World Animal Protection Demands Release of Joyce the Elephant from Six Flags Great Adventure

Activism for Joyce: A Call to Action

On this year's World Elephant Day, a significant campaign was initiated by World Animal Protection to advocate for the release of Joyce, an African elephant currently living in captivity at the Six Flags Great Adventure theme park in Jackson Township, New Jersey. With a complex and traumatic history, Joyce represents an urgent call for action against animal exploitation, urging locals to join the cause for her freedom.

Joyce was originally brought to the U.S. from Zimbabwe in the 1980s, where she tragically witnessed the slaughter of her herd during a government-sanctioned culling operation. Since her arrival alongside many other orphaned elephants, she has endured years of stress, confinement, and performance exploitation. Sadly, her journey has taken her from one captivity to another, each exchange aligning with the entertainment industries' often cruel practices.

World Animal Protection is prioritizing New Jersey residents, providing them with information about Joyce's plight and encouraging them to take action. They are not only amplifying Joyce’s story through direct engagement, but are also showcasing growing demand for ethical treatment of all elephants by targeting Six Flags specifically to dissolve its elephant exhibit.

To help raise awareness, the organization has implemented two eye-catching billboards on Route 9, strategically located near the theme park. The first billboard queries, "An elephant in Jersey? Fuhgeddaboudit," while the second humorously campaigns for wildlife advocacy, stating, "Keep animals wild. Except Uncle Tony. Keep him in Newark." These playful yet poignant messages are designed to draw attention to the serious issue of animal rights and the existing elephant captivity.

In a powerful move to compel Six Flags to reconsider its treatment of Joyce, the campaign will also include a sand sculpture in Ventnor City, crafted by local artists John and Laura Gowdy. This creative piece will serve as a monument honoring Joyce and will aim to spark conversations in the community about the ethical implications of keeping elephants confined within entertainment parks.

Nicole Barrantes, a representative from World Animal Protection, poignantly remarks, "Since she was a baby, Joyce has been exploited for entertainment—shuffled between circuses and zoos and now confined to a barren enclosure at Six Flags, surrounded by the roar of roller coasters and the rumble of safari trucks." Her words underscore the stark contrast between a theme park's thrilling facade and the grim reality of captivity for elephants like Joyce.

In addition to visual campaigns, World Animal Protection is rallying support through a petition to release Joyce, collecting over 60,000 signatures within the past year. The momentum generated by this movement aligns with a broader ethical consciousness regarding the treatment of elephants and aims to shift how entertainment industries engage with these majestic creatures.

Elephants are sentient beings that possess rich emotional lives and complex social structures; they are not mere attractions for human amusement. The ultimate goal of relocating Joyce and other captive elephants to dedicated sanctuaries is to facilitate their opportunity for a life filled with natural environments and social interactions, devoid of human exploitation.

For those inspired to join this vital cause, an easy one-click action allows supporters to email the CEO, President, and Head Veterinarian of Six Flags, urging them to take a principled stance that prioritizes Joyce’s welfare.

As activism for Joyce gains momentum, it not only highlights the urgent need for her freedom but also raises awareness on a larger scale about the ethical dimensions of animal captivity. Through collective action and advocacy, we can ensure that elephants are free to roam and thrive in environments that respect their rights as living beings, not as commodities to be exploited. Exploitation has no place in the narrative that surrounds such intelligent creatures. This campaign for Joyce calls each of us to consider how we can contribute to a world where animals can live freely and with dignity.