Asha The Elephant was kidnapped from the wild at just 2 years old. Her entire family was killed due to a culling slaughter in 1984.
She was then transported 7,963 miles just to be exploited in Natural Bridge Zoo. The zoo has nearly 150 animal welfare violations and continues to abuse their animals. It has been on the Top 10 Worst zoos in America for 7 years in a row yet still remains in business.
Asha has spent nearly 40 years in social isolation. In the summer, she spends her time giving about 10,000 people elephant rides with no breaks, no shade, and no water so she will not urinate in front of the crowd.
Shes developed chronic foot disease and arthritis from the pain her captives force her to endure, both of which having a reputation of leading to death. She is forever under the constant threat of being beaten by a bullhook if she gets too tired or slows down. The zoo owner, Karl Mogensen has even sexualized her, naming her the "Centerfold For Elephant Playboy."
In the winter this desperate girl is chained to a concrete floor with no pool or heat. She is given little to no exercise, water, and food. This harsh life of captivity has driven Asha to aggression and she has killed her handler and even a fellow elephant due to stress. This proves people riding her can be dangerous and even lethal.
She deserves to live in a sanctuary with other elephants, splashing in the water, roaming, exploring, no whippings, no electric-shock devices, a place where she can just live and exhibit natural behaviors, not a place where shes veiwed as entertainment. This poor elephant is dying but we still have a chance to save her and let her live out her last few years in peace. It's about time she sees real grass and lives a life of choice.
