An Entertainment Abuses Article used with permission from All-Creatures.org

In Defense of Animals discusses the suffering and deaths among Busch Gardens’ captive elephants, who face new threats from the upcoming construction of a rollercoaster near their barn and the facility’s plan to import two additional elephants.

Whistleblowers Expose Elephant Cover-Up & Conflicts of Interest at Busch Gardens
From Staff, IDA In Defense of Animals, idausa.org
August 2026

Images from Canva

TAMPA, Fla. (Aug. 12, 2026) — Following the death of a second elephant in less than two years, In Defense of Animals joins the Weeping Elephant Project in demanding an independent investigation into Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Newly-released testimonies from former zoo keepers expose severe animal welfare violations, a culture of retaliation against staff, and a massive conflict of interest protecting the theme park from accountability.

The calls for an investigation follow the July 2026 death of Carina, a 54-year-old Asian elephant who was euthanized following three separate emergencies where she collapsed and was unable to stand within a six-day period. Her death closely mirrors the fate of Rosie, another 54-year-old Asian elephant who collapsed during a park fireworks event in 2022, and was left unable to stand for over five hours. She never fully recovered, and was euthanized two years later.

According to the Weeping Elephant Project’s damning new investigative report, park management willfully ignored the animals’ suffering and ordered staff to stop documenting stress behaviors.

“Staff asked if fireworks would be suspended until Rosie could make it back to the barn and be evaluated. The answer was a simple no. None of this was ever made transparent to the public,” revealed a former employee in an anonymous report submitted to the Weeping Elephant Project.

Former animal care specialists filed formal complaints with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) in October 2024. Despite these filings, no corrective action was taken. More than 80 zoo employees have left since 2021, and dozens of animals have died, including eight endangered great apes.

Advocates point to a glaring conflict of interest as the primary reason complaints have been ignored by regulators: Dr. Chris Dold, Chief Zoological Officer at Busch Gardens’ parent company (United Parks & Resorts), currently serves as the Chair of the AZA Board of Directors — the primary body responsible for accrediting the park.

“With United Parks & Resorts’ Chief Zoological Officer simultaneously serving as Chair of the AZA Board of Directors, this is a glaring conflict of interest that allows the park to self-regulate without real accountability,” said Danielle Carnahan, Executive Director at Weeping Elephant Project.

Numerous issues are still negatively affecting animals at Busch Gardens, but major concerns lie with the treatment of the park’s surviving elephants, Karnaudi, Tina and Simba.

Despite proven noise and vibration trauma caused by existing rides, elephant-down emergencies, deaths and known stress caused by fireworks, loud guests, and construction, Busch Gardens is moving forward with “Kumba's Revenge,” a new rollercoaster planned less than 600 feet from the elephants’ barn as part of a $100 million park expansion. Former keepers report the ground of the elephant barn shaking during previous coaster construction. While the park recently launched a drone show under the guise of animal welfare, it still concludes with an explosive fireworks finale.

Further alarming advocates, sources indicate the park is currently planning to import two elephants into this highly stressful environment.

This plan directly contradicts an independent veterinary specialist who consulted on Rosie’s collapse and stated in the October 2024 USDA complaint that she “would not advise the placement of additional elephants at Busch Gardens” given the “constant overexposure to loud music, screaming guests, and non-stop rollercoasters.”

“It is unconscionable that a facility currently failing its surviving elephants — and silencing staff who document their suffering — is actively planning to import more animals,” Carnahan added. “Busch Gardens is a theme park masquerading as a zoo, where profit and entertainment come first and dedicated care staff are threatened into silence when they speak up. We don't need performative PR tweaks or more imported elephants; we need an immediate, independent investigation into this broken institution.”

Carina’s death has also triggered a social crisis for the remaining herd. Former keepers report that surviving elephant Tina is now entirely socially isolated, while 36-year-old Karnaudi is only compatible with Simba, a 58-year-old elephant suffering from blindness and severe cognitive decline.

“The Busch Gardens elephants should be retired to a sanctuary before they have to endure another traumatic coaster construction,” said Courtney Scott, Elephant Consultant for In Defense of Animals. “This whistleblower report makes it very clear how badly the elephants and the other animals at Busch Gardens were treated. Now the public can see exactly what they are supporting by purchasing a ticket to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, and they have responded en masse, sending thousands of emails to management and corporate sponsors. People care about animal welfare. Now it’s time for this zootainment facility to do likewise.”

Over 37,000 emails have been sent to Busch Gardens management, and over 32,000 emails have been sent to the AZA and its Species Survival Plan, urging them not to bring more elephants into the park. Over 8,800 more have urged the zoo’s corporate partners to pull funding, including Advent Health, Suncoast Credit Union, Anheuser-Busch, Coca-Cola, Keel Farms, Tampa Bay Lightning, Woodie's Wash Shack, and Yacht Starship.

Read the report: Inside Busch Gardens: Former Employees’ Accounts Raise Serious Questions About Elephant Welfare

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Posted on All-Creatures.org: August 12, 2026
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