AZA in supporting elephant conservation in the wild."

Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation. Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. With its more than 200 accredited members, the AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation, and your link to helping animals in their native habitats.

[return to Newsroom]