Generally, some animals are distinctly unsuited for life in a zoo, however noble the aims of the organization. Keeping elephants in captivity has long sparked controversy among animal rights activists. Elephants in the wild roam constantly, covering a wide swath of territory on a daily basis. In captivity, having no choice but to stand still for long periods of time puts severe strain on the legs and feet of these giants, leading to chronic injury in some captive animals.
Yet elephants are a threatened species in their native environments, heavily poached for ivory, leather, and meat. In order to protect the species from extinction, some experts feel that captive breeding programs may be the best strategy for future survival. Many elephants in captivity were rescued from circuses, saved from natural disasters, or removed from the wild due to injury or abandonment. Zoo proponents rightly ask, should these animals been left to die or euthanized, rather than placed in captivity?