Problems of Elephants Being in Captivity

Social Development

• Young elephants of both sexes tend to learn and develop socially through their interactions with other members of their family group and, in particular, the head female, or matriarch, of the herd. Young bull elephants, for example, tussle and play fight and in doing so learn their relative strengths. Captive elephants that are kept in unnaturally small groups, or transferred between facilities without thought for their social development, may develop problematic behaviors, such as aggression toward other elephants and keepers.

Stimulation

• Elephants display a diverse range of behaviors in the wild and are likely to suffer more than some other animals if kept in sparse, impoverished, captive environments. Captive elephants should have opportunities to climb slopes, bathe in mud or dust and to swim, just as they would in the wild. The provision of logs or branches --- which elephants can pull, push and chew --- and other "toys" can further enrich their environment; otherwise, they may display characteristic signs of boredom and psychological distress, including repetitive swaying or pacing to and fro.

Nutrition

• Captive elephants are, by necessity, less active than their wild counterparts , which may contribute to some animals being overweight. Furthermore, even if elephants are fed nutritionally sound food, if it is in concentrated form, they may still feel hungry and deprived of the foraging opportunities that they would have in the wild. Captive elephants must receive sufficient calories and nutrients to maintain a healthy weight, but concentrated foodstuffs should be supplemented with lower nutritional quality fodder, such as hay.

Foot Problems

• Lack of exercise and hours of standing on unsuitably hard, wet surfaces can lead to foot infections, which are one of the leading causes of death in captive elephants. Foot problems can be treated by trained veterinary practitioners, but zoos should develop environments in which foot problems are unlikely to occur. Floors in elephant enclosures can be constructed from concrete, wood or other rot-proof materials, but should be smooth, quick drying and easy to disinfect.