OAKLAND, Calif. (July 11, 2024) — In Defense of Animals is thrilled to welcome news that Oakland Zoo will relocate its last elephant, Osh, to a sanctuary this fall and then close its elephant exhibit. It becomes the 41st zoo in the U.S. to close or pledge to close its elephant exhibit. The move follows years of campaigning by In Defense of Animals to raise awareness of how elephants suffer in zoo captivity, and puts mounting pressure on the San Francisco Zoo to urgently address its shocking animal welfare failings. 

An Oakland Zoo representative told ABC7 News, “At this point, we have decided that the space that we have just really does not allow for their full social complexity.”

In Defense of Animals, Zoo Watch and Panda Voices are all welcoming the news and urging San Francisco Zoo to use this opportunity to cancel all animal import plans and move to an animals-first model.

“San Francisco Zoo was pressured into releasing its elephants decades ago for failing welfare, yet Oakland Zoo has chosen to prioritize animals’ needs over captivity. We encourage San Francisco Zoo to do the right thing for the animals now: follow in Oakland Zoo’s footsteps by prioritizing the welfare of its current captives, who are suffering terribly,” said Brittany Michelson, Campaign Specialist for Captive Animals at In Defense of Animals. “San Francisco Zoo should immediately cancel plans to bring giant pandas into its failing facility, and instead adopt a modern sanctuary and rescue model like Oakland Zoo, which is setting a compassionate example across the country.”

“We commend Oakland Zoo for prioritizing animal welfare by relocating Osh to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee,” said Justin Barker of Zoo Watch. “This move ensures Osh will thrive in a natural, spacious environment with other elephants. Oakland Zoo sets a powerful example of ending exploitation and demonstrates what is possible when zoo leadership puts animal welfare before profits. We urge the San Francisco Zoo to follow Oakland’s lead, prioritize animal welfare, and urgently update its 75-year-old decaying facilities.”

YaYa and LeLe suffered years of neglect at Memphis Zoo which led to LeLe’s death. Photos: Panda Voices

“We praise Oakland Zoo for this decision, which shows a modern view and great compassion, putting the animals’ welfare as the utmost priority. Other zoos in the U.S. should incorporate this mentality, if they really want to protect their animals and provide the best care for them. San Francisco Zoo should follow this example and prioritize an entire renewal and the safety and wellbeing of its current animals, instead of getting giant pandas, which will demand a lot of resources and high-specialized care. We do not want to see another panda disaster like the one in Memphis Zoo happening again in the U.S.” said Taciana Santiago from Panda Voices. 

Oakland Zoo will repurpose the enclosure and join five other major California zoos that stopped displaying elephants, including Sacramento Zoo, Santa Barbara Zoo, and Monterey Zoo, and both other major zoos in the San Francisco Bay Area — San Francisco Zoo, and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo.

An Oakland Zoo representative told ABC 7 News it has no plans to bring another elephant to the zoo. “We don't think that that's the right choice to make right now. And maybe there'll be a future situation where there's a large elephant space. But at this point, you know, this space is not enough for the elephants’ social complexity that we think is necessary. And that's why we feel like the elephant sanctuary here is going to give him you know, that the space and the social complexity and the flexibility of their facility so that he'll have choices.”

“We call on the San Francisco Zoo to put animals first. When it comes to animals in captivity, a wave of compassion is sweeping California. It’s far better to ride that wave than be swept up in the undertow,” added Michelson.

Over 12,000 members of the public have signed In Defense of Animals’ action alert letter to Mayor Breed, San Francisco city officials, and the San Francisco Zoo at idausa.org/sfpanda

CONTACTS: 

In Defense of Animals, Brittany Michelson, brittany@idausa.org, 928-420-0727
Zoo Watch, Justin Barker, justinmbarker@gmail.com, 916-838-3330
Panda Voices, Taciana Santiago, contact@pandavoices.org

IMAGES & VIDEO of elephants, pandas, and the advocacy campaign are available on request.

ORGANIZATIONS:

In Defense of Animals is an international animal rescue and protection organization with over 250,000 supporters and a 40-year history of defending animals, the environment, and their guardians through education and campaigns, as well as hands-on rescue facilities in India, South Korea, rural Mississippi, and California. www.idausa.org/elephants

Panda Voices is an organization created in early 2021 by an international group of panda fans from Asia, Europe & The Americas, brought together by concerns over pandas YaYa & LeLe, which began years before. The organization is committed to give voice to the voiceless and promote the humane treatment of animals in captivity through advocacy and services. www.pandavoices.org

SF Zoo Watch is committed to exposing negligence and mismanagement at the San Francisco Zoo. We fight for the safety and ethical treatment of animals and workers, pushing for transparency and accountability. Join us in demanding a safer, more humane San Francisco Zoo. https://sfzoo.watch

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