Vigil4Elephants
@vigil4elephants.bsky.social
We hold an annual vigil to remember captive elephants that have passed away in zoos, circuses, sanctuaries, temples and tourist attractions. #Vigil4Elephants #CaptivityKills #DontRideElephants #DontBuyATicket vigil4elephants@gmail.com
Please welcome back our co-hosts for the 2025 #Vigil4Elephants:
In Defense of Animals
World Elephant Alliance
The Positive Pachyderm
Puerto Rico Sin Zoo
Ecoflix
North America Friends of Elephant Haven - EHEES
In Defense of Animals
World Elephant Alliance
The Positive Pachyderm
Puerto Rico Sin Zoo
Ecoflix
North America Friends of Elephant Haven - EHEES
November 14, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Please welcome back our co-hosts for the 2025 #Vigil4Elephants:
In Defense of Animals
World Elephant Alliance
The Positive Pachyderm
Puerto Rico Sin Zoo
Ecoflix
North America Friends of Elephant Haven - EHEES
In Defense of Animals
World Elephant Alliance
The Positive Pachyderm
Puerto Rico Sin Zoo
Ecoflix
North America Friends of Elephant Haven - EHEES
Such sad news from Wildlife SOS, India:
“We’re heartbroken to announce the loss of our beloved elephant Peanut. Surrounded by veterinary teams and caregivers, the colourful, mischievous elephant unexpectedly passed away January 9. For everyone at Wildlife SOS and Peanut’s many supporters, her loss
“We’re heartbroken to announce the loss of our beloved elephant Peanut. Surrounded by veterinary teams and caregivers, the colourful, mischievous elephant unexpectedly passed away January 9. For everyone at Wildlife SOS and Peanut’s many supporters, her loss
November 14, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Such sad news from Wildlife SOS, India:
“We’re heartbroken to announce the loss of our beloved elephant Peanut. Surrounded by veterinary teams and caregivers, the colourful, mischievous elephant unexpectedly passed away January 9. For everyone at Wildlife SOS and Peanut’s many supporters, her loss
“We’re heartbroken to announce the loss of our beloved elephant Peanut. Surrounded by veterinary teams and caregivers, the colourful, mischievous elephant unexpectedly passed away January 9. For everyone at Wildlife SOS and Peanut’s many supporters, her loss
Dunja, an Asian elephant, was born free but spent her life in captivity. Taken from the wild, she was forced into circus life with Circus Montecarlo, enduring years of confinement and cruelty.
After being confiscated by German officials, Dunja was sent to a series of zoos, where she continued to be
After being confiscated by German officials, Dunja was sent to a series of zoos, where she continued to be
November 13, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Dunja, an Asian elephant, was born free but spent her life in captivity. Taken from the wild, she was forced into circus life with Circus Montecarlo, enduring years of confinement and cruelty.
After being confiscated by German officials, Dunja was sent to a series of zoos, where she continued to be
After being confiscated by German officials, Dunja was sent to a series of zoos, where she continued to be
Ziha, an Asian female elephant, was captive born in January 2006 at La Palmyre Zoo, France, and she died there 19 years later in January 2025. At the time of this writing, the cause of death has not been disclosed.
Current research is clear: elephants are autonomous, social, cognitively and
Current research is clear: elephants are autonomous, social, cognitively and
November 12, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Ziha, an Asian female elephant, was captive born in January 2006 at La Palmyre Zoo, France, and she died there 19 years later in January 2025. At the time of this writing, the cause of death has not been disclosed.
