Animal Rights Activists Benefit Elephants in Zoos

The main benefit activists provide is getting elephants out of zoos and into sanctuaries.

Animal-rights groups have intensely scrutinized zoos where elephants live in cramped circumstances or without companionship for more than a decade. Since 2000 some zoos, including Chicago, Detroit and San Francisco, have given up elephants entirely, conceding the enormous animals need too much space and money to maintain. Other zoos are following suit, either moving their elephants or not planning to replace aging animals after they die.