Elephants are among the most cognitively complex animals on Earth. Their welfare in zoo settings has been intensely scrutinized, with many facilities transitioning to larger, socially complex habitats or retiring elephants to sanctuaries.
Zoo elephants face welfare challenges inherent to confining wide-ranging, highly intelligent, and deeply social animals. Isolation from conspecifics, insufficient exercise, hard substrate causing foot problems, and inability to engage in foraging and exploration all compromise welfare. The debate over whether elephants can be kept well in zoos remains active. Progressive facilities have made significant improvements through larger habitats, social groupings, and enrichment, but many experts argue that zoo conditions are fundamentally inadequate for elephants.