Why do zoos have elephants?
There is the belief that captive breeding can help revive the elephant species. While this has worked for other species, it does not work for elephants. The artificial insemination process is extremely stressful and invasive, often lasting for hours. Then, it rarely conceives a calf that lasts to adulthood, many of which die in the womb or at infancy from stressors and diseases passed in the zoo. Considering elephants are extremely family oriented, this is an unnecessary stress to put on mother elephants.
Conservation
“It is estimated that at least 51 elephants have been conceived via artificial insemination in European and North American zoos. Of these, 35% were stillborn or miscarried. As of February 2022, only 28 (54%) elephants produced via artificial insemination were still alive”
Zoos have been known to educate the public about endangered animals and garner support for their conservation. However, considering the worse life elephants have in captivity, many conservationists suggest switching live elephants to animatronics similar to what they do for dinosaurs, so there is still an engaging way to learn about these creatures without jeopardizing their health.