It will be interesting to see what actually happens with the elephant program here.
They apparently announced in the past that there will be no more elephants beyond these individuals, but I can find no public record confirming this...does anyone know where it was said?
I cannot imagine continued exhibition of elephants in the current smallish exhibit, but I could possibly see them expanding the yard and serving as a facility for older "retired" elephants. Does anyone know if they have definitive, concrete plans to shut down the elephant program?
I just googled "Santa Barbara - elephants" and found this link from PETA. It lists all of the many zoos that either already have or plan to phase out elephants, and according to the list Santa Barbara announced their intentions in 2006.