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PreprintCited by 3Animal Behavior and Welfare StudiesVeterinary Orthopedics and NeurologyOsteoarthritis Treatment and Mechanisms

Elephants, mobility and captivity: what can these mighty and majestic animals teach us about joint health and osteoarthritis?

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Mobasheri, Ali, Buckley, Carol·2021·Preprints.org
DOI 10.20944/preprints202012.0271.v2
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Abstract

The African bush and forest elephants, Loxodonta Africana and Loxodonta cyclotis, and the Asian elephant, Elephas maximus, are the largest land-dwelling animals. Elephants need to be highly mobile and active in order to find fresh food and water, and in the case of males, to locate females in estrus for breeding. Asian elephants walk up to 21 km each day and African elephants can walk up to 28 km per day. This high level of mobility in the wild is also important for maintaining an optimum musculoskeletal health. However, most zoo elephants live in restricted spaces and cold climates that require extended periods of indoor confinement are therefore unable to be as physically active. Zoo enclosures for elephants are relatively small with hard surfaces (i.e. concrete, tarmac and hard packed dirt), so they cannot exercise and are forced to stand on unnaturally hard surfaces continually. Physical inactivity in captivity makes them more prone to gaining weight and developing bone and joint diseases such as osteomyelitis, joint ankylosis and osteoarthritis (OA). Many health and welfare problems in captive elephants are likely to be caused by the lack of mobility. This perspective article focuses on the possible link between captivity, mobility, physical inactivity and the development of OA in captive elephants.

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Cited by

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Authors
Mobasheri, A., & Buckley, C.
Affiliations
University Medical Center Utrecht (NL)
Corresponding author
Mobasheri, Ali
ORCID
Mobasheri, Ali
Venue
Preprints.org
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2021-01-18
DOI
10.20944/preprints202012.0271.v2
OpenAlex
W4229499270
Cited by
3
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2021: 1
Type
posted content
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
Preprints.org (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (FP7/20072013)
  • European Commission (625746, 305815, EU-FP7, 2007–2013, FP7 2007-2013, 2018-2022, FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF, FP7-PEOPLE-2013, FP7/2007, 115770, DOTSUT-215)
  • Lietuvos Mokslo Taryba (DOTSUT‐215, 09.3.3-LMT-K-712-01-0157, 09.3.3‐LMT‐K‐712, 2018–2022, No 09.3.3-LMT-K-712, 3-LMT-K-712, 3-LMT-K-712-01-0157)
  • Innovative Medicines Initiative (FP7/2007‐2013, 115770)
  • FP7 People: Marie-Curie Actions (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF, 2007-2013, 625746, FP7/2007‐2013/, FP7-PEOPLE-2013)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
  • Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Veterinary Orthopedics and Neurology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Rheumatology › Osteoarthritis Treatment and Mechanisms
Keywords
elephants, osteoarthritis, captive elephants, zoo animals, physical inactivity, mobility (physical function), musculoskeletal health, joint health, osteomyelitis, joint ankylosis, African bush elephant, African forest elephant, Asian elephant, animal welfare

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