PETITION TARGET: Himeji City Zoo

Himeko, a 43-year-old Asian elephant, spends 18 hours a day indoors, swaying back and forth in her own feces and urine, and when she finally does get outside, she is forced to perform for zoo visitors. This poor creature has languished in cruel solitary confinement for over half her life at the Himeji City Zoo in Japan.

In the wild, elephants travel in large families and walk at least 15 miles a day. Himeko lives in isolation and is confined to an area that doesn’t allow her to move freely about, and she shows her frustration with zoochosis.

Zoochosis is a repetitive behavior that seems to serve no function for the animal, such as swaying, and is a symptom of severe distress among captive elephants. These highly intelligent and social creatures need to interact with other elephants and engage in other natural behaviors, and Himeko is being deprived of that basic life necessity.

It is imperative that the Himeji City Zoo relocates Himeko to a more appropriate environment, like an elephant sanctuary, where she can bond with members of her own species. The Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums has failed to make this happen, despite releasing a statement over two years ago stating its support for placing elephants in proper social groups

Sign this petition urging the Himeji City Zoo to release Himeko from solitary confinement and free her from her constant suffering.