The HBO documentary An Apology to Elephants, released in 2013, prominently

We often receive emails from people who have recently discovered the ground-breaking HBO documentary, An Apology to Elephants, and been inspired to take action. This hard-hitting film explores the abuse of elephants in circuses and the impoverishment of their lives in zoos – and how some people are working to bring about change. Award-winning actress, comedian, producer, and PAWS’ friend Lily Tomlin narrates the film and earned an Emmy for her work. The documentary remains as relevant today as when it was first released.

(Pictured: Lily Tomlin with PAWS'

When Lily Tomlin approached PAWS about the project, we were happy to provide our expertise. The film prominently features PAWS’ co-founders, Ed Stewart and the late Pat Derby, and the elephants we care for at ARK 2000. In fact, An Apology to Elephants was dedicated to Pat, who passed away in February 2013. Tomlin shared her Emmy win with Ed Stewart (pictured) and PAWS, stating, “This is a great acknowledgement of the work of Ed Stewart and Pat Derby, founders of PAWS, who have worked on behalf of elephants for so many years.”

PAWS cares for eight elephants rescued or retired from zoos and circuses. They include Asian elephant Gypsy, who spent 40 years in at least a half dozen different circuses, and African elephant Mara who was originally held at a petting zoo in California. Unlike Gypsy and Mara, who were kidnapped from their families in the wild, Asian elephant Nicholas was born into the circus where he was forced to ride a tricycle and balance on a narrow wood beam. Maggie was the only elephant in frigid Alaska before she was transferred to PAWS.

Today, all of our elephants live far different lives. They traverse large, open pastures set among rolling hills dotted with oak trees, spending their days as they please. This usually includes foraging on grass and trees, enjoying a dust bath, and exploring their dynamic environment.

Since An Apology to Elephants was released, we’ve made progress for captive elephants used in circuses. Legislation has played a large part, first with city and state-wide bans on the abusive elephant bullhook (PAWS co-sponsored the California bill and played a role in the Rhode Island ban) and through prohibitions on the use of elephants in traveling shows (New York, Illinois) and on the use of wild animal acts (New Jersey, Hawaii). Many more local municipalities have passed similar bans. Several states have introduced bills this year to prohibit wild animal acts. (Read more in article below.)

Zoos continue to confine and display elephants, though the number of zoos holding them in the U.S. has decreased. The number of elephants in zoos is also decreasing, as elephants do not thrive in captive environments. More captive elephants are dying each year than are being born. To make up for this, zoos have imported wild caught elephants – and will do so again – in order to stock zoo displays. PAWS will continue to stand up against the cruel separation of elephant calves from their mothers and wild families, only to spend the rest of their lives in captivity.

Of course, there is much more work to be done before we can declare victory for captive elephants. If you need some motivation or just want to learn more about the plight of these iconic animals in captivity, watch An Apology to Elephants. It is sure to move you to action!

An Apology to Elephants was directed by Amy Schatz, with narration written by Jane Wagner. You can find the documentary on HBO Max, Hulu Premium, Amazon Prime and YouTube.

Following is a list of state bills introduced this year that would ban wild animal acts. If you live in one of these states, please take action to support your bill. (You should only contact state legislators if you live in that state.) To track the progress of your bill and action you can take, follow the Humane Society of the U.S. Facebook page for your state or sign up for emails from animal protection organizations involved in your state's bill.

Colorado – SB 21-135, introduced by Reps. Joann Ginal and Rachel Zenzinger in the House and Sens. Monica Duran and Meg Froelich in the Senate, would prohibit the use of certain wild animals in a traveling act.

Status: The bill passed the Senate on a 20-14 vote and is now in the House Agriculture, Livestock, & Water Committee. Follow progress of the bill here. Sign up for email alerts from Colorado Voters for Animals here.

Action: If your state Representative sits on the House Agriculture, Livestock, & Water Committee (see list here), contact them in support of this bill. Find your representative here.

Massachusetts – HD 2035 (House bill introduced by Reps. Lori Ehrlich and Bradley Jones, Jr.) and SD 1246 (Senate bill introduced by Sen. Bruce Tarr) would prohibit the use of elephants, big cats (including hybrids), bears, primates, and giraffes in traveling shows.

