This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.

We welcome the news that the Buffalo Zoo is finally shutting down its abhorrently frigid elephant exhibit. The Zoo has announced it will move Asian elephants Jothi and Surapa to the warmer-climate Audubon Zoo in New Orleans this fall. While this move is an improvement to their current situation, these elephants deserve much more. We must take this opportunity to push for their transfer to an elephant sanctuary where they can live out their lives as elephants instead of as exhibits at yet another zoo.

One less miserably freezing zoo exhibit for tropical elephants is a cause for great celebration. The Buffalo Zoo’s elephant enclosure is so bad it appeared five times over the last ten years on our list of the 10 Worst Zoos for Elephants. 

In the opinion of many objective elephant experts who do not profit from zoos, accredited sanctuaries are far better prepared to care for elephants, especially those with special needs, than zoos.

Finally, we believe that Buffalo Zoo is being deceptive about its motivation for sending Jothi and Surapa to New Orleans. We believe this decision is to “restock” the Audubon Zoo so that it meets the required minimum of three elephants. Currently, two older females are imprisoned there. 

We call on Buffalo Zoo to have compassion and to release the elephants to an AZA-accredited sanctuary where they can retire in peace.

What YOU Can Do 

This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.