A new, larger enclosure for elephants Mari and Vaigai at the Honolulu Zoo failed to satisfy an advocacy group that ranked the zoo as one of the 10 worst for elephants in North America.

Honolulu Zoo was ranked 10th on the "2011 Top Ten Worst Zoos for Elephants" by In Defense of Animals, an animal protection organization.

The group’s website (www.helpelephants.com) described the zoo’s new enclosure as outdated and said it provides less space for the two elephants at a time when other accredited zoos are building exhibits that are at least 3 acres in size.

Elephant Campaign Director Catherine Doyle also criticized the zoo’s plans to bring in a bull elephant for breeding purposes, saying there’s not enough room for a third elephant. Doyle added bull elephants are aggressive and will pose a danger to zoo keepers.

This is the third year in a row the organization listed Honolulu Zoo as one of the worst for elephants. Similar complaints of lack of space were made in 2009 and 2010.

This is the eighth year the organization compiled an annual list of worst zoos for elephants.

In Defense of Animals did not conduct a site visit of Honolulu Zoo’s new habitat. Doyle said they got information on the enclosure from media reports.

In December, Honolulu Zoo opened its new, $12 million elephant exhibit. The 1.5-acre habitat is nine times larger than the previous exhibit and includes two 55,000-gallon pools.

Zoo Director Manuel Mollinedo said the organization’s comments are inaccurate, and encouraged them to visit the exhibit. "How can they pass judgment like this and make statements that the exhibit is terrible without even seeing it?" questioned Mollinedo. "I think that’s extremely inappropriate."

The habitat was designed to allow Mari and Vaigai to roam and explore, he said, adding that he’s observed the elephants run around in the habitat. "I think the best measure of the husbandry of our elephants is we have two healthy elephants," said Mollinedo.

Of the zoo’s plans to eventually bring in a bull elephant, he said captive breeding is necessary to ensure the existence of the endangered Asian elephant population in the next century. "Their population is dramatically dropping." The habitat also has experienced zoo keepers who are skilled to handle a bull elephant, he said.

Hawaii News Now video: Honolulu Zoo’s elephant exhibit ranked one of 10 worst