Current research is clear: elephants are autonomous, social, cognitively and
Current research is clear: elephants are autonomous, social, cognitively and
Please welcome back our co-hosts for the 2025 #Vigil4Elephants:
Stews 4 Elephants
Los Angeles For Animals
Progress 4 Science
Please contact us at vigil4elephants@gmail.com if you’d like to co-host
Stews 4 Elephants
Los Angeles For Animals
Progress 4 Science
Please contact us at vigil4elephants@gmail.com if you’d like to co-host
October 25, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Please welcome back our co-hosts for the 2025 #Vigil4Elephants:
Stews 4 Elephants
Los Angeles For Animals
Progress 4 Science
Please contact us at vigil4elephants@gmail.com if you’d like to co-host
Stews 4 Elephants
Los Angeles For Animals
Progress 4 Science
Please contact us at vigil4elephants@gmail.com if you’d like to co-host
It is unfortunately that time of year again to start up the annual Vigil4Elephants. We seem to be on par with previous years for the number of captive elephant deaths. The daily individual elephant posts will start on Wednesday, November 12 this year.
Emails have been sent out to all the previous
Emails have been sent out to all the previous
October 22, 2025 at 2:54 PM
It is unfortunately that time of year again to start up the annual Vigil4Elephants. We seem to be on par with previous years for the number of captive elephant deaths. The daily individual elephant posts will start on Wednesday, November 12 this year.
Emails have been sent out to all the previous
Emails have been sent out to all the previous
The 2024 #Vigil4Elephants is now complete. As we mentioned previously, when the vigil was done, we will no longer be posting on X. You can follow us on our Facebook page, Instagram, BlueSky & YouTube. Our email is vigil4elephants@gmail.com if you need to reach us. Thank you! 💜🐘
January 13, 2025 at 2:49 PM
The 2024 #Vigil4Elephants is now complete. As we mentioned previously, when the vigil was done, we will no longer be posting on X. You can follow us on our Facebook page, Instagram, BlueSky & YouTube. Our email is vigil4elephants@gmail.com if you need to reach us. Thank you! 💜🐘
Thank you one & all that have participated in the 2024 #Vigil4Elephants. Normally our team goes a bit quiet afterwards, to recoup a bit from the hectic last month of finalizing everything to be ready for the vigil day, collecting photos & bios. As you could see, the last elephant death in 2024 took
January 12, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Thank you one & all that have participated in the 2024 #Vigil4Elephants. Normally our team goes a bit quiet afterwards, to recoup a bit from the hectic last month of finalizing everything to be ready for the vigil day, collecting photos & bios. As you could see, the last elephant death in 2024 took
PLEASE NOTE: Buba is the final elephant bio for 2024. Thank you for all your comments, shares etc to remember each of the 75 deaths this year.
Thank you Ietje Breunis for the beautiful yet haunting write-up about Buba:
“Buba was one of many Zimbabwean elephant orphans who had been sold as an
Thank you Ietje Breunis for the beautiful yet haunting write-up about Buba:
“Buba was one of many Zimbabwean elephant orphans who had been sold as an
January 11, 2025 at 5:18 PM
PLEASE NOTE: Buba is the final elephant bio for 2024. Thank you for all your comments, shares etc to remember each of the 75 deaths this year.
Thank you Ietje Breunis for the beautiful yet haunting write-up about Buba:
“Buba was one of many Zimbabwean elephant orphans who had been sold as an
Thank you Ietje Breunis for the beautiful yet haunting write-up about Buba:
“Buba was one of many Zimbabwean elephant orphans who had been sold as an
MandaLao Elephant Conservation in Laos was the scene of a horrific accident in December.
Just before being rewilded, a young Asian male elephant with the name “Kit” suddenly began screaming late one evening. Thinking that Kit and his companion Tofu had been “having a bit of a fight,” mahouts were
Just before being rewilded, a young Asian male elephant with the name “Kit” suddenly began screaming late one evening. Thinking that Kit and his companion Tofu had been “having a bit of a fight,” mahouts were
January 11, 2025 at 1:08 PM
MandaLao Elephant Conservation in Laos was the scene of a horrific accident in December.
