Since 1991, 43 North American zoos have closed their elephant exhibits — and the pace is accelerating.
Of these, 22 closed after being publicly named by In Defense of Animals on our 10 Worst Zoos for Elephants list.
Thirteen facilities released their elephants to sanctuaries.
Four zoos have announced plans to close their exhibits, each one after being named on the 10 Worst Zoos list.
Zoos that have closed or plan to close their elephant exhibits:
1. Sacramento Zoo, California (1991)
2. Frank Buck Zoo, Texas (1998)
3. Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo, Louisiana (1999) ★
4. Mesker Park Zoo, Indiana (1999) ★
5. Henry Vilas Zoo, Wisconsin (2000) ★
6. Greater Vancouver Zoo, Canada (2003) ★
7. Chehaw Wild Animal Park, Georgia (2004) ★
8. Detroit Zoo, Michigan (2005) ★
9. San Francisco Zoo, California (2005) ★
10. Lion Country Safari, Florida (2006)
11. Abilene Zoo, Texas (2007) †2006
12. Alaska Zoo, Alaska (2007) ★†2004 formerly Anchorage Zoo
13. Gladys Porter Zoo, Texas (2007)
14. Philadelphia Zoo, Pennsylvania (2009) †2004
15. Brookfield Zoo, Illinois (2010) †2009 announced plans in 2024 to bring them back
16. Jackson Zoo, Mississippi (2010)
17. Lincoln Park Zoo, Illinois (2010) †2004
18. Central Florida Zoo, Florida (2011) †2010
19. Niabi Zoo, Illinois (2013) *†2010 lost AZA accreditation shortly before the elephant program ended
20. Toronto Zoo, Canada (2013) ★†2009
21. BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo, Louisiana (2013) †2008
22. Calgary Zoo, Canada (2014)
23. Greenville Zoo, South Carolina (2014)
24. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, California (2015) *†2004 formerly AZA accredited; formerly Six Flags Marine World–Vallejo
25. Woodland Park Zoo, Washington (2015) †2005
26. Lee Richardson Zoo, Kansas (2015) †2004
27. Nashville Zoo, Tennessee (2015) ★
28. Virginia Zoo, Virginia (2016)
29. Buffalo Zoo, New York (2018) †2007
30. Grants Farm, Missouri (2018) *
31. Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, South Carolina (2019) †2007
32. Santa Barbara Zoo, California (2019)
33. Monterey Zoo, California (2021) †2015
34. Hogle Zoo, Utah (2023) †2019
35. Zoo Knoxville, Tennessee (2023) ★
36. El Paso Zoo, Texas (2024) †2004
37. Point Defiance Zoo, Washington (2024)
38. Oakland Zoo, California (2024) ★
39. Phoenix Zoo, Arizona (2025) †2021
40. Louisville Zoo, Kentucky (2025) ★†2017
41. Topeka Zoo, Kansas (closing 2026) †2006
42. Cameron Park Zoo, Texas (closing 2026) †2004 formerly Waco’s Cameron Park Zoo
43. Roger Williams Park Zoo, Rhode Island (closing 2027) †2018
★ Elephants sent to sanctuary
† Named on IDA’s 10 Worst Zoos for Elephants list before closure (year = first listed)
* Not accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums
Zoos that have announced plans to close or phase out their elephant exhibits:
1. Edmonton Valley Zoo, Canada (2005) †2010
2. Bronx Zoo, New York (2006) †2009
3. Buttonwood Park Zoo, Massachusetts (2024) †2010
4. Los Angeles Zoo, California (2025) †2004 “paused” its elephant program
