We’re often asked: “What more can I do to help them besides signing this petition?” or “What can I do to help an elephant in my community?”
If you feel like the only way to help elephants is by supporting organizations from afar, signing petitions, or making donations, but you want to do more—you’re not alone. Those actions are important, but there are other meaningful actions you can take as an individual to advocate for elephants in your own communities.
Elephants are held captive in zoos, circuses, roadside attractions, and other facilities across the world, and change for them begins when enough people decide to speak up. If you’ve ever wanted to get more involved in advocating for elephants where you live, but weren’t sure how, here are some ways to begin.
Get informed
Identify the elephants in your city or state. Find out which facilities near you are holding elephants. Learn those elephants’ names, ages, and stories. If you live in the US, start with the NhRP’s Free to be Elephants directory to search for captive elephants at zoos in your state. But don’t stop there!
Research your state’s history of elephant exploitation. Look up which industries still profit from their continued exploitation. For instance, start by researching local fairs, zoos, or “exotic” animal tourism. Then look into local laws and ordinances. Does your city or state already regulate elephant captivity or performances? Knowing the history and current legal landscape gives you a foundational understanding for how and where to begin your advocacy.
Finally, dig into expert perspectives on elephant biology, captivity, and conservation myths. The more informed you are, the more confidently you can speak out.
Start here with a few resources from our blog and most recent elephant rights case:
- Keith Lindsay’s guest blog: “I’ve studied elephants for over 45 years. This is why I support their right to liberty.”
- Mickey Pardo’s guest blog: “I study elephants. Here’s why I support their right to liberty.”
- The NhRP’s PDF copy of all the expert declarations of support submitted in our case for Billy and Tina’s freedom.
Get involved in your community
Community actions are at the heart of every movement. Advocacy doesn’t happen in isolation—it grows when you connect with others. One of the most impactful ways to advocate for elephants is by looking at where your unique strengths, connections, and voice can make a difference. Effective advocacy isn’t one-size-fits-all—it’s about finding the spaces where you already have influence or expertise, and using them to spark change.
For some people, that means joining or starting an animal rights club, a book group, or a discussion circle at their local library. For others, it may look like raising the issue within professional or social networks, where a trusted voice can shift perspectives. One of our supporters, for example, is the faculty advisor for an animal rights club at their high school where she’s created a space for young students to engage in conversation and activism.
Getting involved could be as simple as attending a local meetup, organizing a small event, or starting a conversation with your city councilmember. The key is to think about where your skills and relationships intersect with systems that need changing—and then take the first step. Whether it’s in your workplace, on your campus, or within your neighborhood, your community is where momentum begins.
Some ideas to get started:
- Join or start an animal rights club in your area (check Meetup.com to see if there are existing clubs)
- Organize a film screening of a documentary about elephants or a discussion of a book about elephants at your library
- Host a small event to share elephants’ stories with friends or colleagues
- Reach out to your city councilmember to raise the issue of elephant captivity. Cite a particular elephant’s story.
Shaping public opinion
Lasting change for elephants doesn’t just happen in classrooms or city halls—it also depends on whether we’re able to shift how the public understands who elephants truly are and how captivity harms them. Every time you share one of their stories, you help challenge the harmful myths that keep elephants confined.
The good news: You don’t need a massive platform to make an impact. A thoughtful op-ed in your local paper, a letter to the editor, or even a well-timed post on social media can reach people who may have never questioned the status quo. Hosting a small discussion group or reading club through your school, library, or community center can open the door for meaningful conversations that ripple outward.
When you speak up, you help dismantle the narrative that elephants in captivity are “happy,” “thriving,” or “part of conservation.” Public opinion has always been a powerful force in shifting industries and policies—and your voice adds to that momentum.
Some ideas to get started:
- Write an op-ed or letter to the editor in a local publication about elephants in captivity. Example of a letter to the editor submitted in support of Happy.
- Share elephants’ stories or facts on your social media channels
- Partner with local groups to co-host a discussion, film night, or awareness event
Looking Ahead: Bigger Actions
Getting informed, connecting with your community, and speaking up in everyday ways are powerful starting points. But as you grow more comfortable, you may want to explore additional paths to advocacy that can drive systemic change.
These can include:
- Government & Institutions: Meet with local officials, attend city hall meetings, or write to tourism boards. Hold zoos and circuses accountable for exploiting elephants through letter-writing campaigns or public records requests.
- Public Advocacy: Join peaceful protests at events where elephants are used, or organize creative actions like art installations and chalk murals in public spaces.
- Coalition-Building: Volunteer with other animal welfare, environmental, or community groups to amplify your voice and strengthen your impact.
Each of these steps can feel bigger, and may require more time or more collaboration, but they all start with the same thing: individual voices coming together. Advocacy isn’t about doing everything at once—it’s about finding the place where your skills, passion, and community intersect, and using that to speak up for elephants.
If you enjoyed this quick guide to getting started but would like us to dig into one or more of these topics in-depth, please let us know: info@nonhumanrights.org.