CHER Act of 2025

This bill changes the Animal Welfare Act to end elephant captivity at zoos and safari parks in the United States and move all African and Asian elephants in those parks to authorized nonprofit wildlife sanctuaries. It explains that elephants are highly social and intelligent, and that life in captivity harms their health and well-being, which is why the change is needed.

Zoos and safari parks would have 1 year after the law takes effect to stop exhibiting, housing, managing, or breeding elephants, except to complete transfers. All elephants currently in these parks must be transferred to authorized wildlife sanctuaries within 3 years. The U.S. Department of Agriculture must study how to make these transfers work within 1 year, may offer grants to help sanctuaries take in elephants, and will create public education materials about the benefits of ending elephant captivity .

• Who is affected: Zoos and safari parks with elephants; the elephants living there; nonprofit wildlife sanctuaries; the U.S. Department of Agriculture .
• What changes: Keeping or breeding elephants at zoos and safari parks would be banned; elephants must be moved to authorized sanctuaries; possible grants and public education to support the change .
• When: 1 year to stop exhibiting/housing/breeding; 3 years to complete all transfers; a feasibility study due within 1 year of enactment .