There are new concerns about the treatment of elephants at the El Paso Zoo. A group calling itself, In Defense of Animals says the El Paso Zoo is on their top ten list of zoo's that need to release their elephants.

The group claims the elephants need more space with softer surfaces which can be found at elephant sanctuaries.

As we reported, in October of 1999 trainers were caught on camera hitting Sissy the elephant.

She was later taken to an elephant sanctuary in Tennessee.

"Two of the personnel who were involved in the beating of Sissy in 1998 are still working at the zoo, still in control... Juno foot small amount of space elephants have in a zoo." says Catherine Doyle, In Defense of Animals.

Doyle says elephants in captivity are dying at half of their life spans.