THE FACTS ABOUT ELEPHANTS IN ZOOS

THE ELEPHANT EXPERTS ARE AT THE ZOO – With more than 3,880 years of collective elephant management experience and an extensive network of scientific advisors covering the disciplines of nutrition, veterinary medicine, pathology, behavior, reproduction, population management, education, and research, the elephant care professionals at AZA-accredited zoos are the trusted experts on the health and welfare of elephants. http://www.aza.org/ElephantConservation/index.html

ELEPHANTS IN ZOOS ARE THRIVING – The AZA Standards for Elephant Management and Care set minimum requirements for enclosure design, nutrition, reproduction, enrichment, and veterinary care to ensure high-quality zoo habitats for elephants. These mandatory standards, adopted in 2003, are working and the North American elephant population is thriving. http://www.aza.org/Newsroom/ZooElephantsThriving/index.html

Elephants in zoos are as long-lived as elephants in Asia and Africa. The average life expectancy for female Asian elephants in professionally-managed zoological facilities in North America is 44.8 years. The current female African elephant life expectancy in professionally-managed zoological facilities is 33 years. http://www.aza.org/elephantconservation/PR_EllieLongLives/index.html

TREND TOWARD EXPANSION – The commitment to elephants at AZA-accredited zoos is strong and growing. Sixty-one AZA-accredited zoos have or are planning to significantly upgrade their elephant facilities. Three of these zoos built new facilities that brought elephants to their collections either for the first time or for the first time in more than ten years. According to the AZA Elephant Taxon Advisory Group/Species Survival Plan Regional Collection Plan, the capacity for elephants in accredited zoos is expected to rise from 299 elephants to 532 elephants in the next five years.

THE NATIONAL ELEPHANT CENTER – Another essential piece of the puzzle in the comprehensive plan to care for and conserve elephants is the development of an elephant center, where zoos can share resources and knowledge and provide even more support for these magnificent animals.  The creation of The National Elephant Center was announced in 2008, and it will be an operational resource for all AZA-accredited zoos in 2009. http://www.thenationalelephantcenter.org

ZOO ELEPHANTS INSPIRE ACTION – Through their collective conservation, education and research programs, elephants in the care of AZA-accredited zoo play an essential role in the survival of the species in Africa and Asia.

Elephants in AZA-accredited zoos help educate visitors, make emotional connections, and change behaviors that positively impact elephants and other wildlife conservation. In a Harris Interactive poll, 95 percent of Americans said that seeing elephants in zoos helps people appreciate them more. That same poll found that 86 percent of respondents believe that visiting zoos and aquariums encourages people to donate time and/or money to conservation.

ZOOS ESSENTIAL TO ELEPHANT CONSERVATION – In the past 25 years, the African elephant population has fallen from 1.6 million to less than 500,000. An estimated 30,000 Asian elephants remain scattered in fragmented habitats across the countries of Southeast Asia.

By visiting elephants in accredited zoos, people help make possible the field conservation, research, habitat restoration, reduction of human-elephant conflicts and community-based initiatives necessary to protect wild populations. AZA-accredited zoos provide the majority of funding for the International Elephant Foundation, supporting elephant conservation projects worldwide. http://www.aza.org/Newsroom/PR_2008IEF/index.html and http://www.elephantconservation.org/

ZOOS ARE IMPORTANT TO COMMUNITIES – Zoos and aquariums are woven into the fabric of American life.  They are how children learn about the natural world, and they are viewed by the public as essential to the quality of life in their communities. In the last 10 years, AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums formally trained more that 400,000 teachers, supporting science curricula with effective teaching materials and hands-on opportunities. Every year, school field trips connect more than 12,000,000 students with the natural world.

According to a 2008 national public opinion survey, 79 percent of Americans believe that zoos and aquariums are goods for their local economy, and an impressive 80 percent believe that zoos and aquariums are important enough to local communities to be partially supported by government funding.

ACCREDITATION MATTERS – To be accredited, zoos must undergo thorough investigation to insure they have and will continue to meet ever-rising standards, which include animal care, veterinary programs, conservation, education, and safety. AZA requires zoos and aquariums to successfully complete this rigorous accreditation process every five years.  http://www.aza.org/Accreditation/AccreditationIntro/index.html

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Contact:  Steve Feldman, sfeldman@aza.org, 301-562-0777 ext. 252.

Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation. Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting an institution dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. With its 223 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation, and your link to helping animals in their native habitats. For more information, please visit www.aza.org.