CHER Act of 2025
The CHER Act of 2025 (Captivity of Helpless Elephants Reduction Act) would amend the Animal Welfare Act to ban keeping African and Asian elephants in captivity at U.S. zoological parks and safari parks. Under the bill, exhibitors would be prohibited from displaying, housing, managing, or breeding elephants one year after enactment, with a phase-out that requires all elephants to be transferred to authorized wildlife sanctuaries within three years. The bill defines what counts as an authorized wildlife sanctuary and sets criteria (accreditation, lifelong care, no breeding, no public entertainment, and meeting space and care standards). It also calls for a feasibility study within one year, potential grant funding to help sanctuaries accommodate transferred elephants, and public education about the welfare benefits of ending captivity for elephants. The Secretary of Agriculture would oversee implementation. In short, if enacted, the bill would end public elephant captivity in zoos and safari parks in the United States within a three-year window and replace it with transfers to accredited sanctuaries that meet specific welfare standards.
Key Points
- 1Prohibition timeline: Exhibitors at safari or zoological parks may not exhibit, house, manage, or breed African or Asian elephants after one year from enactment, except to complete transfers under the bill’s plan.
- 2Mandatory transfer: Exhibitors with elephants as of enactment must transfer them to authorized wildlife sanctuaries within three years.
- 3Authorized wildlife sanctuary criteria: Nonprofit facilities accredited by GFAS or similar bodies, dedicated to lifelong elephant care, no breeding, no public entertainment, operates under space, veterinary care, and naturalistic environment standards.
- 4Definitions: The bill clarifies terms for African elephant, authorized wildlife sanctuary, safari park, and zoological park to ensure consistent application.
- 5Implementation and support: Requires a feasibility study within one year, authorizes a grant program to assist sanctuaries, and directs public education efforts about welfare benefits.