African elephant welfare in zoos is a subject of sustained scientific and ethical debate, with evidence that captive environments struggle to meet the complex social, physical, and cognitive needs of this species.
African elephant welfare in zoos confronts fundamental limitations of captive environments. The social complexity, cognitive demands, and physical space requirements of this species are extraordinarily difficult to meet. Foot problems arising from concrete and hard surfaces cause chronic pain. Social restriction prevents the multigenerational family bonds that define elephant society. While modern zoo facilities are substantially better than historical counterparts, the evidence base suggests that African elephants remain among the animals least suited to captive environments. Directing resources toward wild habitat protection addresses elephant welfare at the population level.