El Paso Zoo

Pros: plenty of animals, don't have to walk far, cafeteria, gift shop
Cons: none

The El Paso Zoo is a wonderful place to visit. Newly remodeled and full of exciting animals, it's an enjoyable experience. You can check out the elephants, unfortunately Mona passed away, but there is still Mikey the monkey and so many other great...

Pros: It is small so you can get through it and get out quickly.
Cons: Far too many animals for the space and takes very poor care of its elephants.

I felt so sorry for the two elephants displayed in the El Paso Zoo. It is a strange landscape of man made rocks that is so barren it is depressing. The elephants are Asian elephants, which in nature live in forests. Perhaps the administration of this zoo doesn't know any better.

I've since learned that both the elephants suffer from foot rot and arthritis; both are zoo/captivity induced ailments.

This, it turns out, is also the zoo where a video tape was made of zoo staff beating another of its elephants. She was chained and beaten for at least an hour soon after arriving-- for not responding fast enough to a command from keepers that were new to her. The tape showed her screaming in fear and pain, unable to escape her chains and collapsing to her knees as the blows from axe handles continued. The zoo defended its action by saying it was a common way of disciplining elephants in zoos.

They've had another elephant that died of foot rot and possible sloppy vet care.

Anyone who genuinely cares about elephants will avoid this zoo at all cost.