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Cited by 119Animal Behavior and Welfare StudiesWildlife Ecology and ConservationPrimate Behavior and Ecology

Concepts in the care and welfare of captive elephants

VEASEY, J.·2006·International Zoo Yearbook
DOI 10.1111/j.1748-1090.2006.00063.x
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Abstract

Zoos are duty bound to maintain a high standard of welfare for all animals for which they are responsible. For elephants, this represents a greater challenge than for many other species; their sheer size, sophisticated social life, high level of intelligence and large behavioural repertoire, combined with their origins in tropical and subtropical climates mean that replicating the physical, social and environmental requirements needed for a high standard of welfare in captivity is a significant challenge. This is compounded by the difficulties in measuring welfare generally, and specifically for animals such as elephants within zoo environments. Evidence does exist relating to the longevity, reproductive success and the health status of captive elephants which suggests that their management is not at as high a standard as it is for many other species kept in zoos, and that elephant welfare is likely to be compromised as a result. It is suggested that for as long as elephants remain in captivity that their management should be based around the requirements of the animals themselves taking into account an understanding of their biology and behavioural ecology. Given the difficulties in measuring welfare, it is suggested that those responsible for elephant management should not rely on proof of suffering prior to making adjustments to their programmes, but in the first instance consider the likely physical and behavioural needs of the elephant. As a minimum, facilities should provide for those behaviours and contingencies which are biologically significant in terms of survival and reproduction in the wild, which take up a significant proportion of an elephant's time in the wild and are not necessarily triggered by external stimuli alone. It is suggested that a high standard of captive elephant welfare is theoretically attainable and that significant improvements in welfare are likely to be achieved by addressing inadequacies in the physical environment which predispose captive elephants to trauma and by providing for appropriate social and foraging opportunities.

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  • Elephants pose challenges to meeting physical, psychological, and physiological needs in human-created environments because of their large body size, complex social lives, varied food requirements, and extensive wild home ranges.

    “Elephants, characterized by their large body size, complex social lives, varied food requirements, and extensive wild home ranges (27–29), pose challenges to meeting physical, psychological, and physiological needs in human-created environments (30).”

    From Comparison of animal welfare assessment tools and methodologies: need for an effective approach for captive elephants in Asia (2024) · cites this paper as [30]

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Authors
VEASEY, J.
Corresponding author
VEASEY, J.
ORCID
VEASEY, J.
Venue
International Zoo Yearbook
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2006-06-22
Volume
40
Issue
1
Pages
63-79
ISSN
  • 0074-9664 (ISSN-L)
  • 1748-1090
DOI
10.1111/j.1748-1090.2006.00063.x
OpenAlex
W2034740846
Cited by
119
References
28
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 6
FWCI
3.81
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
International Zoo Yearbook (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Primate Behavior and Ecology
Keywords
captive elephants, animal welfare, zoo management, behavioral needs, behavioral ecology, welfare measurement, social behavior, foraging, physical environment, injury prevention, longevity, reproductive success

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