The Bronx Zoo is facing intense scrutiny after a beloved elephant went missing for a month, according to the New York Post.

Concerns are growing over the health of Happy, a 53-year-old elephant at the Bronx Zoo who has been off-limits to the public for nearly six weeks, with activists from the Nonhuman Rights Project raising alarms about his health and mental health. According to Happy can easily be seen roaming around the pond from the zoo's monorail, according to the New York Post. He has reportedly been staying in a small barn at the zoo since July 14.

With Happy the elephant still “missing” from the Bronx Zoo, activists say “something is clearly wrong.” https://t.co/p3GsQN7bWg pic.twitter.com/0Wtals73Je

— New York Post (@nypost) August 23, 2024

The behavior is unusual for elephants, who are typically sociable and active animals, and there are concerns Happy may be depressed or in physical distress, which is why he has withdrawn from the outdoor areas of his enclosure, said Courtney Fern, government relations director for the Nonhuman Rights Project. (Related article: Archaeologists reveal ancient humans hunting and slaughtering elephants)

The Bronx Zoo responded to inquiries by saying Happy chooses to stay in a part of his enclosure that is not visible from the monorail and that he has access to other areas both indoors and outdoors, the outlet reported. But that explanation does not ease concerns about Happy's condition, which has led Fern and other activists to suspect that the elephant's mental or physical health may be deteriorating.

“They claim it's her choice not to go outside, and while that may be true, this is not normal behavior for an elephant,” Fern told the New York Post. “Maybe there's something wrong with her mentally or physically that's why she doesn't go outside.”