Tembo

Tembo is a female African elephant who has spent nearly half a century confined at the Cameron Park Zoo in Waco, Texas. Born around 1977 in the wild in Mozambique, Tembo was captured as a calf and imported to the United States. On January 5, 1979, she was transferred to the Cameron Park Zoo, where she has remained confined ever since. Like so many elephants held in captivity, Tembo has been deprived of the vast spaces, rich social bonds, and autonomy she would have known in the wild.

The Cameron Park Zoo, which relocated to its current location in 1993, has kept only one or two elephants at a time—an arrangement that falls far short of the complex social structures elephants require. From 1979 until 2007, Tembo lived alone or with a single companion for brief periods. In late 2007, another female African elephant named Tanya was brought to the zoo. Tembo and Tanya lived together for 13 years until Tanya’s unexpected death in 2020. Since then, Tembo has lived in complete social isolation. Elephants are deeply social animals, and solitary confinement is known to cause immense psychological distress. 

Tembo’s enclosure at the Cameron Park Zoo is less than one acre in size, including the barn. This is a mere fraction of the vast  amount of space that she would roam in the wild. The zoo has subjected Tembo to a variety of public entertainment acts that it claims provide enrichment. She has been made to paint pictures and other objects, which are sold on the zoo’s website. The zoo also celebrates her birthday each July 4th with a public party. Zoo officials have claimed these activities keep Tembo mentally stimulated, but in reality, they serve primarily to entertain zoo patrons and generate revenue.

At the Cameron Park Zoo, Tembo is forced to endure a life of restricted movement in an elephant exhibit that is small and lacks the environmental complexity needed to support an elephant’s psychological needs. Elephants in captivity frequently suffer from chronic health issues, including arthritis and foot disease, which are exacerbated by standing on hard surfaces and lack of sufficient movement. Tembo is no exception. She has been observed displaying signs of discomfort and engaging in stereotypic behaviors—repetitive actions indicative of mental distress.

The Cameron Park Zoo has justified keeping Tembo in captivity under the guise of conservation and education. However, true conservation efforts should focus on protecting elephants in the wild rather than keeping individuals in zoos where they cannot thrive. Despite growing public awareness of the harm captivity inflicts on elephants, the zoo continues to exploit Tembo for entertainment, showcasing her in an environment that fails to meet her most basic needs.

Tembo, like all elephants held captive in zoos, deserves the opportunity to live out the rest of her life in a sanctuary–a place where she can move freely, socialize on her own terms, and receive proper care that prioritizes her well-being.