The Phoenix Zoo has been thrust into the spotlight after being ranked among the worst zoos in the country for elephant care.

According to KJZZ, the advocacy group In Defense of Animals listed Phoenix Zoo as the 10th worst in North America for elephant welfare in 2024. This designation follows years of criticism regarding the treatment of Indu, the zoo's sole elephant.

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Phoenix Zoo will close its elephant exhibit after Indu passes away.

Indu's Struggle in Captivity

Indu, a 59-year-old Asian elephant, has been at Phoenix Zoo since 1998. Her enclosure, shared intermittently with a rhinoceros, has been criticized for being too small and lacking adequate social interaction.

In a statement, Courtney Scott, elephant consultant for In Defense of Animals, said, “At 59 years old, isolated Indu could still have many good years ahead if released to a sanctuary where she can experience friendships with other elephants, roam larger spaces, forage freely and have a chance to reverse her premature decline.”

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Indu, a 59-year-old Asian elephant, has lived at Phoenix Zoo since 1998.

Zoo's Response and Plans

In response to the criticism, the Phoenix Zoo has announced that it will shut down the elephant exhibit once Indu passes away.

“We are not planning to exhibit more Asian elephants in that current space. We are going to be converting that to greater one-horned rhinoceros, which lives solitarily, and they are going to be occupying those exhibits,” Dr. Gary West, Senior Vice President of Animal Health and Living Collections at the zoo, told KJZZ.

Despite these plans, the zoo disputes the claims of poor welfare.

“The Phoenix Zoo remains dedicated to providing a safe and enriching environment for all of our animals while providing the highest standards of care,” a spokesperson for the zoo told AZFamily. They also highlighted that the exhibit size was doubled before the 2024 ranking, expanding to six acres, though critics argue this remains insufficient for elephants.

Photo: Pexels

Indu shares her enclosure intermittently with a rhinoceros.

Expert Opinions on Elephant Welfare

Mickey Pardo, an elephant biologist, has been vocal about the inadequacies of keeping elephants in zoos. In an interview with KJZZ, Pardo explained, “There simply is no way for certain animals, including elephants, to be kept in a zoo in a way that provides them with a good quality of life.”

Pardo advocates for relocating elephants to sanctuaries where they can engage in more natural behaviors and social interactions.

West acknowledged the zoo's efforts in providing individualized care for Indu but also recognized the limitations of captivity.

“We feel like we are providing optimal welfare for her,” he told KJZZ.

Industry Trends and Future Implications

Phoenix Zoo's decision to phase out its elephant exhibit aligns with a broader movement among zoos to reassess the viability of keeping such intelligent and social animals in captivity. The Oakland Zoo in California recently relocated its last African elephant to a sanctuary, setting a precedent that Phoenix Zoo seems poised to follow.

Dr. Marilyn Kroplick, President of In Defense of Animals, lauded the zoo’s decision but urged further action to ensure Indu’s well-being in her remaining years.

“Indu has waited long enough,” she told KJZZ, emphasizing the need for her to experience companionship and freedom.

Photo: Pexels

Critics claim Indu's six-acre enclosure is too small for her needs.

A Turning Point for Phoenix Zoo

The closure of the elephant exhibit at Phoenix Zoo marks a significant shift in how zoos manage the care of highly intelligent and social animals. While the zoo maintains that it provides the best possible environment for Indu, the mounting criticism and the move towards phasing out elephant exhibits suggest a growing recognition of the limitations inherent in captive settings. As Phoenix Zoo transitions its space to accommodate rhinoceroses, the fate of Indu will be closely watched by animal welfare advocates and the broader community alike.

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