News Life Study raises worries for zoo-born elephants Study of captive-born females finds big survival gap between zoo natives and elephants in native ranges By Susan Milius December 11, 2008 at 7:41 pm - More than 2 years ago Share this:Share Share via email (Opens in new window) Email Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Share on X (Opens in new window) X Print (Opens in new window) Print A controversial new study raises the possibility that female elephants have been living half-lives if they’re born in zoos. For the African species, zoo-born female elephants tend to live 16.9 years in European zoos, says Georgia Mason of the University of Guelph in Canada.