We happily welcome the 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.

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.”

We have campaigned for decades to end the captivity of elephants in zoos. Zoos are at a turning point, with many leading zoos evolving with modern values and prioritizing animal welfare over captivity. Oakland Zoo’s bold decision sets a powerful precedent for zoos nationwide. We commend Oakland Zoo for its dedication and urge other zoos to follow suit by retiring their long-suffering elephants to sanctuaries.

Oakland Zoo will repurpose the enclosure and join five other major California zoos that stopped displaying elephants, including Sacramento Zoo, Santa Barbara Zoo, Monterey Zoo, 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.”

While Osh is being given more choices and space, elephants in other zoos have little of either.

Elephants are highly social and solitary confinement is especially cruel to them. The Oakland Zoo is rectifying that situation with this move. 

Elephants are deeply unsuited to captivity. Zoos cannot provide even 1 percent of their smallest natural range in the largest enclosures. Elephants in captivity suffer from physical and mental distress and die faster than they can reproduce. Over time, elephants develop chronic painful diseases such as arthritis, joint, and foot disease. Expanding enclosures is not the solution as zoos simply use the added space to bring in more elephants to breed. 

True elephant sanctuaries do not breed, as they know that would just result in more elephants living their entire lives in captivity. Only reputable sanctuaries offer the space and environment elephants need. And most importantly, in sanctuary, elephants, often for the first time in their life, experience autonomy, the freedom to choose how they spend their days.

Supporters of In Defense of Animals’ campaign to end elephant captivity include Bill Maher, Sarah Silverman, Jorja Fox, Moby, Harley Quinn-Smith, and Ricky Gervais. 

Your help to free elephants from the shackles of captivity is much needed. Currently, elephants are suffering at dozens of zoos across the United States and Canada. Take action on our alerts to free them. Donations to support our work are always necessary and deeply appreciated.