Joyce deserves a peaceful life in sanctuary. Away from rollercoasters.
Joyce has been held in the Wild Safari exhibit at the Six Flags Great Adventure theme park in New Jersey since 2010. A theme park is no place for an elephant.
Joyce deserves a more peaceful life in sanctuary.
Joyce has been held in the Wild Safari exhibit at the Six Flags Great Adventure theme park in New Jersey since 2010. A theme park is no place for an elephant.
How you can advocate for Joyce as a Six Flags employee:
- Share this webpage with other team members to spread awareness about Joyce's story.
- Send a letter or message of support for Joyce to be relocated to sanctuary to Mike Fehnel, President.
- Share a message of support for Joyce on social media.
Joyce's History
Joyce, an African Elephant, was brought to the US from the wilds of Zimbabwe in the 1980s after most of her herd was killed in the government’s elephant culling operation. Since arriving in the US alongside 62 other orphaned elephants, Joyce has suffered a traumatic history of performances, isolation, and stress, regularly passed around between zoos, circuses, and other captive attractions around the US.
Barren Enclosures, Rumbling Rollercoasters
Joyce has been isolated in an area approximately 700,000 times less than an African Elephant would have in the wild. These enclosures are also in close proximity to the rollercoasters. To better understand what Joyce experiences, World Animal Protection partnered with Terrapin Sensing and the University of Maryland Department of Geology to measure the intensity and sources of ground shaking around Joyce’s enclosure. Read the report.
The Problem with Captivity
It is not possible to meet the complex physical, social, and spatial needs of elephants in a zoo setting, like the Wild Safari. Elephants in captivity experience devastating impacts on their physical and psychological well-being, including shorter lifespans, behavior problems, and chronic diseases.
New Jersey's Remaining Elephants
Public opinion of how we treat animals is changing. In 2018, New Jersey became the first state to ban the use of elephants and other wild animals in circuses. The elephants at Six Flags, including Joyce, are the last remaining captive elephants in the state.
The Solution
Three US sanctuaries exist to care for rescued and formerly captive elephants, with the expertise, veterinary staff, and expansive, lush ranges that enable elephants to just be elephants. World Animal Protection has offered to identify resources and would cover the costs of Joyce’s relocation, plus the other elephants currently at the safari park. This is a great opportunity for Six Flags to showcase its corporate responsibility and do what's right for these animals.
Joyce's History
Joyce, an African Elephant, was brought to the US from the wilds of Zimbabwe in the 1980s after most of her herd was killed in the government’s elephant culling operation. Since arriving in the US alongside 62 other orphaned elephants, Joyce has suffered a traumatic history of performances, isolation, and stress, regularly passed around between zoos, circuses, and other captive attractions around the US.
Barren Enclosures, Rumbling Rollercoasters
Joyce has been isolated in an area approximately 700,000 times less than an African Elephant would have in the wild. These enclosures are also in close proximity to the rollercoasters. To better understand what Joyce experiences, World Animal Protection partnered with Terrapin Sensing and the University of Maryland Department of Geology to measure the intensity and sources of ground shaking around Joyce’s enclosure. Read the report.
The Problem with Captivity
Captivity is inherently psychologically and physically harmful to elephants. It is not possible to meet the complex physical, social, and spatial needs of elephants in a zoo setting, like the Wild Safari. Elephants in captivity experience devastating impacts on their physical and psychological well-being, including shorter lifespans, behavior problems, and chronic diseases.