Just before being rewilded, a young Asian male elephant with the name “Kit” suddenly began screaming late one evening. Thinking that Kit and his companion Tofu had been “having a bit of a fight,” mahouts were
Just before being rewilded, a young Asian male elephant with the name “Kit” suddenly began screaming late one evening. Thinking that Kit and his companion Tofu had been “having a bit of a fight,” mahouts were
Dear Yoyo,
You were a beautiful female African elephant who graced the planet with your stature & charm.
Your disposition did not match the challenges you faced of being in a circus & then “seized” by a government so you could live & be exhibited at the Barcelona Zoo in Spain.
You were a beautiful female African elephant who graced the planet with your stature & charm.
Your disposition did not match the challenges you faced of being in a circus & then “seized” by a government so you could live & be exhibited at the Barcelona Zoo in Spain.
January 10, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Dear Yoyo,
You were a beautiful female African elephant who graced the planet with your stature & charm.
Your disposition did not match the challenges you faced of being in a circus & then “seized” by a government so you could live & be exhibited at the Barcelona Zoo in Spain.
You were a beautiful female African elephant who graced the planet with your stature & charm.
Your disposition did not match the challenges you faced of being in a circus & then “seized” by a government so you could live & be exhibited at the Barcelona Zoo in Spain.
Please extend your well wishes for safety to our colleagues in Los Angeles. May they all be safe, as well as all the wildlife and pets affected by these devastating fires. We are all thinking of you Elephant Guardians of Los Angeles and Los Angeles For Animals 💜
January 10, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Please extend your well wishes for safety to our colleagues in Los Angeles. May they all be safe, as well as all the wildlife and pets affected by these devastating fires. We are all thinking of you Elephant Guardians of Los Angeles and Los Angeles For Animals 💜
Remembering Ruth
Ruth’s life is a story of constant trauma and suffering in captivity. Abandoned by an abusive owner in a waste transfer station, Ruth was sent to Buttonwood Park Zoo on October 26, 1986. Sadly, Ruth’s life didn’t improve at Buttonwood Park Zoo. She endured a 30 day “training”
Ruth’s life is a story of constant trauma and suffering in captivity. Abandoned by an abusive owner in a waste transfer station, Ruth was sent to Buttonwood Park Zoo on October 26, 1986. Sadly, Ruth’s life didn’t improve at Buttonwood Park Zoo. She endured a 30 day “training”
January 10, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Remembering Ruth
Ruth’s life is a story of constant trauma and suffering in captivity. Abandoned by an abusive owner in a waste transfer station, Ruth was sent to Buttonwood Park Zoo on October 26, 1986. Sadly, Ruth’s life didn’t improve at Buttonwood Park Zoo. She endured a 30 day “training”
Ruth’s life is a story of constant trauma and suffering in captivity. Abandoned by an abusive owner in a waste transfer station, Ruth was sent to Buttonwood Park Zoo on October 26, 1986. Sadly, Ruth’s life didn’t improve at Buttonwood Park Zoo. She endured a 30 day “training”
Asian elephant Yindi, only four years old, tragically died after an accident while playing in the elephant outdoor enclosed area. The story from local news media reports that Yindi, living at the Amersfoort Zoo in The Netherlands, got stuck between a wall of tree trunks. She was put to sleep to try
January 9, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Asian elephant Yindi, only four years old, tragically died after an accident while playing in the elephant outdoor enclosed area. The story from local news media reports that Yindi, living at the Amersfoort Zoo in The Netherlands, got stuck between a wall of tree trunks. She was put to sleep to try
Sad Year-End News from the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee:
Donna, African female, age 44, passed away suddenly on December 24. Reports say that she entered her barn and began eating as usual. A short time later, Staff noticed a subtle change in her demeanor and Veterinary and Elephant Care Senior
Donna, African female, age 44, passed away suddenly on December 24. Reports say that she entered her barn and began eating as usual. A short time later, Staff noticed a subtle change in her demeanor and Veterinary and Elephant Care Senior
January 9, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Sad Year-End News from the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee:
Donna, African female, age 44, passed away suddenly on December 24. Reports say that she entered her barn and began eating as usual. A short time later, Staff noticed a subtle change in her demeanor and Veterinary and Elephant Care Senior
Donna, African female, age 44, passed away suddenly on December 24. Reports say that she entered her barn and began eating as usual. A short time later, Staff noticed a subtle change in her demeanor and Veterinary and Elephant Care Senior
01/09/25 members of the #Vigil4Elephants will be on Debbie Dahmer's podcast. If you have questions you'd like to ask the team you can phone in to the live show, or just listen live. It will also be available to listen to afterwards. Links will be made available closer to show.
