Animal activists on Jozi Zoo elephants: ‘We lost the battle’

Animal activists at the EMS Foundation have pushed back on a court ruling that three elephants – Lammie, Mopanie and Ramadiba – should remain in captivity at the Johannesburg Zoo.

The animals have sparked concerns after reportedly showing “signs of psychological distress”

The activists, Gauteng leaders of the Democratic Alliance, and members of the public have suggested that the elephants be rewilded in a sanctuary in Limpopo. Their concerns have been dismissed by the zoo, which insists the animals are in good health and well cared for.

ANIMAL ACTIVISTS ON JOHANNESBURG ZOO ELEPHANTS: ‘WE’VE LOST THE BATTLE’

In a Facebook post, EMS Foundation expressed its sorrow that the three elephants, Lammie, Mpoanie, and Ramadiba, continue to live in captivity at the Johannesburg Zoo, as per a ruling by the Gauteng Division of the High Court in Pretoria.

The animal activists shared: “We have lost the battle, but not the war”

The foundation said it had been backed by local and international elephant experts, who expressed their concerns.

“The EMS Foundation argues that elephants are highly intelligent, socially complex, and sentient beings. 

“Restricting these three elephants to an enclosure roughly the size of a soccer field, when wild elephants walk up to 40 km per day.  In addition to the fact that elephants require extensive social structures constitutes, in our experts’ learned opinion, is an unconscionable and unlawful compromise of these elephants’  mental and physical well-being.

The animal activists shared their concerns that the elephants had displayed “observable signs of severe psychological trauma, frustration, and boredom”

REWILDING IS AN OPTION

The EMS Foundation shared another post, this time a positive one about Duma the elephant who had been successfully rewilded after spending 40 years in captivity.

Duma, formerly named Charlie, who had spent much of his life performing in a circus. He was rehabilitated at Shambala Private Game Reserve in 2024.

It shared: “He is making remarkable progress, but recovery from decades of trauma requires time, patience and consistent care, whilst at the same time allowing him to adjust at his own pace.

“We have given Duma the space, security and freedom to recover, express natural behaviours and live with dignity. It is his choice to be where he wants to be and when he wants to be there”