PETITION TARGET: U.S. House Committee on Agriculture Chair
Whole body rocking, limb-swinging, and bar biting: These are all abnormalities elephants can display in captive environments — and have been proven not only to be behavioral but indicate brain damage, according to research. Elephants can suffer from these severe physical and psychological disorders as well as significantly shortened lifespans in captivity due to the lack of space, social connections, and natural environment they need to thrive.
In light of these concerns, U.S. Representative Nicole Malliotakis has reintroduced legislation — the Captivity of Helpless Elephants Reduction Act of 2025 — that would ban the confinement of elephants in zoos and safari parks nationwide.
According to the bill, wild elephants roam hundreds of miles annually and exhibit impressive mental capabilities such as “intentional communication and learning, and categorization abilities.” An experiment even provided evidence that an elephant displayed behavior consistent with self-awareness.
In addition, elephants lead rich emotional lives and have appeared to mourn and bury their deceased calves.
If enacted, H.R. 3456 would both end the captivity of African and Asian elephants in zoos and safari parks and ensure they are relocated to sanctuaries.
It may also develop a grant program to help sanctuaries house the elephants and would create educational materials for the public, highlighting the welfare advantages of ending their captivity.
These intelligent and emotionally complex creatures deserve better than a life of confinement, loneliness, and suffering.
Sign our petition urging the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture Chair to support this bill and end the suffering of elephants confined in zoos and safari parks in the U.S.
