Longitudinal Improvements in Zoo-Housed Elephant Welfare: A Case Study at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo

Abstract

Over the last two decades, criticisms were raised regarding the welfare experienced by elephants in European and North American zoos. Concerns regarding the welfare of zoo-housed elephants in the UK and Europe were consolidated in the publication of several key reports, and media interest peaked. Throughout this study we aim to outline the behavioural measures of welfare observed in the current group of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) at Zoological Society of London (ZSL) Whipsnade Zoo, using key welfare indicators for this species and comparing them to previous published work. Following the instigation of a species-specific research programme, empirical behavioural data were available to quantify any developments in care and welfare. The collection of behavioural information revealed that individuals in our study group engage in low levels of stereotypic behaviour, have formed and maintain strong associations with one another and display a high proportion of engagement in lying rest. We outline that by applying simple, low-cost methods of behavioural data collection and analysis, it is possible to collect evidence that allows us to evaluate individual level welfare. This facilitates the adoption of an evidence-based approach to zoo management as well as demonstrating compliance with updated legislation for this species.

Differing animal welfare conceptions and what they mean for the future of zoos and aquariums, insights from an animal welfare audit

“…While improvements in animal welfare provisioning over the last half‐century within most accredited ‘western' zoos, and likely many more besides would be hard to dispute (see Kitchener & MacDonald, 2002; Finch et al, 2020; Tidière et al, 2016), these improvements have likely at best, kept pace with a growing awareness of, and concern for animal welfare among the general populace (see Marinova & Fox, 2019; Robbins et al, 2018; L. E. Webb et al, 2019). Furthermore, it is also likely that zoos and aquariums have made more fundamental improvements in the provisioning of physical wellbeing than they have in delivering psychological wellbeing (Veasey, 2017) with most species now living longer in zoos than they would in the wild (see Tidière et al, 2016), but with stereotypies and other abnormal behaviours still being routine for many species (see Clubb & Mason, 2003, 2007; Mason & Veasey, 2009a, 2009b, 2010; Swaisgood & Shepherdson, 2005).…”

“…While improvements in animal welfare provisioning over the last half-century within most accredited 'western' zoos, and likely many more besides would be hard to dispute (see Kitchener & MacDonald, 2002;Finch et al, 2020;Tidière et al, 2016), these improvements have likely at best, kept pace with a growing awareness of, and concern for animal welfare among the general populace (see Marinova & Fox, 2019;Robbins et al, 2018;L. E. Webb et al, 2019).…”

Using Species-Specific Protocols for the Welfare Assessment of Elephants in the Skopje Zoo

“…Emitting a low frequency rumble call An ethogram (12,16) was used when assessing the daytime activity of the elephants. They were directly observed for three consecutive days from 08:00 h to 16:00 h. This time was divided into four intervals: 8:00-10:00 h, 10:00-12:00 h, 12:00-14:00 h, and 14:00-16:00 h. In each of these four intervals, the elephants were observed for a minimum of 5 minutes for their daytime activity.…”

Freedom and Animal Welfare

“…It is important that we look at the specific conditions experienced by different animals-it is unlikely that there will be a single blanket judgement that will apply to all species, given their range of different needs and conditions provided [28]. There are likely to be some cognitively complex and highly mobile species, such as cetaceans [81] and elephants [78], that unless their captive circumstances are vastly changed from current practice, are unlikely to experience good welfare in captivity; though we note that ongoing research into captive elephant welfare is showing positive improvement [103]. Other species, such as wide-ranging carnivores [74], may also be poor candidates for captive holding.…”