After more than five decades of exploitation in circuses and zoos, Rex, a 57-year-old elephant, was euthanized at the Oklahoma City Zoo (OKC Zoo). His death marks the tragic end of a life spent in captivity—one that could have been lived with dignity and freedom in a sanctuary.

In 2023, we ranked OKC Zoo #7 on our 10 Worst Zoos for Elephants list due to the suffering of its bull elephants, especially Rex who was shuffled for years between circuses and zoos. His decades in captivity and his harsh circus training left him with severe zoo-induced health problems—degenerative joint disease, chronic arthritis, difficulty seeing, an infected toenail that led to an abscess, and even wounds covering his body. His medical records also indicated chronic swaying, a heartbreaking sign of brain damage caused by the extreme stress and unnatural conditions of captivity.

Though 57 may seem old, Rex could have lived into his 60s or even 70s in the wild or at a sanctuary with proper care. Instead, his body and spirit wore down under the relentless strain of confinement. He was valued by the zoo industry not for his well-being, but for his role as a breeder. Over his lifetime, Rex sired nine calves, but like so many captive-born elephants, not all survived. Two of his offspring died, four were born while he was at Lion Country Safari, and three remain at OKC Zoo today.

Rex's tragic life was defined by forced breeding and over half a century of languishing in impoverished, prison-like enclosures. It didn’t have to be this way. Zoos must start prioritizing the welfare of their elephants by closing their elephant exhibits and sending aging elephants to sanctuaries. At least 38 zoos have already made the compassionate decision to close their exhibits, recognizing that captivity can never meet the complex physical and emotional needs of elephants.

Rex’s suffering is over, but for countless other elephants still trapped in zoos, the cycle continues. It’s time for zoos to acknowledge the truth: captivity kills. We urge OKC Zoo and all zoos to follow the growing movement to retire elephants to sanctuaries where they can experience space, companionship, and expert care—things they have been denied for far too long.

Let Rex’s story serve as a wake-up call. No more elephants should endure lifetimes of captivity, only to die without ever knowing freedom.