The effects of housing on zoo elephant behavior: a quantitative case study of diurnal and seasonal variation
Open accessAbstract
One of the greatest challenges for zoo managers is ensuring the best possible welfare for zoo elephants. Few studies have focused on behavioral health of elephants over a 24-hour period and across seasons, making evaluations of behavioral variation challenging. This study examined the behavior of two zoo-housed African elephants (Loxodonta africana) over a two-year period to determine the roles of 1) indoor/outdoor housing, 2) time of day, and 3) seasonal variation on activity. Daytime behavioral differences were contrasted with nighttime activity, and across seasons. Significant differences were noted when the elephants were indoors vs. outdoors, between day and night, and between summer and winter, suggesting that evaluations of zoo elephant activity should occur throughout circadian cycles and account for seasonal variability
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Seasonality in cortisol or its metabolites is evident in African and Asian elephants and so must be considered when evaluating the physiological significance of fluctuations as stress indicators.
“Similarly, seasonality in cortisol or its metabolites is evident in African (112) and Asian (113) elephants and so must be considered when evaluating the physiological significance of fluctuations as stress indicators.”
From Comparison of animal welfare assessment tools and methodologies: need for an effective approach for captive elephants in Asia (2024) · cites this paper as [112]
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- Authors
- Posta, B., Huber, R., & Moore III, D. E.
- Affiliations
- Smithsonian Institution (US)
- Corresponding author
- Posta, Beth
- ORCID
- Huber, Robert
- Venue
- International Journal of Comparative Psychology
- Published
- 2013
- Volume
- 26
- Issue
- 1
- ISSN
- 0889-3667 (ISSN-L)
- 2168-3344
- OpenAlex
- W282439827
- Cited by
- 33
- References
- 36
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 3.75
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- International Journal of Comparative Psychology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- 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
- zoo elephants, Loxodonta africana, animal welfare, circadian rhythm, diurnal variation, seasonal variation, animal behavior, behavioral health
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