HOUSTON (Jan. 13, 2026) — A new investigation reveals that the elephant “baby boom” in North American zoos is actually a mortality crisis. For the first time, In Defense of Animals has dedicated its renowned 10 Worst Zoos for Elephants list to exposing the fatal consequences of captive breeding. The Houston Zoo has been named the No. 1 Worst Zoo for 2025 for its aggressive pursuit of a breeding program that churns out babies into a system where they are statistically likely to die young. 

The 2025 list highlights a disturbing trend: while zoos tout births as conservation success stories to drive ticket sales, they are silent on the death toll. Data analyzed by In Defense of Animals reveals that one in four elephants born in zoos dies before age 5 — a rate far surpassing wild mortality. By age 2, the death rate for zoo calves is double that of the wild. And just as tragic, zoos often omit the grim details of those who survive past 5, only to die by their 20s or endure years more of chronic arthritis and joint disease from living their entire lives in a zoo.

Discover the full list: idausa.org/2025worstzoolist

Watch the video: https://youtu.be/KuLEeoWs3Vg

“Zoos are manufacturing life they cannot sustain,” said Courtney Scott, Elephant Consultant for In Defense of Animals. “Our data shows that over one-third of all elephants born in zoos since 2004 are already dead. This isn’t conservation; it is a cycle of tragedy. We demand that the Houston Zoo and all facilities on this list stop breeding elephants for captivity and start retiring them to sanctuaries where they can live with dignity.”

The release of the list comes amid a surge in zoo births, with 12 calves born in 2025 alone. Yet no elephant born in a North American zoo has ever been released to the wild. The Species Survival Plan (SSP) functions as an inventory system that attempts to restock exhibits while diverting millions of dollars away from genuine conservation efforts that protect wild elephants in their natural habitats.

The report details how breeding programs harm elephants at every stage:

• Lethal Infancy: 22% of zoo-born calves die by age 2, rising to 25% by age 5. Most captive-born elephants fail to reach even half of their natural life expectancy.
• Traumatized Mothers: Females are subjected to invasive artificial insemination and begin breeding as young as 8 years old — far younger than their wild counterparts typically start.
• Deadly Transfers: Social bonds are shattered as elephants are shipped between zoos to breed, a practice known to increase mortality by 50%.

A new report by doctors Rob Atkinson, Andrew Kelly, and Keith Lindsay exposes the devastating results of captive breeding worldwide. It states, “The disruption caused by zoos to the sexual development of both male and female elephants results in a population whose breeding, sexuality, and sociality bear no relation to that of wild elephants.” 

“Zoo-bred elephants are fated to suffer from the moment they are conceived, and die at double the rate of wild babies. This industry is manufacturing babies in a bid to keep exhibits full — not to save elephants,” said Marilyn Kroplick, M.D., President of In Defense of Animals. “True conservation happens in the wild, not behind bars.” 

For the second year, In Defense of Animals is honoring a zoo with the Path to Progress Award. The Louisville Zoo in Kentucky is recognized for making the compassionate choice to close its elephant exhibit and retire its remaining elephants to a sanctuary. More than 40 zoos have already shut down their elephant exhibits.

“The only solution to help elephants is to stop breeding them,” added Kroplick. “Louisville Zoo has shown that there is a graceful exit from this dying industry. It is time for all zoos with elephants to end captive breeding and move elephants to a spacious, true sanctuary, rather than birthing another generation of elephants into despair and early death.”

Miss World Chile and animal advocate, Ignacia Fernández, has joined Ricky Gervais and other celebrities calling for an end to elephant captivity. She said, “Zoos breed elephants into lives of impoverishment. Born as prisoners, treated as playthings and profit-drivers, they fade away without ever truly living. Baby elephants deserve lush wilderness, not confinement in tiny, barren enclosures for life. Stop the madness. I stand with In Defense of Animals to stop zoo breeding and free elephants to sanctuaries.”

“Breeding elephants in captivity is cruel and dangerous,” said British television and radio broadcaster, Kirsty Gallacher. “Ticket sales are not worth the suffering that babies and adults are forced to endure. I stand with In Defense of Animals and call on zoos to end breeding programs and retire elephants to sanctuaries.”

2025 List of the 10 Worst Zoos for Elephants:

1. Houston Zoo, Houston, Texas
2. Sedgwick County Zoo, Wichita, Kan.
3. Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, Omaha, Neb.
4. African Lion Safari, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
5. Denver Zoo, Denver, Colo.
6. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Powell, Ohio
7. ABQ BioPark, Albuquerque, N.M.
8. Oklahoma City Zoo, Oklahoma City, Okla.
9. Fresno Chaffee Zoo, Fresno, Calif.
10. Tulsa Zoo, Tulsa, Okla.
     

Hall of Shame: Oregon Zoo, Portland, Ore.

Path to Progress Award: Louisville Zoo, Louisville, Ky.

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Contacts:

Courtney Scott, courtney@idausa.org, 503-288-6142

Fleur Dawes, media@idausa.org, 415-879-6879

List: idausa.org/2025worstzoolist

Video: https://youtu.be/KuLEeoWs3Vg

Original Images & Video Clips (free to use with credit per filename): https://bit.ly/10WorstZoos25

In Defense of Animals’ list of the 10 Worst Zoos for Elephants in North America has been featured in The New York Times, Esquire and the Daily Mail, and supported by celebrities including Bill Maher and Ricky Gervais. It draws global attention to how zoos condemn elephants to lifetimes of deprivation, disease, and premature death. Rankings are determined based on in-person visits and data analysis of elephant mortality, health records, transfer history and enclosure conditions. This year’s list heavily weighted the intensity of breeding programs and infant mortality rates. Explore two decades of rankings at idausa.org/10worstzoos

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization with over 250,000 supporters and a history of defending animals, people and the environment since 1983. idausa.org

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