We are so proud to be joining the celebrations for World Elephant Day 2026 and are delighted to announce the arrival of Elephant Welfare International (EWI).

EWI focuses entirely on captive elephant welfare and works directly with elephant facilities providing training seminars and workshops, and through our groundbreaking Elephant Welfare App, which allows elephant carers to use observed behaviours to track each elephant’s individual welfare.

Our validated App is the first of its kind and EWI provides it free-of-charge to anyone working with elephants, anywhere in the world. 

The App is based on our Elephant Behavioural Welfare Assessment Tool, enabling elephant carers to measure the welfare of their elephants.  The information taken from the App can directly help to develop individual, tailored care plans for each elephant.

The data gathered from all Apps in use will enable EWI to establish a global elephant welfare database, providing data for science-based guidance on improving care and identifying best practices.

Ultimately EWI aims to ensure meaningful, measurable, long-term improvements to elephant welfare, so we also champion change in elephant welfare policies and practices, at regional, national and international levels. Given that there are an estimated 18,000 elephants currently under human care, we believe there is a moral and ethical imperative that the welfare of these elephants is considered.

Our Founding Director, Dr Lisa Yon, is a veterinarian and wildlife researcher. She has worked with and studied elephants all over the world for over 30 years and is an Associate Professor in Zoo & Wildlife Medicine at the University of Nottingham; a member of the IUCN Asian Elephant Specialist Group, and Chair of the UK’s advisory committee, the Elephant Welfare Group.

Other team members include:

• Susan Kelly has been a practising veterinarian for over 30 years, with particular experience in shelter animal and wildlife medicine. She sits on several animal welfare organisation boards.
• Jane Howorth MBE is the Founder and CEO of the British Hen Welfare Trust, saving an average 60,000 hens from slaughter each year in the UK to be rehomed as pets.
• Georgina Groves is Co-Founder of Wild Welfare and has worked in the animal welfare field for over two decades. She sits on the UK Zoo Expert Committee and several animal welfare organisational boards.

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Elephant Welfare International (EWI) is a Conservation partner and Friend of World Elephant Day.  For more information about their work please visit  www.elephantwelfareinternational.org.