Phoenix Zoo To Close Their Elephant Exhibit: A Positive Step Forward, But Indu Deserves Sanctuary

The Phoenix Zoo has announced that it will permanently shut down its elephant exhibit when Indu, the 59-year-old Asian elephant, passes away. Indu has sadly endured decades of isolation and substandard care.

This decision follows years of advocacy and the zoo’s frequent inclusion on In Defense of Animals’ list of the “10 Worst Zoos for Elephants in North America,” where the Phoenix Zoo ranked #10 in 2024.

The Phoenix Zoo confirmed that it will not replace Indu with more Asian elephants and will instead convert the exhibit for the sole use of the greater one-horned rhinoceros, who currently shares the small space with Indu on rotation.

Dr. Gary West, Senior Vice President of Animal Health and Living Collections at the Phoenix Zoo, stated, “We are not planning to exhibit more Asian elephants in that current space. We are going to be converting that to greater one-horned rhinoceros, which lives solitarily, and they are going to be occupying those exhibits.”

“We welcome this important step forward, but it’s not too late for Indu’s happily ever after,” said Courtney Scott, Elephant Consultant for In Defense of Animals. “While we celebrate a path to progress with many zoos shutting their elephant exhibits, some are missing the opportunity to give elephants a sanctuary retirement where they can live out their golden years with the companionship, space, and care they have been deprived of for so long. We urge the Phoenix Zoo to work swiftly to give Indu the chance to experience freedom and friendship in her lifetime in a sanctuary with other elephants.”

The Phoenix Zoo’s decision reflects a growing trend among zoos across North America to phase out elephant exhibits, as the overwhelming evidence against keeping these intelligent and social animals in captivity becomes undeniable.

In true sanctuaries, elephants thrive in landscapes where they roam hundreds or even thousands of acres, form meaningful bonds with other elephants, and experience natural environments that reduce stress and promote both physical and mental well-being. To date, approximately 40 zoos have closed or pledged to close their elephant exhibits.

For Indu, sanctuary retirement could be transformative. Born in the wild in Thailand, she has spent nearly six decades confined in zoos, enduring forced transfers and prolonged loneliness. Her current exhibit at the Phoenix Zoo is less than 1% the size of the smallest wild elephant habitat. It fails to meet even minimal welfare standards, offering insufficient deep shade, no room to roam, and no pool for immersion—just a small water trough for relief in Phoenix’s blistering desert heat. Indu is often observed rocking in place, a sign of zoochosis caused by her impoverished environment.

In October 2024, an In Defense of Animals investigator visited the Phoenix Zoo and observed Indu standing in one spot, swaying, and exhibiting signs of boredom, stress, loneliness, and depression. The investigator also noted that Indu appeared thinner compared to a prior visit in January 2022. After exploring other parts of the zoo, the investigator returned to find Indu in the same spot, still swaying.

The Phoenix Zoo’s two previous female elephants, Sheena and Reba, also endured years of chronic health issues in captivity, including arthritis and gastrointestinal problems, before dying prematurely in 2020 and 2021.

“If action isn’t taken soon, Indu will die lonely,” said Courtney Scott, Elephant Consultant for In Defense of Animals. “She will follow in Sheena and Reba’s footsteps with a painful decline and death at Phoenix Zoo, where glaring breaches of minimal welfare standards remain unaddressed. At 59 years old, isolated Indu could still have many good years ahead if released to a sanctuary where she can experience friendships with other elephants, roam larger spaces, forage freely, and have a chance to reverse her premature decline. We urge Phoenix Zoo to go one step further and give Indu the freedom and companionship she deserves.”

In Defense of Animals’ 10 Worst Zoos for Elephants list has repeatedly featured Phoenix Zoo for failing to meet the basic needs of its elephants. Indu’s sanctuary retirement would mark a turning point, proving that even zoos with a legacy of poor conditions can choose compassion and provide elephants with the dignity they deserve.

Content courtesy of In Defense of Animals. Help them continue fighting for animals, people, and the environment by making a donation HERE!