Breeding Management of Captive Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) in Range Countries and Zoos
Open accessAbstract
The in situ and ex situ populations of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) are rapidly decreasing.It is crucial to breed elephants in captivity so that captive stocks do not need to be supplied by wild capturing.The low birth and high mortality rate cause the captive population to decline rapidly.Captive breeding programs in Asian elephants range countries and zoos have met with limited success and few ex situ elephant populations are self-sustaining.Maintaining the captive populations in tourist and timber elephant camps, circus, zoos or any elephant facilities would be essential to prevent a drain of wild populations and to decrease illegal wild capture.In this review article, the breeding management of the elephant facilities in range countries and western zoos was addressed, with the history, limitations, success, and methods of improvement.The co-operation among institutes across countries and continents to conserve this endangered species.
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Low breeding success in captivity suppresses the increase of related individuals in a group.
“Unlike in the wild, many zoos keep unrelated female elephants in the same group, while the low breeding success in captivity suppresses the increase of related individuals in a group (Thitaram, 2012).”
From Characteristics of social relationships in a group of captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in the elephant village in Thailand (2022) · cites this paper as Thitaram, 2012
The Western zoos section (p. 94) reports low birth rates, failed conceptions and calf mortality, supporting the claim that captive breeding has limited success. It does not address whether zoo females are unrelated or directly show that low breeding success suppresses the increase of related individuals within a group. (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredHigh mortality, low birth rates, limited reproduction, and health problems continue to hamper zoo elephant population sustainability.
“However, high mortality, low birth rates, limited reproduction, and health problems continue to hamper zoo elephant population sustainability (38–42)”
From Comparison of animal welfare assessment tools and methodologies: need for an effective approach for captive elephants in Asia (2024) · cites this paper as [40]
Many zoos keep unrelated female elephants in the same group.
“Unlike in the wild, many zoos keep unrelated female elephants in the same group, while the low breeding success in captivity suppresses the increase of related individuals in a group (Thitaram, 2012).”
From Characteristics of social relationships in a group of captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in the elephant village in Thailand (2022) · cites this paper as Thitaram, 2012
The Western zoos section (p. 94) discusses low birth rates and breeding practices, but does not describe whether females housed together are related. A search for zoo group composition and kinship found no passage in our copy supporting the claim that many zoos keep unrelated females in the same group. (LLM, conf=0.72)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
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Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
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- Authors
- THITARAM, C.
- Affiliations
- Chiang Mai University (TH)
- Corresponding author
- THITARAM, Chatchote
- ORCID
- THITARAM, Chatchote
- Venue
- Japanese Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
- Published
- 2012-09-28
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 91-96
- ISSN
- 1342-6133 (ISSN-L)
- 2185-744X
- OpenAlex
- W253590136
- Cited by
- 34
- References
- 25
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 1 · 2014: 3
- FWCI
- 0.85
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Locations
- Japanese Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law › Conservation, Ecology, Wildlife Education
- Keywords
- Asian elephant, captive breeding, breeding management, ex situ conservation, endangered species conservation, zoo elephants, wildlife trade
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