PERFORMING ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY

Rescue. Advocacy. Sanctuary. For Life.

Since 1984

Newsletter | June 2026

In this issue:

How Elephants Sleep | PAWS Conference Registration Open | Happy Birthday Cleo! | Remembering Pat Derby | Helping Captive Elephants Globally

Mara and Thika take a standing nap

How Elephants Sleep at PAWS 

The elephants at the PAWS sanctuary engage in a variety of natural, instinctive behaviors. One of the most fascinating may be how they sleep – and how little they actually do.

Elephants have the shortest total sleep time of any mammal – about 2.6 to 4.1 hours a day. Their enormous size is believed to be a major factor influencing their sleep patterns. By comparison, a mouse sleeps at least four times longer each day than an elephant.

Elephants are polyphasic sleepers, meaning they sleep in multiple, short periods of time rather than one long stretch. During the day, the elephants at PAWS often take brief naps. (Thika pictured)

After dusting themselves with soil, Mara and Thika will frequently take a standing nap, with their trunks hanging motionless and their eyes fully closed as they rest in the quiet of the sanctuary. 

Gypsy resting

Asian elephant Prince can often be seen lying down on a hillside for his daytime naps. Gypsy may catch a few winks as well. At night, we provide Prince, Nicholas, and Gypsy with deep, soft mounds of fresh soil indoors, creating a comfortable place to rest.

There are both similarities and differences between the sleep habits of captive and wild elephants. Both sleep primarily at night, can sleep either standing or lying down, and typically lie down to sleep between midnight and 6 a.m.

Wild elephants generally sleep less than elephants in captivity and spend less time lying down. Captive elephants, particularly those who are older, experiencing physical ailments like arthritis, or under stress may avoid lying down altogether. 

Studies have shown that soft surfaces encourage longer periods of sleep, and for captive African elephants, larger living areas may also increase the amount of time spent lying down to rest.

Although elephants sleep for only a few hours each day, that rest is essential to their wellbeing.



Providing suitable environments that support natural resting behaviors is an important part of ensuring good welfare at PAWS.

A peaceful nap for Prince

PAWS International Captive Wildlife Conference Registration Is Open!

The PAWS International Captive Wildlife Conference – the world’s longest-running international conference dedicated to examining the realities of wild animals in captivity – will take place in Sacramento, California, October 2-3, with an optional trip to the PAWS sanctuary on October 4.

Since 1992, the conference has brought together scientists, advocates, caregivers, policymakers, educators, and animal protection professionals from around the world to advance knowledge, share research, exchange ideas, and advance the protection of captive wild animals.

Register early and save! Substantial early bird discounts are available through Friday, August 14.

This year’s program features an outstanding lineup of speakers and presentations.

Day one will explore a range of pressing issues, including the exotic pet trade, public encounters with captive wild animals, the growing trade in sloths for public exhibition, marine mammals, international big cat rescues, and an investigation into the U.S. captive bird trade.

Day two is devoted to elephants. Attendees will hear from leading elephant experts including researchers Shermin de Silva, Liv Baker, and Khatijah Rahmat. Additional presentations will examine elephant tourism, sanctuary care – including Portugal’s new Pangea Trust sanctuary – and other topics affecting elephant welfare and conservation.

We are also pleased to welcome three acclaimed authors: Carol Bradley, author of Last Chain on Billy and a forthcoming book on captive tigers; Andrew Westoll, whose forthcoming book scrutinizes modern zoos; and Eve D’Vincent, author of Captive Ambassadors.

For conference details, a list of confirmed speakers, and registration information, click here.

Join us to learn, engage in meaningful discussion, and connect with others committed to ending the exploitation of captive wildlife worldwide.

Happy 3^rd Birthday, Cleo!

Join us in wishing Cleo a very happy third birthday.

In her young life, Cleo has already overcome tremendous challenges. Seized by authorities from a sham “sanctuary” when just a cub, she suffered with multiple bone fractures and deformities caused by poor nutrition. Thanks to expert care and the opportunity to grow up in a spacious habitat at PAWS, Cleo has blossomed into a strong and energetic tiger.

You can help provide Cleo with the lifelong care she deserves. Click here to symbolically “adopt” Cleo for a year and support her continued comfort and expert care at PAWS.

Remembering PAWS Co-founder Pat Derby on Her Birthday

This month, we celebrate the birthday of PAWS co-founder Pat Derby – a visionary advocate whose compassion and determination changed the lives of countless wild animals.

A former Hollywood animal trainer, Pat exposed the realities of the entertainment industry in her groundbreaking 1976 book, The Lady and Her Tiger. She went on to dedicate her life to ending the exploitation of wild animals used for entertainment and to creating a better future for those in captivity.

