Why does Brookfield zoo not have elephants?

After 75 years of housing elephants of all kinds — African elephants, Asian elephants — in 2010 the zoo staff moved its last female African elephant resident, Joyce, from the zoo's Pachyderm House to a California facility where she has lots of room to roam and spend time with companions, which are essential to a ...



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The Brookfield Zoo has a new 6,800 pound elephant. Brookfield Zoo's lone remaining elephant has been shipped out. But zoo officials said Thursday they still plan to bring elephants back in the future.

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The zoo lost its status in 2012 after Toronto City Hall decided to move three African elephants to a Performing Animal Welfare Society sanctuary in California against the recommendation of the zoo staff and management who wanted the animals to go to an accredited facility.

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The Calgary Zoo announced in April 2012 that it would relocate its elephants based on their long-term welfare needs. The National Zoo was chosen as the new home for the elephants in August 2013.

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Canada has four zoos with elephants, including African Lion Safari in Ontario; Edmonton Valley Zoo in Alberta; and Parc Safari and Granby Zoo in Quebec. All four are using bullhooks in free contact, meaning elephant keepers manage elephants inside their enclosures instead of behind a protective barrier.

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Elephants in circuses and roadside zoos are denied everything that gives their life meaning. Many become neurotic, unhealthy, depressed, and aggressive as a result of the inhumane conditions in which they're kept.

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Anything remaining will be cremated, including even the tiniest of animals. “Everything from guppies to elephants is incinerated,” says Neiffer. While burials were once commonplace at zoos, very few bury their animals anymore.

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Some information may no longer be current. Tina, the Asian elephant with the ailing feet, has died in Tennessee. The 34-year-old pachyderm was transferred last August to the Elephant Sanctuary at Hohenwald, about 100 kilometres southwest of Nashville.

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Life Span. Wild: Wild elephants have long life spans and typically live 60 to 70 years of age. Captive: Captive elephants have significantly lower life spans than their wild counterparts and are usually dead before the age of 40.

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1. Toronto Zoo. The Toronto Zoo is the biggest zoos in Canada and is home to more than 5000 animals from more than 450 species.

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