January 8, 2025 at 9:54 PM
01/09/25 members of the #Vigil4Elephants will be on Debbie Dahmer's podcast. If you have questions you'd like to ask the team you can phone in to the live show, or just listen live. It will also be available to listen to afterwards. Links will be made available closer to show.
A beautiful African savanna elephant named Drumbo died December 17, 2024. We only discovered her passing during the last few days in December 2024.
Drumbo was born in the wild in 1974. We know that she came to the Czech Republic zoo from a zoo in Vienna.
Drumbo evidently was having severe
Drumbo was born in the wild in 1974. We know that she came to the Czech Republic zoo from a zoo in Vienna.
Drumbo evidently was having severe
January 8, 2025 at 8:24 PM
A beautiful African savanna elephant named Drumbo died December 17, 2024. We only discovered her passing during the last few days in December 2024.
Drumbo was born in the wild in 1974. We know that she came to the Czech Republic zoo from a zoo in Vienna.
Drumbo evidently was having severe
Drumbo was born in the wild in 1974. We know that she came to the Czech Republic zoo from a zoo in Vienna.
Drumbo evidently was having severe
A beloved Sumatran elephant at Bali Zoo has been found dead after she was swept away by an overflowing river.
Here is the report of what transpired at the Bali Zoo, where 14 elephants live:
“Molly was nearly at the edge when she suddenly stopped and was hit by a strong current. Our handler tried
Here is the report of what transpired at the Bali Zoo, where 14 elephants live:
“Molly was nearly at the edge when she suddenly stopped and was hit by a strong current. Our handler tried
January 8, 2025 at 1:30 PM
A beloved Sumatran elephant at Bali Zoo has been found dead after she was swept away by an overflowing river.
Here is the report of what transpired at the Bali Zoo, where 14 elephants live:
“Molly was nearly at the edge when she suddenly stopped and was hit by a strong current. Our handler tried
Here is the report of what transpired at the Bali Zoo, where 14 elephants live:
“Molly was nearly at the edge when she suddenly stopped and was hit by a strong current. Our handler tried
Here's what's coming in the next few days leading up to Saturday's #Vigil4Elephants
The video with all the captive elephants that passed away in 2024 will be posted on January 9th (see your local times below in graphic)
Later on January 9th some of the Vigil4Elephants Team will be speaking on
The video with all the captive elephants that passed away in 2024 will be posted on January 9th (see your local times below in graphic)
Later on January 9th some of the Vigil4Elephants Team will be speaking on
January 7, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Here's what's coming in the next few days leading up to Saturday's #Vigil4Elephants
The video with all the captive elephants that passed away in 2024 will be posted on January 9th (see your local times below in graphic)
Later on January 9th some of the Vigil4Elephants Team will be speaking on
The video with all the captive elephants that passed away in 2024 will be posted on January 9th (see your local times below in graphic)
Later on January 9th some of the Vigil4Elephants Team will be speaking on
The excitement by the Albuquerque BioPark New Mexico Zoo had been building. After all, the praise it would receive from other zoos and zoo patrons by welcoming a baby Asian elephant would be a “feather in the zoo’s cap.” Zoos love newborn animals, especially elephants.
