TAMPA, Fla. (March 5, 2024) — On World Wildlife Day, local animal activists of all ages gathered in force to protest the sad lives of ZooTampa’s elephants at a demonstration hosted by In Defense of Animals and Solutionary Species.

Elephants suffer terribly in captivity. The profound lack of space is the number one reason. ZooTampa’s six elephants are squeezed into a few measly acres, constricting movement and depriving them of any way to live like the wild and free animals they were born to be. Watch the FOX 13 News report.

Watch a speak-out at the demonstration.

ZooTampa was ranked ninth place on In Defense of Animals’ annual list of 10 Worst Zoos for Elephants in 2023, mainly due to the sad plight of its lone bull elephant, Sdudla. 

Demonstrators are urging ZooTampa to honor Sdudla's free-born African heritage and send him to a reputable sanctuary where he can reconnect with his wild bull elephant nature. Photo: In Defense of Animals

Sdudla and three of the zoo’s five female elephants were captured in the wild and shipped across the world to spend their lives in a barren prison-like enclosure for life.

Sdudla's story is even sadder, as he spends most of his time alone. He also has no way to work off the enormous surge of aggression during musth, a male elephant's periodic reproductive phase, when hormones rage through their body.

Demonstrators urged ZooTampa to honor Sdudla's free-born African heritage and send him to a reputable sanctuary where he can reconnect with his wild bull elephant nature. Photos: In Defense of Animals

See photos of the demonstration.

ZooTampa is being urged to live up to its mission of preserving and protecting wildlife by halting all breeding plans, stopping importing elephants from the wild, and releasing Sdudla and the five female elephants to sanctuary.

Courtney Scott, Elephant Consultant for In Defense of Animals, said, “It is time for ZooTampa to admit the truth. The five elephants at the zoo live miserable lives. No matter how well the zoo cares for them, the zoo can never replicate the wild or even come close to providing the environment, space and freedom that elephants require to live like real elephants. We urge ZooTampa to shut down its exhibit like many zoos have done and retire its elephants to a sanctuary.”

Shannon Blair, representing Solutionary Species, told FOX 13 News Tampa, “If we were to use a little bit of empathy and put ourselves in their places, we would understand this is no place an animal lover should come to visit or give their money to because these animals are held captive against their will.”

LEARN MORE: 10 Worst Zoos for Elephants

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CONTACT:

Shannon Blair, Solutionary Species, BeASolutionary@gmail.com, 845-891-6437
Courtney Scott, In Defense of Animals, courtney@idausa.org, 503-288-6142

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

Solutionary Species is a for-purpose outreach movement with a mission to humanely educate and to create communities united by compassion for people, animals, and the environment. Solutionary Species is a social outlet for people to become active in their community as empowered leaders and solutionaries. www.facebook.com/solutionaryevents

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