African elephants in zoos are subject to increasing welfare scrutiny. The evidence on captive elephant welfare challenges even the most advanced facilities to meet their complex needs.
The scientific literature on African elephant captive welfare is more critical than for most zoo species. Multiple peer-reviewed studies document higher mortality rates, reproductive failure, and behavioural abnormalities in captive populations compared to protected wild populations. The space, social complexity, and foraging motivation of African elephants appear to be incompatible with even the most generous zoo facilities. Several major zoos have made the ethical decision to phase out elephant exhibits or transition to sanctuary models that prioritise individual welfare over display. The conservation argument for captive African elephants is weak — the species does not face imminent extinction and ex-situ breeding contributes little to wild population recovery.