However, Rozie, the baby’s
However, Rozie, the baby’s
January 7, 2025 at 8:49 PM
The excitement by the Albuquerque BioPark New Mexico Zoo had been building. After all, the praise it would receive from other zoos and zoo patrons by welcoming a baby Asian elephant would be a “feather in the zoo’s cap.” Zoos love newborn animals, especially elephants.
However, Rozie, the baby’s
However, Rozie, the baby’s
Sonia, your recent passing has reverberated throughout the worldwide elephant advocacy community. Many tears are still being shed as this biography is being written.
According to reports, you died shortly after your sister, Madhubala, arrived at the Pakistani-based Karachi Safari Park. You had been
According to reports, you died shortly after your sister, Madhubala, arrived at the Pakistani-based Karachi Safari Park. You had been
January 7, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Sonia, your recent passing has reverberated throughout the worldwide elephant advocacy community. Many tears are still being shed as this biography is being written.
According to reports, you died shortly after your sister, Madhubala, arrived at the Pakistani-based Karachi Safari Park. You had been
According to reports, you died shortly after your sister, Madhubala, arrived at the Pakistani-based Karachi Safari Park. You had been
Article regarding Ka Yan toddler at Wildlands Adventure Zoo:
“Second elephant dies from Herpesvirus at Adventure Zoo Emmen
A second young elephant has died at Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen within five days, both likely due to the highly lethal elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV). The
“Second elephant dies from Herpesvirus at Adventure Zoo Emmen
A second young elephant has died at Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen within five days, both likely due to the highly lethal elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV). The
January 7, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Article regarding Ka Yan toddler at Wildlands Adventure Zoo:
“Second elephant dies from Herpesvirus at Adventure Zoo Emmen
A second young elephant has died at Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen within five days, both likely due to the highly lethal elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV). The
“Second elephant dies from Herpesvirus at Adventure Zoo Emmen
A second young elephant has died at Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen within five days, both likely due to the highly lethal elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV). The
Taken from BLES Facebook Page
A Tragic Loss:
“We are heartbroken 💔
Our precious ‘Little’ Lom has died unexpectedly.
Please understand that this is a profound loss for The BLES Family and that we are struggling to come to terms with what has happened.
We need your support and compassion during
A Tragic Loss:
“We are heartbroken 💔
Our precious ‘Little’ Lom has died unexpectedly.
Please understand that this is a profound loss for The BLES Family and that we are struggling to come to terms with what has happened.
We need your support and compassion during
January 6, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Taken from BLES Facebook Page
A Tragic Loss:
“We are heartbroken 💔
Our precious ‘Little’ Lom has died unexpectedly.
Please understand that this is a profound loss for The BLES Family and that we are struggling to come to terms with what has happened.
We need your support and compassion during
A Tragic Loss:
“We are heartbroken 💔
Our precious ‘Little’ Lom has died unexpectedly.
Please understand that this is a profound loss for The BLES Family and that we are struggling to come to terms with what has happened.
We need your support and compassion during
Anarkali, an Asian female Elephant, died November 10, 2024, while held in the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan Zoo in Mumbai, India. The zoo stated that she died of “old age complications”. Reported cause of death was cardiorespiratory failure and her post-mortem exam found she had a stomach tumor.
January 6, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Anarkali, an Asian female Elephant, died November 10, 2024, while held in the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan Zoo in Mumbai, India. The zoo stated that she died of “old age complications”. Reported cause of death was cardiorespiratory failure and her post-mortem exam found she had a stomach tumor.
Nagarr died two months shy of his first birthday. He, like so many young elephants in zoos, died from the fast-acting and deadly elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV). Just four days later, the same virus killed Ka Yan, who was not quite three. Nagarr was still nursing with his mother
January 6, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Nagarr died two months shy of his first birthday. He, like so many young elephants in zoos, died from the fast-acting and deadly elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV). Just four days later, the same virus killed Ka Yan, who was not quite three. Nagarr was still nursing with his mother