Earlier this week, on World Elephant Day, World Animal Protection US released a short documentary film titled “Trapped at Six Flags,” written, produced and directed by Miguel Endara, Program Manager at World Animal Protection US, and narrated by actress, activist and World Animal Protection Global Ambassador Evanna Lynch.
Joyce, an African elephant, was rescued from the wilds of Zimbabwe in the 1980s and brought to the United States after a government slaughter resulted in the deaths of most of her herd. Since arriving in the United States, Joyce, along with 62 other orphaned elephants, has endured a traumatic history of forced performances, isolation and stress, and has been regularly sold to various zoos, circuses and other attractions.
Since 2010, Joyce has been held captive at the Wild Safari exhibit at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey. Trapped at Six Flags follows Dr. Jan Schmidt-Burbach, Director of Animal Welfare and Research at World Animal Protection, as he visits Six Flags Wild Safari to assess Joyce’s captivity conditions.
Dr. Schmidt-Burbach’s visit reveals that Six Flags allocates a small, barren area to the elephants it keeps captive, to which Joyce is not even allowed access. Instead, she is kept isolated in an even smaller enclosure. The total area Six Flags provides to captive elephants is a staggering 700,000 times smaller than what they would have in their natural environment. In addition, Dr. Schmidt-Burbach raises concerns that the elephants are likely to suffer further harm from their proximity to the park’s massive roller coasters. During the cold New Jersey winter months, all elephants are confined to a nearby pen.
World Animal Protection has long documented that it is impossible to meet the complex physical, social and spatial needs of elephants in a zoo such as the Wild Safari exhibit at Six Flags. Elephants in captivity experience devastating effects on their physical and psychological well-being, including shorter life expectancies, behavioral problems and chronic disease.
Lindsay Oliver, Executive Director, World Animal Protection US:
“Joyce and the other elephants at Six Flags are not exhibits for human entertainment. They are sensitive, intelligent beings who deserve freedom. We call on Six Flags to do the right thing and send all elephants to a sanctuary where they can roam forests, play in mud puddles and just be elephants.”
Actress and World Animal Protection ambassador Evanna Lynch explains
“When World Animal Protection US first contacted me about Joyce, my heart broke. Joyce’s tragic story shows the fate of so many elephants who are taken from the wild and forced to endure a life of exploitation and misery for the entertainment of humans. Thankfully, the end of Joyce’s story is not yet written. I hope that through this remarkable and moving documentary, more people will learn about Joyce and come to her aid while there is still time. It is a privilege to be part of this important project.”
Join World Animal Protection in calling on Six Flags to release Joyce and the other elephants into sanctuaries and close the elephant exhibit permanently.
