End of the Elephant Exhibit? New Bill Mandates Zoos Transfer All Elephants to Sanctuaries Within Three Years

The Captivity of Helpless Elephants Reduction Act of 2025 (CHER Act) aims to completely phase out the keeping of African and Asian elephants in U.S. zoos and safari parks. Starting one year after the bill becomes law, these facilities would be prohibited from displaying, managing, or breeding these elephants. The ultimate goal is to move every single elephant currently in a zoo or safari park to an approved wildlife sanctuary within three years.

Why the Big Move? The Science of Elephant Needs

This isn't just about feelings; the bill’s findings section lays out the science. Elephants are highly intelligent, social animals that naturally travel vast distances. The bill notes that in captivity, they often suffer from physical ailments like arthritis and emotional distress. The most striking detail is the lifespan disparity: captive elephants live, on average, only about 17 years, while wild ones can live 50 years or more. Essentially, the CHER Act acknowledges that the traditional zoo environment simply can’t meet the complex physical and social needs of these animals.

Who’s In and Who’s Out: The Sanctuary Standard

The most important part of this transition is Section 3, which defines where these elephants must go. An “authorized wildlife sanctuary” isn’t just any big field. It must be a non-profit facility accredited by groups like the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. Crucially, these sanctuaries are explicitly banned from three things: breeding animals, showing animals for profit, and using animals for public entertainment. This means the elephants would be moved to places focused purely on welfare, not exhibition. Zoos and safari parks that currently hold elephants would have up to three years to complete the transfer process.

The Real-World Check: Logistics and Costs

For zoos and safari parks, this means a significant operational shift. Within one year, they must stop exhibiting elephants, forcing them to quickly reallocate resources and space. This hits the bottom line, affecting everything from staffing (elephant keepers will need to find new roles or move) to marketing (losing a major exhibit). While the bill's intent is positive for animal welfare, the immediate costs of preparing elephants for transport and losing a major attraction fall squarely on these institutions.

Section 4 addresses the massive logistics challenge. It requires the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a feasibility study within one year to figure out the space, cost, and practical hurdles of moving all these elephants. Think about it: transporting a herd of elephants across state lines is a massive undertaking, requiring specialized equipment and veterinary care. The bill also gives the Secretary the option to establish a grant program to help the authorized sanctuaries cover the costs of receiving and caring for the relocated elephants. This is a key point: federal financial support for the sanctuaries is not guaranteed, which could strain the non-profits tasked with housing these animals if the grant program isn't funded.

For the general public, this means saying goodbye to the elephant exhibit at the local zoo. The trade-off is clear: better welfare for the animals, but reduced access for people who rely on zoos for education or viewing. The Secretary is tasked with creating public education materials to explain why this shift is better for the elephants, attempting to bridge that gap between public access and animal well-being.