This alert is no longer active, but here for reference.

We hosted an online memorial for Indu, you can watch it here.

Taken from Asia in 1965 when she was just 1 year old, Indu has spent decades in zoos. For the last 26 years, she's been stuck at the Phoenix Zoo, where her only companions, Sheena and Reba, died in 2020 and 2021. Now Indu is completely alone, bereft of any company in a barren, desolate enclosure. Tell Phoenix Zoo to give her the life she's always deserved — a life of freedom, peace, and companionship in a true sanctuary.

The Phoenix Zoo, #10 on our list of 10 Worst Zoos for Elephants, plans to close its elephant exhibit after Indu dies. While that's a step in the right direction, now followed by 38 zoos, she shouldn't spend her last days suffering in isolation. Indu should be given the chance to roam freely, feel grass under her feet, cool her aging body in deep ponds, and connect with other rescued elephants now before she dies.

Right now, Indu lives in harsh conditions. She has no access to deep shade to protect her from Phoenix's brutal 100-degree-plus heat. Her pool is so shallow she can't even fully submerge herself, denying her relief for her stiff, aging joints. She spends her days alternating her tiny space with a lone rhinoceros, unable to experience the freedom or comfort she needs.

At 59, Indu is considered old for a zoo elephant, but that doesn't mean her life is over. With proper care at a sanctuary, she could have years ahead of her to enjoy life as she's never been able to before. Sheena and Reba, Indu's former companions, both suffered from chronic arthritis, and it's likely Indu is facing the same painful condition. The sanctuary can provide her with not only physical relief but also emotional healing after so many lonely years.

The Phoenix Zoo is out of compliance with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) standard, which requires at least three elephants for proper social interaction. Indu has spent 58 long years in captivity, — let's not make her wait any longer for a chance to experience kindness, companionship, freedom, and dignity.

Indu deserves more than to simply fade away in isolation. It's time for her to be released to a real sanctuary where she can finally experience her birthright of freedom.

If the zoo refuses to retire Indu at this time, we urge it, at the very least, to immediately provide her with deep shade and misters to cool her during the broiling Phoenix summers.

Letter to Decision Maker(s) for reference:

Subject: I urge you to send lonely Indu to sanctuary before she dies

On behalf of In Defense of Animals, an animal protection organization with over 250,000 supporters, I strongly urge you to retire your lone elephant Indu to sanctuary.

I am very pleased that the zoo announced it will join 38 progressive zoos by closing its elephant exhibit when Indu dies, but she shouldn’t languish there in isolation when she could have the opportunity to live out her days in a sanctuary.

Many elephants older than Indu have been successfully retired to sanctuary. Even at advanced ages elephants can enjoy years of peace and serenity in a spacious sanctuary home that is designed to fulfill their complex needs for space, a stimulating environment, companionship, and the freedom to roam and forage on a variety of plants and trees.

Right now, Indu is in a tiny, barren enclosure, with not even enough shade to protect her from the 100-plus temperatures in Phoenix or a deep pond to immerse her aging joints. She has been at the zoo for 26 years and all alone for the last four after Sheena and Reba died. No zoo has the space that elephants need to thrive.

It is within your power to make a compassionate choice for Indu. She deserves to live the rest of her days as wild and free as possible. I implore you to grant Indu this last chance of a happy, ever-ending life in a sanctuary haven now before it is too late. In addition, I strongly urge you to provide Indu with deep shade and misters to cool her during the broiling Phoenix summers.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

Signed

This alert is no longer active, but here for reference.

We hosted an online memorial for Indu, you can watch it here.