Bronx Zoo’s elephant ‘Happy’ hasn’t been spotted in public — and activists aren’t happy over the mystery
If she’s Happy, no one can tell.
Famous Bronx Zoo’s elephant “Happy” apparently hasn’t been spotted publicly for more than two weeks, sparking concern from activists over the massive mammal’s wellbeing.
Although the zoo insists Happy is fine and just camera shy, activists think there may be more to the mystery — and visitors floated their own outlandish and not-so-serious theories Tuesday afternoon.
“Honestly, it’s probably in someone’s backyard in the Bronx,” Westchester resident Tony quipped after he and his family saw the zoo’s other elephant, Patty, out and about from the monorail.
“I mean, you never know. Someone had a big garage,” he told The Post.
Jossie, a mom of two visiting from the Dominican Republic, joked Happy was “being a good partner” to Patty.
“I don’t know where Happy can be but I think he went out and got something for Patty,” Jossie said.
But Happy’s health was no laughing matter to Carlos Bonaparte, 39, an East New York resident who was visiting the zoo with his five children for his son’s birthday.
“I think there’s something wrong with her if she hasn’t been seen,” Bonaparte said. “They’re both really old. It is a little concerning.”
Zoo officials have continually pointed to a statement issued last week saying Happy is perfectly fine and is choosing not to venture out where visitors can see her.
“Nothing is wrong with Happy,” the zoo saidin a statement. “Both Happy and Patty are in their early 50’s and, as we routinely report, in good health … Happy has been choosing to not go out into the area visible from the monorail, so Patty is the elephant recently seen by guests.”
“Happy is given the opportunity each day to use the exhibit area and when she chooses to do so will once again be seen by visitors,” the zoo added.
But the Nonhuman Rights Project — which sends monitors to observe the elephants from the monorail daily and has been fighting for Happy’s freedom since 2018 — noted last week via social media that an elephant “choosing” not to move around isn’t “normal, healthy elephant behavior.”
“Something is wrong with Happy,” the activist group wrote last week after filing an Animal Welfare Act Complaint with the USDA on behalf of the elusive pachyderm.
“We fear that Happy is not going outside because: 1) she is physically unable to leave the barn, 2) she is under great psychological distress due to her prolonged isolation in an impoverished environment and is refusing to leave the barn, and/or 3) she is being denied access to the main yard,” the complaint reads.
“Happy’s confinement indoors for at least a week is deeply concerning and we fear that physical and psychological distress that she has suffered from for decades is now reaching a point of crisis.”
Some zoo visitors on Tuesday afternoon happily put their trust in the staff for Happy’s safety.
“They’re professionals here. I’m sure they know what they’re doing,” said Kilian Van Rijn, 37, of Athens, Georgia after riding the monorail. “Let’s trust the zoo.”
A request for comment from the Bronx Zoo regarding possible factors – such as the latest heat broiling New Yorkers of all species this week – was not immediately returned.
The long-captive Happy drew national headlines two years ago when New York’s Court of Appeals ruled that Happy isn’t a “person” and tossed a lawsuit trying to free the elephant using habeas corpus, a legal principle used for challenging wrongful imprisonment.
