Prevalence of stereotypies and its possible causes among captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in Tamil Nadu, India

Varadharajan, Vanitha; Thiyagesan, K.; Baskaran, Nagarajan

doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2015.10.006

Cited by 24 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 26 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“… Greco et al (2017) also reported chain chewing (taking a chain into the mouth and biting or sucking on it) as another type of stereotype behavior found in confined elephants. In southern India, Varadharajan, Krishnamoorthy & Nagarajan (2016) found a higher prevalence of stereotypies in Hindu temples (49%) and private elephants (25%) chained an average of 20 and 18 h per day, respectively, compared to those chained by the Forest Department about 6 h per day (7%). In western zoos, chaining is acceptable during medical treatments or other short-term interventions, but not for prolonged restraint ( British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), 2010 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Changing trends in elephant camp management in northern Thailand and implications for welfare

Bansiddhi

Brown

Thitaram

et al. 2018

PeerJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundElephant camps are among the most attractive destinations in Thailand for tourists from many countries. A wide range of management strategies are used by these camps, which can have varied impacts on health and welfare of elephants.MethodsThis study surveyed 33 camps with 627 elephants in northern Thailand to quantify the types of management practices and work activities experienced by captive elephants. The survey consisted of an interview with camp owners, and direct observations of camp operations.ResultsData revealed considerable variation in elephant demographics, work activities, elephant care (i.e., housing, restraint, nutrition, health care, and breeding), and mahout management among the camps. In general, older camps (those in existence for >16 years) were involved in more intensive activities, like riding with saddles and shows. By contrast, newer camps provided more one-on-one activities for tourists and elephants, and emphasized more intimate, relaxing experiences (e.g., feeding, bathing, walking) than entertainment. A demographic shift also was observed, with elephants 20 years of age and younger having a sex ratio closer to 1:1 compared to elephants in older age categories (1:4.1–1:9.8).DiscussionShifts in elephant management to less intensive activities were observed, which could have positive implications for elephant welfare. The shifting sex ratio suggests successful captive breeding is resulting in the birth of more males, which could present new welfare challenges in the future, because bulls can be more difficult to manage and socialize, and are more likely to be kept isolated during musth. Ultimately, the goal is to understand how camp activities affect welfare, and to develop science-based guidelines and standards to aid in the management of both male and female elephants used in tourism.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Changing trends in elephant camp management in northern Thailand and implications for welfare

Bansiddhi

Brown

Thitaram

et al. 2018

PeerJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…There are varied hypothesized causes of stereotypic behavior, most associated with poor welfare; although stereotypy may persist even when welfare is otherwise good (Mason & Latham, 2004). Studies also show that younger calves may be more susceptible (Vanitha, Thiyagesan, & Baskaran, 2015).…”

Section: Captive Nocturnal Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An additional aim was to look for evidence of stereotypic behavior, because this is commonly seen in captive elephants, particularly at night (Brockett et al, 1999;Harris et al, 2008;Rees, 2009;Wilson et al, 2006), and a recent study in India suggested that maternal and conspecific isolation is a common cause of stereotypic behavior in calves (Vanitha et al, 2015). The absence of stereotypy in the study group may indicate good welfare, because it is rarely observed in wild or free-ranging elephants where welfare is often perceived better (Harris et al, 2008;Rees, 2009).…”

Section: Animal Welfare Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nocturnal behavior of orphaned Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) calves in Sri Lanka

Stokes

Perera²,

Jayasena

et al. 2017

Zoo Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Many animals exhibit circadian variation in behavior; thus, studying nocturnal behavior is important to fully understand species activity patterns. The nocturnal behavior of Asian elephants, and specifically calves, has received little previous study. We carried out observational study of the nocturnal behavior of orphaned Asian elephant calves at three age groups: "infant" (0-24 months), "young juvenile" (25-36 months) and "old juveniles" (over 36 months). Project aims were to build a nocturnal activity budget, to investigate key age differences, and whether calves exhibited synchronous behavior patterns. We carried out focal animal sampling and instantaneous group scan sampling on 34 calves for 18 nights using an infra-red camera. Focal results indicated that calves spent the highest percentage of scans in lying rest (46.2%) and feeding (28.4%). There was no significant difference between lying rest in the three age groups. Calves spent the majority of time within 5 m of their nearest neighbor, with infants remaining in closest proximity to conspecifics compared to older calves. Synchronous behavior could not be proved statistically but two distinct lying rest periods between 2300 and 0100, and 0330 and 0530, were noted. We found that calves spent more time in lying rest than previously observed in adult elephants. Activity patterns observed suggest that the orphaned group behavior is similar to that reported in the wild and captive zoological collections, and appears to be in concordance with "natural" behavior patterns, a defining feature of animal welfare. This research provides valuable data as a preliminary study.

show abstract

“…It also is possible that elephants may not stereotype as much when mahouts are present, so a follow up study is planned to utilize longer direct observation periods and an ethogram. Risk factors for developing stereotypies in captive elephants have been associated with long periods of chaining in particular [ 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 ], but also to being kept in small or unenriched spaces [ 32 , 62 , 63 ] and being socially isolated [ 32 , 61 , 64 , 65 , 66 ]. Some stereotypic behaviors are anticipatory and occur before routine provisioning of food and water, or before scheduled training or show performances [ 58 , 67 , 68 ].…”

Section: Five Domains Model—so How Well Do Camps Comply?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Welfare Assessment and Activities of Captive Elephants in Thailand

Bansiddhi

Brown

Thitaram

2020

Animals

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Thailand is the epicenter of elephant tourism and visiting an elephant camp is a popular activity according to the Tourist Authority of Thailand. However, the welfare of these elephants has been questioned by animal activist groups, international tour operators, and the public. Conclusions that the vast majority of captive elephants are abused often are based on anecdotal evidence and not solid science. So, it is difficult to tease apart emotion, opinion, and fact with regard to what practices are good or bad for elephant welfare. The aim of this paper was to: (1) describe the unique status of captive elephants in Thailand and associated regulations, (2) summarize current issues and challenges facing elephant tourism, (3) review studies conducted on welfare of tourist elephants in Thailand, and (4) offer recommendations for how elephants can be properly cared for under captive conditions in tourist camps. We conclude there are many ways to manage these elephants, and that not all tourist activities are bad for welfare. However, it is essential they be managed in a way that meets physical, physiological and psychological needs, and that management decisions are based on objective data.

show abstract

Prevalence of stereotypies and its possible causes among captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in Tamil Nadu, India

Cited by 24 publications

References 26 publications

Changing trends in elephant camp management in northern Thailand and implications for welfare

Changing trends in elephant camp management in northern Thailand and implications for welfare

Nocturnal behavior of orphaned Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) calves in Sri Lanka

Welfare Assessment and Activities of Captive Elephants in Thailand

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About