Janet Conklin is a wildlife enthusiast who has observed elephants in their natural environment as a volunteer assistant to a scientific research team to support the conservation and preservation of elephants in South Africa. She has also traveled to PAWS, the Performing Animal Welfare Society in California, where she was given a tour of the sanctuary and met with Ed Stewart, the founder. At PAWS, Janet saw first hand how much better life is for elephants who have been relocated there from zoos and circuses.This talk is one of three presented at a forum on captive elephants held by FOZE, Free the Oregon Zoo Elephants on July 26 in Portland, OR.