Zurich Zoo
The Elephants in Zurich Zoo
Zurich Zoo has kept elephants since 1971. In 2014, the zoo inaugurated its new Kaeng Krachan Elephant Park, described as one of the most modern facilities of its kind in Europe, following an investment of around CHF 57 million. It currently houses five Asian elephants (Elephas maximus):
- Thai: male, born in 2004 at the Tierpark Hagenbeck (Hamburg, Germany), arrived at Zurich in 2014.
- Fahra: female, born in 2005 in Zurich Zoo. Fahra has given birth three times: in 2017 (the calf died in 2022 from the herpes virus), and then in 2020 (killed by the group shortly after birth) and 2023 respectively (died several hours after birth).
- Indi: female, born in 1986 at Tharwaddy Camp in Myanmar and transferred to Zurich in 1999. Indi has given birth five times: Chandra (born in 2002, currently at Zurich Zoo), Fahim (born in 2005, currently in Copenhagen), Omysha (born in 2014, died in 2022 from the herpes virus), Umesh (born in 2020, died in 2022 from the herpes virus), and a male calf born in June 2026 who was euthanised due to a problem with his hind legs.
- Chandra: female, born in 2002 at Zurich Zoo. Daughter of Indi. Potentially unable to breed.
- Panang: female, born in 1989.
Despite the opening of the Kaeng Krachan Elephant Park in 2014, the elephants at Zurich Zoo continue to live in an area that is tiny compared to the vast distances they would roam in the wild. According to a report by Dr Keith Lindsay in 2023, the longest straight-line distance within the outdoor enclosure is approximately 80 metres, whereas wild elephants typically cover an average of around 10 kilometres per day. The animals are kept in artificial groups, with some individuals requiring separation because of social conflicts. Their movements, social interactions and access to different areas remain largely controlled by zoo staff.
Since 1971, Zurich Zoo has recorded 16 elephant births and 20 elephant deaths, including the loss of numerous calves. Several elephants have died from elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV), while others died at birth or were killed by members of their own group – a phenomenon that does not occur in the wild. These figures reflect the continuing difficulties of meeting the complex needs of elephants in captivity. For the group, and especially for the mothers, every death of a calf is a deeply traumatic experience.
Conservation
Unlike Basel Zoo, Zurich Zoo demonstrates its commitment to conservation by funding eight field programmes with an annual budget of more than CHF 2.9 million per year, raised via the Naturschutzfranken (a voluntary donation system). The zoo prioritises its efforts to protect elephants in the Kaeng Krachan National Park in Thailand. The overall contribution of the conservation programme − around 3.1% of the total operating revenue (2024) − remains modest compared with the sums invested in the zoo facilities and the care of captive animals. As with most modern zoos, conservation is mainly used as an argument to legitimise captivity. Furthermore, the elephants kept at Zurich Zoo will never be reintroduced into the wild and therefore do not contribute to the recovery of wild populations. Instead, the breeding programmes primarily serve to maintain captive populations for entertainment purposes.
Science
Education
For the general public, the zoo offers an extensive educational programme for schools, as well as animal feeding sessions and guided tours. Since 2023–2024, it has also introduced two dedicated facilities: a conservation centre featuring 360-degree immersive presentations on its field projects, and a research station. This educational strategy forms an integral part of Zurich Zoo’s long-term expansion master plan, Zoo der Zukunft (“Zoo of the Future”), which extends to 2050.
Zurich Zoo affirms that it raises public awareness about the importance of protecting animals and the environment. However, visitors observe animals living in an artificial environment that bears little resemblance to the conditions they experience in the wild.
Educational messages often focus on the threats facing wild elephants, or the essential role that elephants play in their natural ecosystems, while ignoring the limitations of captivity itself. The information provided to the public remains limited and does not enable them to fully understand these animals’ exceptional biological, cognitive and social needs of these animals.