When visitors flock to the typical elephant exhibit in a zoo accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums—the organization that sets the standards for US zoos—everything they see and hear is meant to assure them that all is well. That the elephants are safe from harm, that they have everything they need, and that their captivity is helping elephants in the wild. But, beyond the colorfully illustrated signs and cheerful zookeeper demonstrations, there is a much darker picture: elephants suffering right before their eyes.
The truth is, every zoo, even the “best” zoo, is harming elephants–not helping them. The lives of elephants in zoos consist of one trauma after another. These institutions have years of propaganda on their side, misleading the public into thinking that depriving elephants of their freedom and forcing them into a life on display is what’s best for them.
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We need to push back against the propaganda and share the truth about elephant captivity. John, are you in? |
Today, we’re excited to launch a new national campaign that will educate millions of people about the extraordinary cognitive, emotional, and social complexity of elephants, how they suffer in even the “best” zoo, and why they need the right to liberty.
And that’s just phase one. Phase two? Coming together to end elephant captivity in US zoos once and for all.
Free to Be Elephants is a first-of-its-kind education and grassroots campaign that will illuminate the injustices the AZA and its member zoos are inflicting on elephants–combating the misinformation they disseminate online and off and encouraging more people, especially zoo-goers, to join us in calling for change.
John, you’re invited to be one of the first to explore our new website in its early stage of completion. Our shareable elephant index gives you all the information you need to spread the stories of elephants held captive in AZA-accredited zoos. It highlights everything these wealthy, powerful institutions don’t want the public to know about their unjust practices and the falsehoods they spread to try to justify what is, at its core, a money-making operation that destroys the minds and bodies of elephants.
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Putting this resource into the world—which will tell the stories of over 200 captive elephants—has been one of the NhRP’s long-term goals. Our small team is able to give this project and these elephants the time, effort, and attention they deserve thanks to the continued support of monthly donors, who help build our work from the ground up. Will you consider sustaining our life-changing work for elephants by making a monthly donation?
We hope you enjoy checking out the site and are as excited as we are about taking on the AZA and every US zoo that imprisons elephants. Thank you!
Courtney Fern Director of Government Relations, the NhRP |
