PERFORMING ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY

Rescue. Advocacy. Sanctuary. For Life.

Since 1984

Asian elephant Gypsy enjoys a refreshing shower 

Stand with PAWS

This World Elephant Day!

On World Elephant Day, we celebrate these intelligent, social, and iconic animals. But for countless elephants around the world, their life is nothing to celebrate.

Elephants are still chained, beaten, confined to barren enclosures, forced to perform, and made to carry tourists. In the wild, they face poaching, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflict.

At PAWS, we believe elephants deserve better.

For more than 40 years, we have worked to end the exploitation of elephants through science-based advocacy, public policy, and education.

And at our ARK 2000 sanctuary, we give rescued and retired elephants the space, autonomy, and care they deserve.

Our five elephants – Prince, Mara, Thika, Nicholas, and Gypsy – were rescued or retired from zoos and circuses. Today, they roam expansive natural areas, forage freely, and choose how to spend their days. 

This World Elephant Day, here’s how you can help:

Say no to exploitation: Never support circuses, fairs, or other events that use elephants for entertainment, rides, or photo opportunities.

Be a responsible tourist: Never ride an elephant, take a selfie with one, or attend elephant shows. Take our pledge to end elephant suffering for tourism.

Don’t be misled: Captive breeding and displaying elephants does not conserve wild elephant populations.

Support conservation: Donate to legitimate groups like the Amboseli Trust for Elephants, ElephantVoices, or Big Life Foundation.

Donate to PAWS. It costs more than $200 a day to feed and care for just one elephant. Your gift helps provide food, veterinary care, and lifelong sanctuary for the elephants – and strengthens our efforts to protect these animals from exploitation.

Thank you for standing up for elephants!