The Truth About “Top” Zoos: Dr. Liz Tyson of Born Free USA on Animal Captivity, Happy the Elephant, and Why No Zoo Is Good for Animals

The Truth About “Top” Zoos: Dr. Liz Tyson of Born Free USA on Animal Captivity, Happy the Elephant, and Why No Zoo Is Good for Animals

From Our Hen House: Vegan & Animal Rights Movement | Stories from the Frontlines of Animal Liberation by Jasmin Singer and Mariann Sullivan

June 5, 2026 · 59 min

About this episode

Jasmin and Mariann discuss the realities of animal captivity in zoos with Dr. Liz Tyson, focusing on the recent death of Happy the Elephant.

This week, Jasmin and Mariann welcome back Dr. Liz Tyson, Director of Animal Welfare and Advocacy at Born Free USA, for a wide-ranging and eye-opening conversation about the reality of animal captivity in zoos — including the “best” ones. Using the recent death of Happy the Elephant at the Bronx Zoo as a launching point, they dig into Born Free’s ongoing…

People in this episode

Hosts: Jasmin Singer, Mariann Sullivan

Guest: Dr. Liz Tyson

Topics covered

  • animal captivity
  • zoos
  • animal welfare
  • advocacy
  • animal rights

Keywords

  • animal captivity
  • zoos
  • animal welfare
  • Happy the Elephant
  • Born Free USA

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Born Free USA

Places: Bronx Zoo

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