Category: CAPTIVE ELEPHANTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

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CALLS FOR CLOSURE OF CAPTIVE ELEPHANT FACILITIES OFFERING TOURIST INTERACTIONS WITH ELEPHANTS IN SOUTH AFRICA AFTER RECENT TRAGIC EVENTS AT HERD

PREN CALLS FOR CLOSURE OF CAPTIVE ELEPHANT FACILITIES OFFERING TOURIST INTERACTIONS WITH ELEPHANTS IN SOUTH AFRICA AFTER RECENT TRAGIC EVENTS AT HERD

In South Africa there are a number of facilities which offer human-elephant interactions with captive elephants. Close contact tourism activities raise significant welfare concerns.  These interactions also present obvious risks, as elephants are unpredictable and can cause serious injury due to their size. Tourists should be encouraged to observe elephants in their natural environments but should not engage in unnatural activities such as touching or feeding or used as a backdrop for photoshoots. 

The Pro Elephant Network (PREN) remains deeply concerned about all human interactions with elephants, including staff, in an unprotected environment. Elephant welfare and well-being and the safety and security of the elephant handlers must always be prioritised.

In South Africa the lives of both humans and elephants depend on meaningful change. The way forward must involve constructive dialogue, stronger policies, and renewed commitment to ensuring elephants live in the wild, where they can thrive safely and naturally. PREN called on the Honourable Minister George, to facilitate an independent and public review of the captive elephant industry with the view of phasing it captive elephant facilities that offer interactions with humans. 

Please download a statement from the Members of Pro Elephant Network:

PREN-HERD-Statement-13.10.2025Download

©Pro Elephant Network 2025. All Rights Reserved.

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Urgent Request for an Investigation – Concern for Elephant Chishuru Reported to be Tethered at Adventures with Elephants in Bela Bela

PREN has subsequently received concerning information and images allegedly taken at Adventures with Elephants which seem to contradict the aforementioned website information about how this facility respects and cares for the elephants in their care. 

PREN is urgently appealing to the Environmental Compliance and Enforcement at the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) and to the NSPCA to confirm the validity of this concerning information and to offer sound explanation thereof forthwith. 

Read the letter of concern:

URGENT-Concern-for-Elephant-Chishuru-Allegedly-Tethered-at-Adventures-with-Elephants-in-Bela-BelaDownload

There are apparently seven resident elephant at Adventures with Elephants, these include the previously mentioned Mussina, and her calf Bela, Shan and her calf Zambezi, Naunedi a female elephant and Chova and Chishuru who are the two bull elephants. 

According to the information received, Chishuru who has allegedly been used for commercials because he is a beautiful elephant, went ‘rogue’ after receiving a GnRH vaccine treatment. Allegedly he chased his handlers and would not listen to them. He would occasionally raid the food storage, tear up water pipes or simply go join the rest of the herd wherever they were on the property. 

Further, according to the information received by PREN in order to control Chishuru the staff were instructed to tie him up because it was believed that he may be a danger to the staff or paying guests. Allegedly the staff have been instructed to attempt to retrain Chishuru and introduce him back to the public for interactions instead of having to send him away. 

In 2022, elephants named Tswale and Modjadji were tethered on a property in Mpumalanga where they were being advertised and utilised in the captive elephant industry for human elephant interactions. They were spooked and tried to break free from their tethers. Modjadji was seriously injured as a result and had to be euthanized. This a prime example of why elephants should not be tethered. A urgent solution must be found for Chishuru. 

Contact: administrator@proelephantnetwork.org