Release the 35 wild-caught baby elephants held captive in Zimbabwe!

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has been holding 35 wild-caught baby elephants captive in holding pens in the Hwange National Park area for almost a year. Originally destined for export to foreign zoos, the fate of these elephants now hangs in the balance.

A landmark decision was made at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in August introducing a near total ban on the trade of wild-caught African elephants from Zimbabwe and Botswana for captivity. Until the new CITES ruling takes effect in late November, Zimbabwe still has the option to export the elephants, and we fear that a plan is now afoot to secretly export them to China before the CITES deadline.

HSI is joining forces with Advocates4Earth, Sibanye Animal Welfare and Conservancy Trust, Zimbabwe Elephant Foundation and Veterinarians for Animal Welfare Zimbabwe. Together, we're urging the Zimbabwean government to release these vulnerable young elephants to a rewilding sanctuary that would give them a home in as near to wild surroundings as possible, and a chance to heal from the trauma they have endured.