An epidemiological approach to welfare research in zoos: the elephant welfare project
Abstract
Multi-institutional studies of welfare have proven to be valuable in zoos but are hampered by limited sample sizes and difficulty in evaluating more than just a few welfare indicators. To more clearly understand how interactions of husbandry factors influence the interrelationships among welfare outcomes, epidemiological approaches are needed as well as multifactorial assessments of welfare. Many questions have been raised about the housing and care of elephants in zoos and whether their environmental and social needs are being met in a manner that promotes good welfare. This article describes the background and rationale for a large-scale study of elephant welfare in North American zoos funded by the (U.S.) Institute of Museum and Library Services. The goals of this project are to document the prevalence of positive and negative welfare states in 291 elephants exhibited in 72 Association of Zoos and Aquariums zoos and then determine the environmental, management, and husbandry factors that impact elephant welfare. This research is the largest scale nonhuman animal welfare project ever undertaken by the zoo community, and the scope of environmental variables and welfare outcomes measured is unprecedented.
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In a large-scale epidemiological study of 291 elephants across 70 North American zoos, the Elephant Welfare Initiative underscored the importance of larger social groups for elephant welfare.
“In a large-scale epidemiological study of 291 elephants across 70 North American zoos, the Elephant Welfare Initiative underscored the importance of larger social groups for elephant welfare (Carlstead et al., 2013;Greco et al., 2016a;DiVincenti, McDowell & Herrelko, 2023”
From Continuing challenges of elephant captivity: the captive environment, health issues, and welfare implications (2024) · cites this paper as Carlstead et al., 2013
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16. Future directions for applied ethology
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Perceived importance of specific kennel management practices for the provision of canine welfare
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From Good Care to Great Welfare
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A Longitudinal Exploration of Protected Contact and Positive Reinforcement Training in Elephants
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- Authors
- Carlstead, K., Mench, J. A., Meehan, C., & Brown, J. L.
- Affiliations
- Honolulu Community College (US)
- University of California, Davis (US)
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2013-10
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 319-337
- ISSN
- 1088-8705 (ISSN-L)
- 1532-7604
- OpenAlex
- W2092621093
- Cited by
- 68
- References
- 69
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 4 · 2013: 2
- FWCI
- 8.42
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Equine › Veterinary Equine Medical Research
- Keywords
- elephant welfare, zoo animals, environmental enrichment, welfare indicators, Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Institute of Museum and Library Services
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Animal Welfare, Animals, Zoo, Elephants, Epidemiologic Methods, Housing, Animal, Humans, North America, Research
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