On the very day that a worrying news report appeared saying India’s elephant population may have dropped by as much as 20% in the five years from the last published census of 2017, a new peer-reviewed study published in the journal Peer J has found that, despite efforts by zoos, captive elephants continue to face serious problems. The study, titled Continuing Challenges of Elephant Captivity: The Captive Environment, Health Issues, and Welfare Implications, represents the most up-to-date and accurate account of the persistent challenges faced by captive elephants, and gives the lie to claims that they thrive in captivity.
“This study raises the fundamental question of whether elephants belong in captivity,” said lead author Catherine Doyle, director of science, research and public policy at the Performing Animal Welfare Society, or PAWS.
“Elephants have exceptional needs, which are met in nature in huge home ranges that sustain their intricate social networks, wide-ranging movement, and behavioural and cognitive complexity,” Doyle said. “We found that the considerable mismatch between the captive and natural environments negatively impacts elephant well-being in captivity, with disturbing consequences for these animals.”
Founded in 1984, the Performing Animal Welfare Society provides lifetime care for captive wild animals rescued or retired from circuses, zoos, and the “exotic pet” trade. The society’s 2,300 acre sanctuary in San Andreas, California, provides a permanent home for elephants, bears, big cats, monkeys, and other wild animals. PAWS is accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries.
The authors of the study synthesized thousands of scientific papers, conducting a broad review of current literature addressing various facets of elephants’ lives in captivity: space, sociability, cognition, diet, and welfare concerns such as abnormal repetitive behaviours, physical health, and life expectancy.
The study concentrated on the most recent findings and on representative zoos which, in most cases, are accredited by professional associations and are, therefore, expected to hew to a higher standard of care for elephants than unaccredited facilities. Researchers examined areas of incremental improvement in zoos as well as those that continue to present serious welfare challenges.
The following are some key findings from the study:
- Scientific evidence overwhelmingly indicates that elephants do not fare well in zoos.
- Despite an increased focus on elephant well-being, health and welfare issues persist, suggesting that the captive environment is inherently unable to support the animals’ physical, psychological, and emotional well-being.
- Limited space and resources are factors in the inability of zoos to provide for the basic physical (e.g., space) and social needs of elephants.
- Fewer U.S. zoos are holding elephants. The number of accredited zoos displaying elephants has dropped from 67 to 49 in the last decade, reflecting the challenges of keeping these complex animals.
- Government regulations and zoo association guidelines are not sufficient to ensure a healthy environment for elephants.
“The shortcomings of zoos for elephants are well-documented in this peer-reviewed paper, which contradicts claims that elephants are thriving in captivity,” said Dr Bob Jacobs, professor emeritus, Colorado College. “The study provides an overview of the questionable conditions under which elephants ‘survive’ and the detrimental effects of these conditions for their overall well-being. The factual evidence is overwhelming: elephants, as autonomous, intelligent, social beings, do not flourish in captivity.”
Study co-author Dr Lori Marino, adjunct professor, animal studies, New York University, and president of the Whale Sanctuary Project, added: “Our assessment demonstrates unequivocally that elephants are suffering severe psychological and physical ailments and unnaturally short lives in zoos. In this peer-reviewed paper, we elucidate the striking disparity between what elephants need to thrive and what is available in accredited captive facilities. There is no longer any debate to be had.”
The study provides a deeper understanding of the significant problems that persist for elephants in zoos and questions whether their captivity can be ethically defended. Dr Jacobs said, “The confinement of elephants can only be justified by ignoring the incontrovertible scientific evidence, which clearly indicates that elephants do not belong in captivity.”
SOURCE: PR Newswire
