Hi John,
Elephants have captured our human imaginations for centuries, and it’s no wonder why. Not only are they majestic in stature—they’re also intellectually and emotionally complex beings who have fascinating ways of communicating and forming relationships.
But, along the way, fascination with elephants turned to violence and cruelty. Wild animal captors ripped young elephants away from their natural homes—severing the bonds between families and forcing them onto ships to the US to be put on display in zoos and circuses.
Suddenly, the familiar, nurturing touch of a mother was replaced with the violent jab of a bullhook. The wide, open spaces to roam were replaced by barriers. The companionship of other elephants was replaced by crowds of human onlookers so zoos and circuses could deprive elephants of almost everything they need and confine them for profit. |
A system built on exploitation and injustice |
We know captivity harms elephants. Animal cognition and behavior experts—including many who have written briefs in support of the NhRP’s elephant rights cases—point to a wealth of research demonstrating that elephants in captivity show signs of immense psychological stress, suffer from mobility challenges and joint ailments, and have much shorter lifespans than their wild counterparts.
And, yet, there’s an entire system built on forcing elephants to suffer. They fill the stands at circus performances, sell tickets to zoos, and even sell merchandise with elephants’ faces on it. As long as these institutions stand to profit off of elephants’ exploitation, they’ll continue to strip elephants of their freedom.
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Together, we can take on this system. |
In the face of the horrible injustices elephants endure, our team works relentlessly to secure their right to live freely. Along the way, our elephant clients’ stories have been shared far and wide—raising empathy for elephants and changing the conversation around keeping them in captivity and what they’re entitled to under the law.
Our opposition—the zoos, circuses, and exotic animal dealers dedicated to keeping elephants in captivity—is powerful. Their pockets are deep. But, we have power on our side that they don’t: you.
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And, thanks to the support of a generous donor, all donations made between now and World Elephant Day, Saturday, August 12th will be matched up to $25,000—doubling your impact for elephants. |
Your support is indispensable in taking on the systemic injustices that elephants face. Thank you for being on our clients’ side! Courtney Fern Director of Government Relations, the NhRP
P.S. We're sending emails with ways you can support the movement for elephant freedom every day until World Elephant Day on August 12th. If you'd like to opt out of emails until then, just click here. Don't worry—you'll still receive important updates about the NhRP's work in the future. |
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The NhRP is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) corporation (Tax ID #: 04-3289466). It is solely through your donations that we can continue to work for the recognition and protection of fundamental rights for nonhuman animals. |
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