Status: Not yet referred to committee. Follow progress of HD 2035 here and SD 1246 here.

Action: Sign up for MSPCA Action Team alerts here so you know when to take action.

New York – Assembly Bill 5542, sponsored by Asm. Steve Englebright, would prohibit the issuance of permits authorizing the use of wild animals in circuses or traveling animal acts.

Status: Bill referred to Committee on Environmental Conservation. Follow progress of the bill here.

Action: If your Assembly member sits on the Committee on Environmental Conservation (see list here), contact them in support of this bill.

Texas – House Bill 1941, sponsored by Rep. Vikki Goodwin, would prohibit the use of certain devices to train or control the behavior of an elephant.

Status: Referred to Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence. Follow progress of the bill here. You can sign up for government bill and meeting alerts here.

Action: If your state House member sits on the Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence (see list here), please contact them in support of this bill.

Texas – House Bill 3710, sponsored by Rep. Claudia Ordaz Perez, would prohibit direct contact with certain captive wild animals, including big cats, elephants, bears, and nonhuman primates.

Status: Referred to Committee on Culture, Recreation and Tourism. Follow progress of the bill here. You can sign up for government bill and meeting alerts here.

Action: If your state House member sits on the Committee on Culture, Recreation and Tourism (see list here), please contact them in support of this bill.

Last August, PAWS exposed a plan by the Fort Worth Zoo in Texas to purchase and import two female Asian elephants, Emily and Nellie, from African Lion Safari in Canada for the outrageous price of two-million dollars. (Read our press release here.) We had also filed comments with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), asking that the agency deny the permit required for the import. Recently, we learned that the Fort Worth Zoo withdrew its permit request in September 2020.

The zoo’s aim was to bring in the elephants for breeding, even though the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) own Population Analysis and Breeding & Transfer Plan for Asian elephants rated the pairing of Nellie with the two males at the Fort Worth Zoo as “genetically detrimental” and for Emily it was either “genetically detrimental” or “genetically neutral.” Shockingly, the AZA actually allows pairings of elephants for whom breeding would be genetically detrimental due to the “current demographic needs of the population” and “to meet offspring goals.” In other words, the number of elephants in zoos is diminishing and they need to produce elephants for display, no matter the cost.

For more information on the symposium, click here.

PAWS cares for tigers who were rescued from the exotic “pet” trade and defunct cub petting facilities – including Kim, Claire, Bigelow, Sawyer and Wilhelm. Help us ensure that no more big cats have to suffer for entertainment and profit.

To take action, please click here.

If you are looking for a unique way to broaden your students’ online learning experience, PAWS can provide a guest speaker for your college or high school classes. Topics can range from an overview of our sanctuary work to more in-depth discussions of captive wild animal issues, ethics, and care. Contact PAWS Director of Science, Research and Advocacy at cdoyle@pawsweb.org for more information. Speakers are provided at no charge.

Did you know that PAWS has an Amazon Wish List? We have chosen specific items that are needed at the sanctuary, which you can purchase directly from Amazon. We have an ongoing need for many of the products listed. Click here to review the items and donate. You can also review “wish list” items that are needed but not listed on Amazon. Click here for that list.

Duke and Cheryl Rohlffs: one 32 oz. bottle of Eicosaderm; one box of nitrile gloves. Mary: six 32 oz. bottles of EicosaDerm. Kerry B. Taylor: one box of Denamarin, 30#. Laura Elers: one box of nitrile gloves. Gregg E. Genst: one Renal Essentials, 60#; one AminAvast, 60#. Katie Kime and Dan Bloxsom: one 8 oz. bottle of EicosaDerm; one bottle of CosequinDS, 132#. Marcia Pelka: one Probiocin; one box of Denamarin, 30#; one bottle of CosequinDS, 132#. Debbie Larkin: three boxes of nitrile gloves; five Probiocin. Valerie J. Mann: one box of nitrile gloves; one 8 oz. bottle of Eicosaderm. Cyndy Fenty: four Probiocin. Carol Bognar: three Probiocin. Nancy Gordon: three boxes of AA batteries, 24#. Julie Patrusky: one box of nitrile gloves. Anonymous Donors: two Probiocin; one 8 oz. bottle of EicosaDerm; three CosequinDS, 132#.