FREE ALL CAPTIVE ELEPHANTS (FACE)
Free All Captive Elephants (FACE), is a dedicated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working to rescue suffering elephants held captive in circuses and roadside zoos in North America. FACE is committed to getting elephants to sanctuaries accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS). GFAS is the gold standard for sanctuaries.
The work of FACE is VITAL in getting captive elephants to the sanctuaries
waiting and ready to receive them.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to provide education, intervention, and litigation that will lead to sanctuary for ALL elephants inhumanely held in captivity in circuses and zoos in North America.
Where will these elephants go? FACE is dedicated to getting elephants to sanctuaries accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. GFAS is the gold standard for sanctuaries.
OUR VISION
There are dozens of captive elephants in North America. Our vision is to ultimately see that ALL elephants in North America currently living in inhumane conditions are brought to accredited sanctuaries by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) to live out the rest of their lives. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel for circuses closing permanently. Education and awareness is having a tremendous impact on attendance at circuses and people are deciding they do not want to contribute to the suffering of elephants, and all the animals anymore once they have seen the documentation of the neglect and abuse. With the passage of the Traveling Exotic Animal and Pubic Safety Protection Act (TEAPSPA), by the United States Congress, circuses with wild, exotic animals will be forced to close down across the nation.
Kristin Leppert, Program Director – Wildlife, North, Central and South America of the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), explains:
“The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries recognizes and supports true sanctuaries that provide the highest quality of care for animals and exhibit ethical and operational excellence. GFAS Accredited Performing Animal Welfare Society in San Andreas, California and the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee are prime examples of true sanctuaries offering rescued elephants what they need: acres to roam, lakes to enjoy and most importantly, the company of their own species.
True sanctuaries are not places animals go to die. True sanctuaries are where once captive elephants go to LIVE.”



ABOVE IS NOSEY TODAY. This photo of Nosey was taken just a short time after she arrived at the sanctuary after she was seized
in Alabama on November 9th, 2017. Nosey is grazing peacefully AT THE ELEPHANT SANCTUARY IN TENNESSEE,
where she is thriving under the excellent care she has needed for so long.
WHY We Do What We Do
Photo by: Gigi Glendinning
Traveling wild animal performances are an antiquated form of animal abuse that has been going on for centuries. In circuses, elephants are forced to perform under threat of punishment and confined in cramped enclosures as they are hauled from venue to venue.
Performing elephants are deprived of all that is natural to them.
To train a wild animal into submission, methods used include beating, electric shock (hot shots), food and water deprivation and brutal intimidation. Elephants do not stand on their heads, sit on stools, stand on their hind legs or give rides to humans on their backs because they want to, they do it because they are forced to with brutal training methods. Undercover Training of Elephants These behaviors do NOT occur in the wild.

Photo of Betty: by Gigi Glendinning

Photo of Betty: by Gigi Glendinning

Photo of Nosey before her rescue, performing a trick with members of the audience on her back.


The lack of exercise, constant confinement in cages, small enclosures required to transport elephants thousands of miles in extreme temperatures to perform 300 days a year, is detrimental to both their physical and psychological well being. There is no scenario where the needs of these complex animals can be met by a life on the road. The research is clear on this.
The laws in place to protect elephants are weak and very rarely enforced. Law enforcement authorities are not equipped or trained to handle the thousands of public complaints that are filed annually against exhibitors. Additionally, because of the transient nature of “circus life”, even if they are willing, government agencies are unable to enforce the laws. Many if not all circuses currently on the road, have extensive histories of Federal Animal Welfare Violations. Agency’s inaction makes them complicit in the violations. As a result, captive elephants continue to suffer EVERY day while these agencies are not doing their jobs.

What’s Wrong With Zoos?
We encourage you to read this recent and very insightful article: .Are Elephants Really Better Off?
- Dr. Cynthia Moss – https://www.elephanttrust.org/index.php/meet-the-team/item/dr-cynthia-moss
- Dr. Joyce Poole – https://www.gorongosa.org/our-story/our-team/joyce-poole
- Dr. Caitlin O’Connell – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd0MRjq37uw
- Dr. Toni Frohoff – http://www.terramarresearch.org/about_us/about_toni_frohoff.html
These world renowned scientists are experts in elephant behavior. In their work they witness, analyze and report on the extent of the intellectual and familial superiority of the elephant species.