Together with PAWS Co-founder and Board President Ed Stewart, Pat built ARK 2000, the 2,300-acre sanctuary that remains her enduring legacy.

Today, elephants, bears, big cats, monkeys, and other rescued and retired wild animals thrive in the spacious habitats she imagined and helped create. Our state-of-the-art veterinary facility, the Pat Derby Animal Wellness Center, is named in her honor.

Although Pat is no longer with us, her spirit lives on in every animal we care for, every life we change, and in our ongoing work to educate the public and advocate for captive wild animals.

For her birthday, we honor Pat’s extraordinary vision, courage, and unwavering commitment to creating a more compassionate world for animals. 

PAWS Acts Globally to Help Captive Elephants

This month, PAWS joined an international group of elephant experts, scientists, conservationists, welfare specialists, and policy professionals in calling on Zurich Zoo in Switzerland to immediately end its elephant breeding program following the death of yet another calf.

The male calf was euthanized shortly after birth when he was unable to stand and walk, bringing the number of elephant deaths at Zurich Zoo to 11 in the past 10 years; only three of those were adults. Most alarming, every elephant calf born at the zoo during this period is now dead. Reported causes have included injury, failure to thrive, and elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV). 

In a joint statement, the group urged Zurich Zoo to immediately cease breeding elephants, decline future breeding recommendations, prevent transfers for breeding purposes, commission an independent review of elephant welfare, and develop a transparent, time-bound plan to phase out the keeping of elephants at the zoo.

The repeated deaths cannot be viewed as isolated incidents. Rather, they point to ongoing and serious concerns about the welfare implications of keeping and breeding elephants in captivity.

Click here to read the full statement.

Did you know that you can help the animals at PAWS with just a few clicks?

Our Amazon Wish List includes items we use every day at the sanctuary, such as health supplements, food, batteries, and other essentials. 

By purchasing directly from the list, you support PAWS and help give the animals the best care possible.

Click here to see needed items and make your purchase!

Thank You to Our June Amazon Wish List Donors:

Dana Walton: one bag of Pumpkin Seeds, 5lbs; one bag of Pears, 1lb. Dawn Wolfson: one box of AA Batteries, 48pk; one bag of Pumpkin Seeds, 5lbs. Sharmon Freund: one gallon of Sore-No-More Liniment. Nancy Gordon: two boxes of AA Batteries, 48pk; two packs of N95 Face Masks, 20ct. Shaw Law Group: Legal services. Debbie Larkin: two bags of Pecans, 5lbs. Janet L. Campbell: one bag of Almonds, 4lbs; one bag of Macadamia Nuts, 2lbs. Debbie (unknown): two gallons of Sore-no-More Liniment. Anonymous: one bag of Peaches, 1lb; two bags of Pears, 1lb; one bag of Sunflower Seeds, 5lbs.

RESCUED TIGER FALCOR

PAWS provides lifetime care to the tigers, bears, elephants, and other animals who call our sanctuary home. Your kind support provides expert daily care, necessary veterinary treatments, and specialized nutritional support, all tailored to the individual needs of each animal. Your gifts make this excellent care possible.

There are many ways you can help PAWS animals:

Donate. Although we work closely with regulatory agencies on animal rescues, PAWS receives no government funding and must rely on your donations to continue our work. When you make a contribution for the wild animals at PAWS, it is unlike any other. How many people can say they’ve gifted elephants with spacious rolling hills and a more natural life, or made a present of a lush, tree-filled habitat for a tiger? Or given a bear a new chance at life? And you ensure we are prepared for the next wild animal in dire need of rescue. Three ways to give and every donation matters.

PAWS is proud of its 4-star rating with Charity Navigator - the highest rating possible. We are part of an elite group of charities with an "exceptional" designation (at least four consecutive years of 4-star ratings), meaning that your gift will have the greatest impact possible. CharityWatch gives PAWS an "A" rating.

Give to one of PAWS' ongoing MightyCause campaigns: Our "Dollars for Dirt" or "Give BIG for PAWS' Elephants" fundraisers for the elephants, like Prince (pictured), or our "Help Captive Tigers" fundraiser to benefit the rescued tigers living at our ARK 2000 sanctuary.

Adopt A PAWS Animal. If you would like to help our animals, one of the best ways is to become an "adoptive parent," or give a PAWS adoption as a gift to an animal lover in your life. PAWS adoptions are symbolic adoptions only. No animal will be sent! Learn more

PAWS Amazon Wish List. We have chosen specific items that are needed at the sanctuary, which you can purchase directly from Amazon. Many items are ongoing. The list is always current! View here.

EBAY Giving Works. Visit PAWS eBay page to view our current listings and to bid. List your items on EBAY and choose PAWS as your charity. Donate a percentage of each sale to the animals. Visit our EBAY charity listing page here. Start selling or buying!