Rebecca Manzi Betty, the world's saddest elephant, is near collapse. Forced for decades in American circuses, she's in dramatic condition: wounds, chronic pain and acoustic stress threaten her survival
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The health condition of Betty, now known as “the world’s most depressed elephant,” continues to deteriorate. Forced to perform for decades with the Carden Circus in the United States, this Asian female elephant in her 50s shows signs of severe physical and psychological suffering. A world-renowned elephant expert who observed her during a performance in September 2025 described her condition as “very concerning.” The problems identified months ago have not only gone untreated but have actually worsened.
Betty, the most depressed elephant in the world, is elderly, disabled, & on the brink of collapse 🐘💔 To call attention…
Posted by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) on Thursday, October 2, 2025
Wounds, pain and exploitation
According to observations, Betty has deep cracks in her rear nails, so extensive they open with each step. These lesions cause her intense pain, worsened by the weight she must bear during performances. Despite her suffering, she is still forced to give rides to visitors and perform acrobatic stunts, even with six people on her back. The elephant also displays an obvious limp in her right front leg, which she keeps rigid to avoid bending it, a sign of possible wrist or knee trauma.
The impossibility of being an elephant
One of the most disturbing aspects is the loss of function in her trunk, a vital organ for hygiene and communication among elephants. The expert noted that Betty doesn’t use it to touch or scratch herself, but drags it along the ground, a completely abnormal behavior. To obey commands during the show, she’s forced to lift her entire head, a sign of motor difficulties and extreme stress.
A hostile and painful environment
Beyond physical problems, Betty lives in an acoustically unbearable environment. During Carden Circus performances, sound levels reach at least 95 decibels, a threshold that for an elephant—equipped with ultrasensitive hearing—amounts to torture. The animals are separated from the audience only by a thin curtain and have no shelter from the deafening noise of music and applause.
An urgent appeal for freedom
Animal rights organizations are demanding that authorities immediately confiscate Betty and transfer her to a safe sanctuary, where she can receive care and live without exploitation. After an entire lifetime spent among chains, rings and pain, the world’s saddest elephant finally deserves peace and respect.
Source: PETA
