Elephant sanctuaries offer refuge for circus, zoo, and working elephants, and have developed evidence-based models for improving welfare in formerly captive animals.
Elephants transitioning to sanctuary from abusive environments carry physical and psychological trauma that manifests as stereotypic swaying, aggression, and difficulty trusting humans. Protected contact management — where elephants choose their level of engagement and cannot be physically coerced — represents a transformative welfare improvement over traditional free contact with bullhooks. The large acreage of quality sanctuaries allows elephants to make choices about companions, habitat use, and daily schedule in ways impossible in zoos.