A Licensed Veterinarian Visited Busch Gardens.
Here's what she saw.
Why we sent a veterinarian
Busch Gardens has not allowed an independent welfare review of its elephants. So we asked a licensed veterinarian with extensive elephant experience to visit as an ordinary guest and report what she could see from public areas. This page is her report.
At a glance
The elephants
Tina
- Appeared visibly significantly underweight. Former keepers shown a photo were shocked, and confirmed they had never seen her this thin.
- Large, deep wound on the face. Staff described it as an inflamed temporal gland or dry skin; the veterinarian assessed it as an abscess- or pressure-type wound. No treatment was visible.
- Reported pressure sores consistent with sleeping on hard ground.
Simba
- Appeared visibly underweight. Barely flexed her front wrist and shuffled when she walked; the veterinarian's read was that she is likely in significant pain.
- Visible prolapse. Former keepers say it is not new, but appears to be worsening.
- Has glaucoma, on the correct medication, according to staff. Former keepers believe her vision may be affected.
- Seen eating a cardboard box in the yard with no hay around. Was told this is considered enrichment, and that elephants are allowed to consume two cardboard products per day.
- Showed stereotypic behavior.
Schottzie and Jati (recently arrived from Cincinnati)
- Thin, though less so than the long-term elephants. Very dry skin and worse foot/nail condition.
- Schottzie had active nail abscesses treated on-site by keepers, not a veterinarian, and looked very sore afterward.
- Jati showed signs of past or recurring nail abscesses.
- The pair is bonded to each other and is not integrating with the resident herd. The only contact seen was through bars.
- The result: three groups rotating through the barn, off-exhibit yard and on-exhibit yard, with one group always indoors. No elephant gained space or social access from the new arrivals.
Across the herd
Water. The main source was a slowly dripping hose. Older elephants struggled to hold their trunks up long enough to drink. The one trough was at the far end and rarely used. The pond was not visible from public areas and no elephant was seen using it.
Food. Browse was limited to palms, with no variety, while bamboo within sight was not offered. Hay looked fine in quality, but there was little out during the day, especially given the underweight animals.
Ground and feet. Foot pads looked very smooth. Sand substrate may be wearing them down; staff reportedly add sand twice a year. Foot care was done by keepers, not veterinarians. The yard was heavily soiled with manure.
Digestion. Fecal boluses looked small across the herd, and two elephants were seen straining. Without bloodwork and records, no outside observer can say why.
Behavior. Stereotypic behavior in every elephant except Tina, mostly near the training wall where feeding happens.
The noise
- A decibel meter read 70 to 90 dB consistently across the day.
- A roller coaster runs directly beside the barn, and vibration could be felt standing next to it.
What visitors were told
The veterinarian heard staff and docents tell guests that elephants only live to 49, that they live longer in captivity, and that they choose who they spend time with. A keeper also told her that all the elephants have been through menopause (which she said is not consistent with their ages) and that they “migrate” in a circle through the exhibit. We read these as symptoms of thin staffing and training, not bad faith by individuals. They do not match what she saw.
What this report cannot tell us
- It was one visit by one veterinarian, from public areas. It is not an exam.
- There was no access to medical records or bloodwork, so we make no diagnosis.
- Some details (the facial wound's cause, why the elephants are thin) can only be answered by the park's records.
What we're doing next
- Sending the veterinarian's photos and video to an independent elephant welfare scientist for review.
- Pressing for a real independent welfare review before Busch Gardens' AZA reaccreditation in March.
- Asking supporters to tell AZA what inspectors should look for.
This campaign runs on people like you. If you're able, a donation helps us continue investigating and keeps the pressure on for the elephants at Busch Gardens.
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