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INDU HAS BEEN ALONE SINCE 2021.
The AZA fails animals AGAIN! Speak out!
In 2019, CWI went to Phoenix Zoo to do a welfare check on the animals held captive there. We were especially disturbed by the behavior of an Asian elephant named Indu.
Have you ever seen a human individual in severe emotional or psychological distress rocking back and forth or engaging in some other repetitive behavior? Or have you anxiously awaited a job interview and found yourself tapping your foot or biting your nails? Those behavior are referred to as a stereotypies - meaning that the repetitive behavior serves no function except to soothe the individual's distress.
2019 CWI Investigation of Phoenix Zoo
Animals in captivity experience a similar phenomenon, which is called "zoochosis." You may have noticed an incident of this yourself while visiting a zoo, but were unaware of it.
An elephant swaying, a tiger pacing, a polar bear swimming back and forth in a seemingly endless repetition is stereotypic behavior and a sign of emotional or psychological discomfort.
In 2019, we found Indu exhibiting zoochosis. As we stood there filming, a docent was instructing a school group about Indu and the elephant exhibit. Upon an inquiry from a student about Indu's incessant swaying, the docent lied to the students telling them "we don't know for sure why elephants do that."
Don't buy zoo lies.
Indu has been alone since 2021 when her companion Sheena died. A third elephant, Reba, died the year before. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums state that all accredited zoos must keep a minimum of 3 elephants (or 2 males). As we previously witnessed at Hogle Zoo, the AZA does NOT hold zoos to its set requirements.
Join us in speaking out! Let the AZA know that singly-kept elephants deserve better and that the Phoenix Zoo must relocate Indu immediately.
Act Now for Indu - Sign & Share
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