New York, July 7, 2026 -- The following statement was issued by Craig Piper, Interim Executive Vice President for the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Zoos & Aquarium and Director of the Bronx Zoo:

Patty, a 57-year-old Asian elephant, is healthy and doing well in her home where she has lived at the Bronx Zoo for more than 50 years. She chooses to enjoy multiple areas of her habitat and engages with her keepers and multiple enrichment activities.

Following the recent loss of Happy, Patty is now the only elephant at the Bronx Zoo, and we understand the concern many people have about her future. Like everyone who has followed Patty's life over the past five decades, she is beloved to us and our focus is on one question: What is best for Patty.

The Bronx Zoo has cared for Patty since 1973. Some of her current keepers have worked with her for nearly 30 years and know her personality, behavior, medical history, and individual needs better than anyone. We always base the care and wellbeing of all our animals on the individual needs of each animal.

In 2006, the WCS Bronx Zoo announced that it would conclude its elephant program over time. That decision reflected our commitment to focus even more of our resources on protecting elephants in the wild through one of the world's largest elephant conservation programs, while also honoring our responsibility to provide lifelong care for the elephants already living at the Bronx Zoo. That commitment remains unchanged today. WCS runs the largest field conservation program in the world which includes working across elephant ranges in Africa and Asia. During our 131 years of history, we have helped create over 65 protected and conserved areas for elephants across their range (at least 45 in Africa and at least 20 in Asia). In addition, we created the 96 Elephants campaign which resulted in coordinating hundreds of partners to ban the sale of elephant ivory in the United States and elsewhere.

As we determine what is best for Patty, we are carefully evaluating every option based on science, veterinary expertise, and her individual welfare, not public pressure or applying ‘a one size fits all’ for Patty’s care: This isn't about choosing a place; it’s about choosing what's best for Patty.

Our evaluation includes several factors:

• Putting Patty's welfare first. Every decision begins and ends with what is best for Patty as an individual animal.
• Relying on the experts who know her best. Patty's future will be determined by the zoo's veterinarians and elephant care professionals, who have decades of experience caring for her and expertise in elephant behavior and welfare.
• Considering all appropriate options. Members of our elephant care team have discussed options with colleagues at other Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) accredited facilities. Our team also recently visited the Association of Zoos & Aquariums accredited Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. Relocation is one option under consideration, but no decision has been made.
• Carefully weighing the risks of transport. Moving any animal is a complex undertaking and must be carefully planned. Preparations would likely take 12 months or more. Moving a geriatric elephant is especially complicated and carries significant physical and psychological risks. At 57, Patty is approximately 12 years older than the median life expectancy of elephants in North American zoos, and history has shown that some older elephants have died following transport. Moving a 57-year-old elephant isn't simply transportation; it's a major medical and behavioral decision with real risks and no guaranteed outcome.
• Recognizing that relocation is not simply a move. Transport is dependent on an elephant voluntarily participating in months of training to acclimate to each of the steps required in transporting them from one location to a new environment.
• Even if relocation is successful, there is no guarantee an older elephant will be compatible with or accepted by other elephants. Patty has historically bonded well with some   elephants but not with others.
• Ensuring continuity of exceptional care. Patty currently receives specialized, 24-hour veterinary care designed specifically for aging animals. Maintaining continuity of care is an important consideration in any decision.

Social opportunity is an important component of elephant welfare, but it is only one factor. Decisions involving geriatric elephants must also consider age, health, behavioral history, transport risk, continuity of care, and the likelihood of successful integration with other elephants. While sanctuaries are often discussed as a straightforward solution, some geriatric elephants living in sanctuaries are housed individually because of their medical or behavioral needs.

The Bronx Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), whose professional standards require that decisions regarding animals in their care must be made by qualified zoo and veterinary professionals based on the needs of the individual animal. Those standards exist to ensure animals receive the highest level of professional care. Our commitment is to continue making decisions about Patty based on science, experience, and her individual welfare. Any decision regarding the care of the zoo’s animals, including Patty, made by an outside entity, including by legislation or the courts, could result in the losing of accreditation.