In Defense of Animals Publishes the 2025 Edition of Its “10 Worst Zoos for Elephants in North America”

In Defense of Animals (IDA) has released its 2025 list of the 10 worst zoos for elephants in North America, exposing ongoing failures in captive elephant care. Topping the list is the Houston Zoo, followed by Sedgwick County Zoo and others like Columbus Zoo, where elephants suffer from inadequate habitats, failed breeding programs, and shortened lifespans due to stress and poor welfare. The report highlights how zoos prioritize breeding over well-being, often hiding high calf mortality rates and substandard enclosures from the public.

This annual ranking serves as a wake-up call for elephant advocates, urging boycotts and pressure on these facilities to phase out elephants in favor of true conservation. At Weeping Elephant Project, we stand with IDA in pushing for sanctuaries where elephants can live free from exploitation.