Elephant welfare in zoos has been the subject of intense scientific and public scrutiny, with evidence showing that traditional zoo environments fail to meet the complex social and spatial needs of the world's largest land animals.
Elephant welfare in captivity highlights the fundamental mismatch between what zoos can provide and what elephants need. Animals evolved for vast spatial ranges, complex multigenerational social structures, and continuous locomotion cannot be adequately housed in even large zoo enclosures. The evidence — shorter lifespans, widespread stereotypic behaviors, and pervasive foot disease — reflects this mismatch. Welfare-honest institutions acknowledge these limitations and either significantly upgrade facilities to minimize suffering or phase out elephant keeping in favor of sanctuary placements.