Activists call for independent review of elephant deaths at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

TideBreakers and the Weeping Elephant Project are pressing Busch Gardens Tampa Bay for an outside investigation into the deaths of two 54-year-old Asian elephants, Rosie and Carina. The groups want fireworks paused near the elephant habitat and are seeking answers about animal care, emergency response and whether noise and disturbance played any role.

Why it matters: - The deaths have raised fresh questions about elephant welfare at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and whether the park’s fireworks and other noise sources are stressing the animals. - An independent review could clarify whether environmental conditions, veterinary decisions or emergency procedures contributed to the elephants’ decline. - The groups are also asking why two additional elephants are being brought into the park while questions about the existing herd remain unresolved.

What happened: - TideBreakers and the Weeping Elephant Project are calling for an independent investigation into the deaths of Rosie and Carina, two 54-year-old Asian elephants at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Florida. - The groups want Busch Gardens to suspend fireworks near the elephants while the deaths are reviewed. - They are also asking for transparency about Rosie and Carina’s care and death investigations, plus protections for the remaining elephants from excessive noise and disturbance. - The Weeping Elephant Project has submitted complaints to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, backed by evidence concerning Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. - The groups want Dr. Christopher Dold, chair of the AZA Board of Directors, to investigate the concerns. - Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is owned and operated by United Parks & Resorts Inc., where Dr. Christopher Dold serves as chief zoological officer.

The details: - The Weeping Elephant Project says Rosie collapsed during a fireworks event in 2022 and could not stand for more than five hours. - The group says Rosie later suffered injuries and was euthanized in 2024. - The organizations question whether the injuries from the 2022 incident contributed to Rosie’s decline and death. - Carina’s condition reportedly deteriorated rapidly in 2026. - The Weeping Elephant Project says Carina collapsed three times over several days. - One recovery reportedly took almost three hours. - Carina was euthanized after the third emergency, according to the group. - The organizations want to know what veterinary assessments were done, how emergency responses were handled and whether monitoring and staffing were appropriate. - The release says former keepers have raised concerns about the park’s conditions. - The groups say it is still not known whether fireworks or other environmental disturbances directly caused or contributed to either death. - The source also says loud or unfamiliar sounds and repeated disturbances may cause fear or stress in elephants, though individual responses vary. - The Weeping Elephant Project says animal care staff at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay have long urged an end to park fireworks. - The release points to Halloween celebrations approaching as the park continues to use fireworks. - The groups direct readers to the Weeping Elephant Project investigation and related action materials. - The release also includes social links to Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and X.

Between the lines: - The campaign is drawing a line between entertainment programming and animal welfare, arguing that fireworks should not continue while the cause of the deaths is unresolved. - Marketa Schusterova of TideBreakers said the public deserves to know what is happening at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and argued that animal welfare should come before entertainment. - The organizations are careful not to say fireworks caused the deaths, but they argue the reported incidents justify a rigorous outside review. - The push for an AZA investigation also signals pressure on zoo accreditation oversight, not just on the theme park itself.

What's next: - The groups want Busch Gardens to halt fireworks near the elephants pending an independent assessment. - They want AZA leadership to review the complaints and determine whether the park’s conditions pose an unacceptable welfare risk. - If no review is launched, the campaign is likely to keep pressing the park, AZA and United Parks & Resorts for answers.

The bottom line: - Two elephant deaths have turned into a broader fight over fireworks, transparency and whether a theme park can safely house elephants in a high-noise environment.