19.06.2026

(Zürich/ffw) - Die Fondation Franz Weber hat uns eine Medienmitteilung sowie eine Stellungnahme übermittelt, die von einer internationalen Gruppe von Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftlern, Elefantenfachleuten, Tierärztinnen und Tierärzten, Expertinnen und Experten für Tierschutz sowie Fachpersonen aus dem Naturschutz erarbeitet wurden.

Nach dem Tod eines weiteren Elefantenkalbs im Zoo Zürich am 1. Juni 2026 fordern die Verfasserinnen und Verfasser des Berichts den Zoo auf, sein Elefantenzuchtprogramm einzustellen. Nach Ansicht der unterzeichnenden Expertinnen und Experten werfen die elf Todesfälle von Elefanten im Zoo Zürich während der vergangenen zehn Jahre – darunter sämtliche in diesem Zeitraum geborenen Elefantenkälber – schwerwiegende Fragen hinsichtlich Tierwohl, Ethik und Naturschutz auf.

Die Fondation Franz Weber ist der Auffassung, dass diese Stellungnahme, die auf der Erfahrung und Expertise international anerkannter Fachleute beruht, die volle Aufmerksamkeit von Behörden, Medien und Öffentlichkeit verdient, und unterstützt den Appell der Expertinnen und Experten an den Zoo Zürich nachdrücklich.

PRESS RELEASE

Elephant experts call for Zurich Zoo to end elephant breeding after 11 deaths in 10 years

Every elephant calf born at Zurich Zoo in the past decade is now dead

For immediate release

Summary

An international group of elephant experts, scientists, conservationists, welfare specialists and policy professionals is calling on Zurich Zoo to immediately end its elephant breeding programme following the death of another newborn male calf.

The calf, born to Indi on 1 June 2026, was euthanised shortly after birth after he was unable to stand and walk. His death brings the number of elephant deaths at Zurich Zoo to 11 in the past 10 years. Most concerningly, every elephant calf born at the zoo during this period is now dead.

This is not an isolated tragedy. It is a repeated pattern.

Why experts are calling for breeding to end

Since 2016, at least 11 elephants have died at Zurich Zoo. Only three were adults. The remaining deaths were calves or young elephants, including newborns, juveniles and young elephants who died from injury, failure to thrive or elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus, commonly known as EEHV.

Behind each number is an individual elephant, a mother, a family group and another cycle of pregnancy, birth, distress, loss and separation.

Zurich Zoo may present individual deaths as isolated, unfortunate events. But when every calf born over a 10-year period dies in a small, intensively managed captive group, the issue can no longer be dismissed as chance. It raises serious questions about whether elephant breeding at Zurich Zoo can be justified on welfare, ethical or conservation grounds.

Elephants are sentient, socially complex animals. In the wild, calves remain closely bonded to their mothers for many years, and female calves remain with their mothers for life. Deaths, removals and disruptions within such social systems are not minor events. They are likely to cause significant distress to the elephants who remain.

The zoo’s elephant breeding programme does not produce elephants for release into the wild. Captive elephant breeding primarily serves to sustain zoo populations and future exhibits for visitors. It does not restore wild elephant populations, protect wild habitat, reduce human-elephant conflict, or return elephants to functioning ecosystems. Elephants bred in zoos are not being prepared for release into the wild. They are being born into a lifetime of confinement.

True conservation is measured by real benefits to wild populations and functioning ecosystems. Breeding elephants who will remain in captivity, while every calf born at the zoo in the past decade is now dead, cannot credibly be presented as a conservation success.

The call to Zurich Zoo

·       Immediately cease elephant breeding.

·       Withdraw from any future breeding recommendations.

·       Prevent further transfers for breeding purposes.

·       Commission an independent welfare review of the elephant programme.

·       Develop a transparent, time-bound plan to phase out the keeping of elephants at the zoo.

·       Prioritise the welfare, stability and long-term care of the elephants currently in its care.

Zurich Zoo must now prioritise the welfare, stability and long-term care of the elephants already in its care. Breeding more calves into a system where every calf born in the past decade is now dead is no longer defensible.

It is time for Zurich Zoo to end elephant breeding.

Notes to editors

The supporting Expert Statement and Background Evidence provides the full list of elephant deaths and living elephants