Return to SaveWildElephants.com >
PETA Home

Elephant Deaths at Facilities Accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) (2000 to Present)

The lives of elephants in zoos typically are far shorter than their 70-year life expectancy. More than half of the 59 elephants who have died at AZA-accredited facilities since 2000 never even reached the age of 40.

Summary
Age # of Deaths
2-9* 8
10-19 2
20-29 6
30-39 14
40-49 21
50 and older 8
*This excludes the deaths of newborns and infants under the age of 2.
2008
Facility Elephant Species Age
Philadelphia Zoo Petal African 52
Dallas Zoo KeKe African 39
2007
Facility Elephant Species Age
Fort Worth Zoo Babe Asian 40
San Antonio Zoo Alport African 49
Abilene Zoo Tanzy African 49
Birmingham Zoo Mona Asian 59
San Diego Wild Animal Park Carol Asian 39
Woodland Park Zoo Hansa Asian 6
Saint Louis Zoo Clara Asian 54
2006
Facility Elephant Species Age
Milwaukee County Zoo Lucy African 46
Oregon Zoo Pet Asian 51
Los Angeles Zoo Gita Asian 48
Knoxville Zoo Mamie African 45
National Zoo Toni Asian 40
Bronx Zoo Samuel R. Asian 14
2005
Facility Elephant Species Age
Lincoln Park Zoo Peaches African 55
Birmingham Zoo Susie Asian 53
Gladys Porter Zoo Macho African 41
San Francisco Zoo Tinkerbelle** Asian 39
Lincoln Park Zoo/Hogle Zoo Wankie African 35
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Ibala African 26
Columbus Zoo Ganesh Asian 7
**Tinkerbelle lived at the San Francisco Zoo for 37 years. The zoo industry delayed her transfer to a sanctuary for nine months. When she finally arrived at the Performing Animal Welfare Society sanctuary in November 2004, her degenerative joint disease and chronic foot problems were too severe for recovery, and she died four months later.

2004
Facility Elephant Species Age
San Francisco Zoo Calle Asian 37
Hogle Zoo Kali Asian 59
San Francisco Zoo Maybelle African 44
San Antonio Zoo Ginny Asian 49
Houston Zoo Kimba Asian 13
Lincoln Park Zoo Tatima African 35
Los Angeles Zoo Tara African 44
Busch Gardens Kaba Asian 35
2003
Facility Elephant Species Age
Oregon Zoo Hugo Asian 43
Rosamond Gifford Zoo Preya Asian 3
Brookfield Zoo Mame African 32
Indianapolis Zoo Amali African 3
Kansas City Zoo Casey African 52
Kansas City Zoo Dale African 25
Jackson Zoo Marrie African 31
Busch Gardens Sally Asian 36
Six Flags Marine World

Tina

Asian

46

2002
Facility Elephant Species Age
Dickerson Park Zoo Onyx Asian 40
Bronx Zoo Tus Asian 49
Bronx Zoo Grumpy Asian 31
Have Trunk Will Travel Amos Asian 3
Dickerson Park Zoo Haji Asian 2
North Carolina Zoo Nita African 28
Point Defiance Zoo Cindy Asian 40
River Banks Zoo Belinda African 33
Six Flags Marine World Tika African 24
2001
Facility Elephant Species Age
El Paso Zoo Mona Asian 47
Oakland Zoo Smokey African 28
Milwaukee Zoo Babe African 43
Hogle Zoo Toka Asian 37
Denver Zoo Candy Asian 49
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo Penny African 47
2000
Facility Elephant Species Age
Houston Zoo Singgah Asian 6
Gladys Porter Zoo Louella African 21
St. Louis Zoo Carolyn Asian 32
National Zoo Nancy African 46
Six Flags Marine World

Kala Asian 2
  Campaigns
  Tell Dallas Zoo to Send Jenny to Sanctuary – not Mexico!
  San Antonio Zoo
  Rosamond Gifford Zoo
  Elephant Protection Ordinance—Chicago
  Petal, Kallie, Bette, Dulary—Philadelphia Zoo
  Maggie—Alaska Zoo
  Six Flags Marine World and Wild Safari
  Los Angeles Zoo
  Past Campaigns
  Peaches, Tatima, Wankie—Lincoln Park Zoo
  Gildah—The Mirage
  Wild Elephant Capture—San Diego & Lowry Park Zoos
  Winky, Wanda—Detroit Zoo
  Resources
  Take Action for Elephants: Alerts
  Elephant Deaths
  Undercover Footage of Elephant Training
  Circuses
  Zoos
  Donate Now
  Elephant-Free Zoos
  National/International

PETA Home