Elephants Suffer in Silence. It’s Time to Hear Their Voices.
Railing Against Elephants as Entertainment in the U.S.
“The Indian elephant is known sometimes to weep. Sir E. Tennent, in describing those which he saw captured and bound in Ceylon, says, some 'lay motionless on the ground, with no other indication of suffering than the tears which suffused their eyes and flowed incessantly'.”
- Charles Darwin, The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals
Our Work, At A Glance
Our Mission
Weeping Elephant Project works to end the confinement of elephants by opposing captive breeding and performance in the United States. Through public education, advocacy, and accountability, we work to improve the lives of elephants still held in captivity and drive meaningful change across institutions and regulators.
Our Goal
Our goal is to de-normalize elephant captivity in the United States and push for meaningful change within the facilities that still hold them. We work to shift public perception so that keeping elephants in zoos and circuses is no longer seen as acceptable, drive enforceable welfare standards, and put an end to captive breeding to break the cycle.
Our Action
We investigate facility practices, amplify expert voices through our podcast, and collaborate with organizations, educators, and advocates to hold elephant facilities accountable. Through public education, social media, investigative reporting, and direct engagement with institutions, we drive the changes captive elephants can't demand for themselves.
Every investigation, every campaign, every family that chooses not to buy a ticket — it starts with people like you. Elephants can't leave on their own. But together, we can dismantle the systems that keep them there.
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Resources For Families
