African elephants are among the most challenging animals to keep in welfare-positive conditions in zoos, requiring vast space, complex multi-generational social groups, and specialised management to meet their profound cognitive and social needs.
The scientific evidence consistently indicates that elephants are among the animals least suited to traditional zoo environments. Their cognitive complexity, social sophistication, and natural ranging behaviour are fundamentally incompatible with typical zoo conditions. Zoos that maintain elephants should be committed to providing the largest possible spaces, multi-generational social groups, positive reinforcement training to reduce the need for aversive management, and transparent welfare monitoring. The existence of sanctuary options for zoo elephants who cannot be released raises important questions about whether continued exhibition of new individuals is ethically justified given what we now understand about their welfare needs.