The CHER Act of 2024 would ban the keeping of African and Asian elephants in American zoos and similar facilities, requiring that all elephants currently held in captivity at these locations be transferred to authorized wildlife sanctuaries. The bill is based on findings that elephants are highly intelligent animals with complex social needs that cannot be met in captivity, resulting in physical and mental health problems and significantly shortened lifespans compared to wild elephants. The legislation affects zoos, safari parks, and other zoological facilities across the United States that currently house elephants. The bill amends existing federal elephant conservation laws to prohibit the display, husbandry, and breeding of these animals in captivity while directing resources toward their relocation to sanctuaries. The legislation points to precedents set by over 20 American zoos that have already voluntarily closed their elephant exhibits and notes that numerous countries including the United Kingdom, Austria, India, and others have implemented similar prohibitions.
Take Action
Your position
Add a comment
to comment on this bill.
Annotate the text
Highlight any passage on the Summary or Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.