Learn About Captive Elephants and the Issues They Face

Our mission is to raise awareness, encourage advocacy, and achieve retirement to Global Federation of Accredited Sanctuaries (GFAS) facilities for elephants suffering from impacts of captivity in circuses and zoos. WE WERE THE FIRST NON-PROFIT IN THE NATION DEDICATED SOLELY TO RESCUING ELEPHANTS HELD IN CAPTIVITY IN NORTH AMERICA.

We are an elephant advocacy nonprofit dedicated to removing captive elephants from circuses and zoos and placing them in true sanctuary. As the former Save Nosey Now, we were able to save one elephant named Nosey from a cruel circus owner, and she is now enjoying life in a sanctuary in Tennessee.

ABOUT US

Our main goal is to protect elephants

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An effort to help Nosey, an abused and neglected circus elephant owned by a small circus family in Florida, was the catalyst for Save Nosey Now’s simple beginning. In 2014, two Nosey advocates began a conversation that led to a Call-In Action for Nosey event on Facebook. They asked fellow advocates to contact the USDA and urge them to refuse licensure for Nosey’s keeper. In spite of many calls, faxes, emails, and letters, the license was granted, and so it was decided to continue the work by starting a Facebook Group. Save Nosey NOW! was born.

Issues Facing Elephants In Captivity

Alone
Captive elephants are most often held alone, forced into a solitary life that goes against the highly social nature of their species. They are social beings that need the company of other elephants to thrive mentally and physically.
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Health Problems
Most captive elephants have chronic health problems, including but not limited to painful degenerative joint disease, foot rot from standing in their own urine and feces, diarrhea and unmanaged hyperkeratosis (abnormal thickening of the skin) that can form deep,
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Improper Diet
Elephants in captivity do not get the proper diet as they would in their natural habitats in the wild. They need a diet of various greens, vegetables, and fruits, but circuses often do not take the time to give them what they need to physically thrive.
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Forced to Perform
Many captive elephants have spent their entire lives performing in circuses across the United States. On top of elephant rides and confined living spaces, this can cause further stress to their health and psychological well-being.
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Chained
Most circus and zoo elephants show signs of excessive use of chains in calloused skin, bloody sores and scarring on the lower legs.
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Bullhook Use
The bull hook is a heavy instrument with a sharp pointed tip used to jab, poke and beat the elepha
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Arthritis
Captive elephants are often seen exhibiting stiffness in their joints, indicating arthritis that was likely brought on by their confined lifestyle. Arthritis is one of the leading causes of death in captive elephants.
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Forced to Give Rides
[ What’s wrong with rides? ] Despite obvious health ailments, many circus elephants (and some zoo elephants) are forced to give rides to adults and children in between performances. This is not only painful for the elephant as the back of an elephant is not designed for weight bearing, but it’s also risky to the public.
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Physical Abuse
In addition to the constant threat of the bullhook, captive zoo and circus elephants have suffered physical abuse at the hands of their owners, witnessed and cited over the years by citizens and authorities alike. Tools of torture used include shovels, axes, electric shock, bats, and chains.
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Improper Containment
Much of a traveling elephants life is spent confined in inappropriate, small trailers. Nosey’s trailer was way too short for her. Upon rescue, Nosey was found to have severe muscle atrophy of her neck and shoulders from the thousand of hours spent inside her trailer on the road
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Exposure to Extreme Temperatures
While traveling every circus season, elephants are stuffed into cramped trailers, often held inside for many hours at a time. In the hot summer months, the temperature inside these containers can reach over 100 degrees.
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Violations of the Animal Welfare Act
[ Read the USDA Report ] The Animal Welfare Act was signed into law in 1966. It is the only Federal law in the United States that regulates the treatment of animals in research, exhibition, transport, and by dealers.
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Captive Elephants

Learn About Captive Elephants
And The Issues They Face

Elephant Rides

Riding elephants is painful. It doesn’t seem possible! How can it hurt if my small child rides a huge animal like an elephant? Unfortunately, as hard as it may be to believe, riding Nosey or an elephant is both cruel and risky.

