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June 20 marks the International Day of Action for Elephants in Zoos (IDAEZ), a global event aimed at bringing mammoth attention to the plight of elephants in zoos, and ending their suffering.

Elephants are highly intelligent, complex and self-aware individuals who have evolved for long distance living. In the wild they range tens of miles a day, live in large, tight-knit family groups, and communicate with one another at great distances. Yet zoos keep elephants in tiny exhibits of a few acres or less, where lack of movement and standing on hard surfaces cause painful foot infections and arthritis, the leading causes of euthanasia in captive-held elephants. The stress and boredom typical of intensive confinement results in abnormal behaviors such as repetitive swaying and head bobbing.

In addition, many zoos still use a cruel, circus-style management method based on negative reinforcement and the use of bullhooks (a steel-tipped device similar to a fireplace poker) to poke, prod, stab and beat elephants into submission, In Defense of Animals reports.