# Understanding the CHER Act of 2025

This bill would ban zoos and safari parks across the United States from keeping African and Asian elephants. Starting one year after the law passes, these facilities would no longer be allowed to display, house, breed, or care for elephants. Any elephants currently living in American zoos or safari parks would have to be transferred to wildlife sanctuaries within three years.

The bill is based on research showing that elephants are highly intelligent animals with complex social structures and emotional lives. According to the legislation, elephants in the wild can live 50 years or more, but captive elephants typically live only about 17 years. The bill argues that zoos and safari parks cannot provide the space and conditions elephants need, leading to physical problems like arthritis and hernias, as well as psychological suffering. It also notes that caring for a captive elephant costs up to $100,000 per year, and that over 20 major American zoos have already closed their elephant exhibits on ethical grounds since the 1990s. Several countries, including the United Kingdom, Austria, Greece, and India, have already banned or are phasing out elephant captivity in zoos.

If passed, this bill would affect any zoo or safari park currently housing elephants. These facilities would need to find accredited wildlife sanctuaries willing to take their elephants—sanctuaries that don't breed animals or use them for entertainment, but instead provide lifelong care in naturalistic environments. The government would conduct a study to figure out how to make these transfers work and could offer grants to help sanctuaries accept the elephants. The bill also calls for public education about why this change is beneficial for elephant welfare.