Shaunzi (1970-2024)

Born in 1970 in the wild of Thailand, Shaunzi was captured and sent to the US to perform circus-style tricks until she was sent to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo in 1983. She was transferred to the Los Angeles Zoo in 2017.

Wild elephants naturally have one of the largest home ranges, often walking up to 40 miles each day. Venues like the LA Zoo leave captive elephants without the ability to walk and forage, which severely impacts their mental health causing stereotypical behavior and psychosis and often leads to foot diseases—one of the most common ailments among captive elephants.

In recent years, many zoos have been sending their elephants to sanctuaries across the US, which allow elephants a better life, with large areas to roam and forage away from tourists’ eyes. Unlike zoos, which put profits over animals, legitimate sanctuaries often have larger and more natural enclosures for animals, and the best sanctuaries are held to higher standards of care for animals, thanks to the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS).

The best way to protect elephants and keep them in the wild is never to visit a venue that holds them captive. If you feel strongly you want to visit elephants, be sure to only support legitimate sanctuaries.