Dear John,
In a world where intelligent, socially complex, and autonomous beings like elephants are still held captive under the guise of conservation—despite the overwhelming scientific evidence of the physical and psychological harm it causes—understanding who these remarkable beings are and what they endure, is a critical first step in addressing this injustice. And today, we’d like to share with you Ongard’s story.
From the moment Ongard was born at Melbourne Zoo in 2010, his life was shaped not by his needs as an elephant—but by the priorities of a captive breeding program. His birth was celebrated as a success story, a conservation “win.” But the truth is much darker.
Ongard’s parents, Kulab and Bong Su, were taken from the wild in Thailand and imported to Australia to be bred. Bong Su spent more than four decades confined at the zoo before being euthanized at just 43 years old due to arthritis—a disease both common in captivity and exacerbated by it.
In the wild, male elephants grow up with their mothers and extended families. They learn, play, and bond. As they mature, they slowly transition into loose-knit bachelor groups, developing the social and emotional skills they need to thrive.
Ongard was never given that chance.
At just 7 years old, he was taken from his family and shipped over 9,000 miles across the globe to Zoo Miami in Florida. His transfer was arranged under a breeding loan agreement that prioritized his genetic value to North American zoos over his wellbeing, his potential for reproduction over his right to grow up within a stable social group.
Today, Ongard lives with three other elephants—one older Asian female and two African female elephants. He has never had access to age-appropriate companionship with other male elephants of his own species. This social deprivation has profound consequences for his development and well-being.
