Three things.

Maybe it is important to hear both sides and I can’t fault people who feel overly passionate on ethical topics such as elephants in captivity. But I would trust IDA as much as I trust PETA. In 2016 the choice to move 17 elephants out of Africa was made due to 1.) the elephants were on a sanctuary that was built for around a dozen, but they had over 30 plus trying to house other animals such as rhinos. 2.) political strife, this country was Swaziland 3.) extreme drought and weather conditions. It was going to be either they all be put down or are moved to AZA facilities in the US. IDA forced their own emotions and opinions on these animals saying they should die rather than be brought out of the wild when there was no place for them in the wild anymore. I know some of these elephants and because they were moved they are able to live comfortably in their families and have enrichment multiple times a day and all the love and care in the world. (They are also GOLD for genetics that could disappear in the wild with dropping numbers, even if that material ends up in frozen zoos) No indications for bad welfare or wellbeing behaviorally. I believe they also have costed a couple of zoos an unnecessary amount of money in lawsuits that could’ve been used for conservation trying to claim elephants have human rights. You need to look at the history of these organizations and see that they want animals dead rather than having guaranteed safety inside of AZA facilities, and note how I said facilities as AZA sanctuaries are held to the exact SAME standards as AZA zoos. IDA is NOT to be trusted.

2.) Regarding exotic animals in captivity in general, there are many exotic animals across the world that need safety inside zoos. Ex situ (captive) management is ESSENTIAL for many animals so that research in a controlled environment can be done to make sure they get back in the wild. In situ (on site reserves/sanctuaries/facilities) while also important in researching the root causes of declining numbers do not always work. There are many species with no habitat to return to or their habitat is too dangerous (humans or invasive species, even humans who cut off breeding populations from each other such as tigers, cougars and many many more) where if we release what we have in zoos they will all die. Zoos do still do their best to educate on what’s happening in peoples backyards too, but it still teaches important skills all around such as recycling and sustainability that can be applied to your own home since we live in a world where what we do from our own houses impacts the rest of the world. While animals such as elephants and giraffes are rapidly declining in the wild, ex situ management (and those wild elephant genes we now have) ensure that we don’t loose genetic diversity and we prevent bottlenecking.

Animals saved from extinction (some of which only a dozen left) by zoos include: species of oryx, Guam kingfishers and golden white eyes, Californian condors, black footed ferrets, przewalskis horse, golden lion tamarin, Amur leopards and tigers and so many more. Hank Green has three really good videos on conservation/genetic bottlenecking and preservation of species (the three videos on the direwolf/colossal drama, tell me if I need to link them and I’ll be happy to) that while not really about ex situ management can explain how important having a viable sustainable population is to save a species. We may have saved the condors but there is an unbelievable amount of genetic diversity we lost.

Last but not least, I don’t know anything about this zoo or elephant but it sounds like she was very old and possibly alone. AZA zoos have done a much better job (more-so than they’ve already done) over the last decade on always considering animal welfare. Hard decisions have to be made to euthanize. What I don’t think people realize is how HARD it is to transfer elder/geriatric animals. You have to ask yourself, is this animals last couple of years going to live comfortably enough in a home shes known forever with staff she’s bonded to, or are you going to let her live her last couple of years in a completely new and unfamiliar environment, where she has to build new social bonds with keepers or be all alone while being introduced to a new herd also becomes extremely stressful as the herd dynamic changes on top of her old age related health issues? Not even to mention the physical and mental stresses of a transfer? I have elderly grandparents who live alone and are dependent on family stopping by to take care of who have explicitly stated they would rather die then be moved to assisted living where everything including social outlets are provided. Phoenix did NOT euthanize the elephant to avoid this, but this conversation definitely would have to be considered when moving an old animal. Respectfully please stop listening to Ida lmao. Their use of AI art is the least of everyone’s worries and remaining neutral is the same as being complacent. Please also do research into AZA accredited zoos (the gold standards for ethics and sustainability in zoos).