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True Sanctuary

A true sanctuary is a place of refuge where injured, confiscated or abandoned captive wildlife may live in peace and dignity for the remainder of their lives.

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JumboLair Elephants

Of the 63 elephants taken from their herd and homeland in 1984, only about 20 still survive in 2016. At least 10 died while still at JumboLair, about 40 were transferred to zoos and circuses; the remainder have been lost to time.

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A Few Quick Facts About
Nosey the Elephant

We’ve listed the issues Nosey the elephant faced in her past situation. There are ways you can help with other captive elephants that suffer much the same. Here are a few quick facts about Nosey. For more details read our history on her.

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Ways You Can Help Captive North American Elephants

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Your donation of any size will help us to expand our mission of education, intervention and litigation.
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TAKE ACTION! MAKE A PHONE CALL:

JOIN US at  Save All Elephants https://www.facebook.com/groups/www.savenoseynow.org/ on Facebook. This is a closed group, so please ask to join by answering the 2 questions provided. There are continual updates with actions and news in the elephant community.  We as advocates are responsible and tasked with providing education and awareness to the public. We make it easy for you by providing all the necessary tools.  SHARING what you know is key to making positive change for the most magnificent animals on this earth.  Have a question?  Ask us and we will help you, to help us, help elephants! Changing laws in individual communities, states and across the nation is KEY! We worked alongside former Senator Raymond Lesniak in Trenton, New Jersey to bring Nosey’s Law to fruition by working with legislators in power who were willing to make it happen! WE fought hard and never let up. NOSEY’S LAW was signed into law in December, 2018. No elephants, or wild and exotic animals are permitted in the state of New Jersey. We need a Nosey’s Law in EVERY STATE. Hawaii and California enacted similar laws in 2019. (TEAPSPA will put in place a national law to strengthen state and local laws).

This may take some time to happen, however. Until then, everyone needs to make phone calls, send emails to their OWN legislators to get local bans and laws passed. It’s easier than you think to approach your legislators! They work for YOU and want your votes. They are interested in what their constituents have to say. Use this URL to find your state legislators: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials

SUPPORT TEAPSPA! TRAVELING EXOTIC ANIMAL AND PUBLIC SAFETY PROTECTION ACT!

Support TEAPSPA!

TAKE ACTION TODAY, STOP CIRCUS SUFFERING!
Talking points, sample letters and how to contact your representatives

PROTECT CAPTIVE ELEPHANTS

Captive Elephants
Need Protection

  • NEVER RIDE AN ELEPHANT
  • NEVER BUY A TICKET TO A CIRCUS
  • NEVER VISIT A ZOO WITH ELEPHANTS
  • NEVER BATHE AN ELEPHANT
  • NEVER FEED AN ELEPHANT IN A CIRCUS OR ZOO SETTING

ALWAYS SUPPORT TRUE SANCTUARIES FOR ELEPHANTS
ALWAYS SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS THAT FUNDRAISE FOR SPECIFIC GOALS

We Honor the Lives of
Elephants Lost Annually

We are a Founding Organization for the Annual International Candlelight
Vigil4Elephants.

This event will typically be held on the second Saturday of the New
Year to remember the captive elephants that died in the previous year

We are a Founding Organization for the Annual International Candlelight Vigil4Elephants. Captive-held Elephants are treated as commodities to generate profit for zoos, circuses, and other entertainment venues, shuffled from place to place with no regard for their well-being, often spending the majority of their time alone in substandard conditions, without the space required by the largest land mammal on Earth. These Elephants die prematurely of diseases such as arthritis, foot disease, tuberculosis, endotheliotropic herpesviruses (EEHV), and other illnesses brought on by the unnatural conditions of their confinement. Elephants in captivity also display stereotypical swaying, rocking, and bobbing movements which are symptoms of extreme psychological stress and trauma. The International Candlelight Vigil4Elephants serves to honor these extraordinary beings and their birthright of freedom. The International Candlelight Vigil4Elephants is an offering of remembrance and a call to walk gently upon the Earth with compassion and respect for all who share our one planet.

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Captive Elephants

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