Social Dynamics of a Newly Integrated Bachelor Group of Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus): Welfare implications
Abstract
Male associations are a typical component of elephant society, allowing bulls to practice appropriate social behavior. To improve zoo elephant welfare, it is important to provide bulls with social opportunities. In fall 2018, Denver Zoo added two bull Asian elephants to its existing all-male group of three bulls, offering the opportunity to conduct a systematic behavioral study of the integration of the new bulls into the resident group. We recorded aggressive and affiliative behaviors before, during, and after the introduction of the new males. The proportion of aggressive behavior was significantly higher during the five-month introduction period compared to before their introduction. By the end of the study period, the elephants engaged in significantly more affiliative behavior and less aggressive behavior than during the introduction period, suggesting they had formed a new stable social dynamic. These results suggest group compatibility and positive elephant welfare resulting from housing male elephants together and can be used to inform management plans for bull elephants that prioritize their welfare.
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The selected behaviors were grouped into categories considered functionally similar and defined as aggressive, affiliative, submissive, and other.
“The selected behaviors were then grouped into categories considered functionally similar [26,23,43–45] and were defined as aggressive, affiliative, submissive, and other.”
From Socializing a group of male Asian elephants in a semi-captive facility in Lao PDR (2025) · cites this paper as [26]
Schreier et al. reported that the proportion of aggressive behaviors was initially high during a 5-month introduction period for male zoo Asian elephants but diminished and became more affiliative over time.
“Schreier et al. [26] reported that the proportion of aggressive behaviors was initially high during a 5-month introduction period for male zoo Asian elephants but diminished and became more affiliative over time.”
From Socializing a group of male Asian elephants in a semi-captive facility in Lao PDR (2025) · cites this paper as [26]
During the initial exploration period, interactions may have elicited a stress response in males.
“This finding is consistent with the notion that during the initial exploration period, interactions may have elicited a stress response in males, as observed in other studies [26,35].”
From Socializing a group of male Asian elephants in a semi-captive facility in Lao PDR (2025) · cites this paper as [26]
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- Authors
- Schreier, A. L., Readyhough, T. S., Moresco, A., Davis, M., & Joseph, S.
- Affiliations
- Regis University (US)
- Denver Zoo (US)
- Corresponding author
- Schreier, Amy L.
- Venue
- Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2021-04-07
- Volume
- 26
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 229-246
- ISSN
- 1088-8705 (ISSN-L)
- 1532-7604
- OpenAlex
- W3145870166
- Cited by
- 15
- References
- 47
- Citations by year
- 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 1
- FWCI
- 3.14
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- ePublications at Regis University (Regis University) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Association of Zoos and Aquariums (Conservation Grant Fund (grant #18-1523))
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Keywords
- Asian elephant, social integration, aggression, affiliative behavior, social dynamics
- MeSH terms
- Group Dynamics, Aggression, Animals, Animals, Zoo, Elephants, Male, Social Behavior
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