Saving Joyce, the elephant at Six Flags

Joyce’s story is one of unimaginable loss. As a young calf in 1984, she was torn from her home in Zimbabwe, forced to witness the brutal killing of her mother and herd before being captured for the entertainment industry.

Joyce was not alone in her suffering. She comes from the same group as Mundi, another elephant who endured decades of captivity before finally being rescued. While Mundi now has a second chance at a better life, Joyce remains trapped, still waiting for her freedom.

Like many wild elephants stolen from their natural habitats, Joyce has been sold and resold across the United States, forced to perform in circuses and exploited in zoos before finally ending up at Six Flags Wild Safari in 2010, where she remains today.

During the winter, she is confined to a small barn, and in warmer months, she is placed in a tiny, barren enclosure – approximately 700,000 times smaller than the space she would roam in the wild. Even more distressing, her enclosure is dangerously close to the park’s rollercoasters. Elephants are highly sensitive to vibrations, and the constant noise and rumbling from these rides add to her daily torment.

Joyce at Six Flags. (Photo: World Animal Protection)  

An expert’s devastating findings

With your support, wildlife veterinarian Dr. Jan Schmidt-Burbach traveled to Six Flags Wild Safari in New Jersey to assess Joyce’s environment. What he found was deeply concerning. Joyce is kept in extreme isolation, separated from other elephants because she has never been fully integrated into the group. Her enclosure offers little to no enrichment, leaving her with nothing to do but suffer in solitude.

“Elephants are intelligent, social animals that need space to roam and strong social bonds to thrive,” said Dr. Schmidt-Burbach. “Joyce has been denied both.”

Join the movement to free Joyce

Joyce’s story is not just about one elephant – it is a call to end the exploitation of elephants everywhere. You can help by signing our petition to demand Six Flags close its elephant exhibit and send Joyce and the other elephants to sanctuary.

Take action today

Together, we’re ending elephant exploitation. Forever.

Banner image: World Animal Protection / Miguel Endara