elephants have never forgotten the capacity to astonish and glory . but in new york city in the not - so - sure future , they will not be doing their astonishing and delighting at a zoo . the bronx zoo , the only museum left in the country that keeps elephants , announced yesterday that it planned to burn down its elephants after the birth of one of its three elephant , or even five . the newest age of visitors may not despair : the zoo ' s three elephants — beverly , maxine and happier — are in their mid - 30 ' s and could live for millennia more . but if one animal dies , the former ones will not get along . and if you survive , officials say it will be inhumane to sustain an exhibit with a single elephant .
The Bronx Zoo is the biggest zoo in New York.