The Sizes of Elephant Groups in Zoos: Implications for Elephant Welfare

Abstract

This study examined the distribution of 495 Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) and 336 African elephants (Loxodonta africana) in 194 zoos, most of which were located in Europe (49.1%) and North America (32.6%). Cows outnumbered bulls 4 to 1 (Loxodonta) and 3 to 1 (Elephas). Groups contained 7 or fewer: mean, 4.28 (sigma = 5.73). One fifth of elephants lived alone or with one conspecific. Forty-six elephants (5.5%) had no conspecific. Many zoos ignore minimum group sizes of regional zoo association guidelines. The American Zoo and Aquarium Association recommends that breeding facilities keep herds of 6 to 12 elephants. The British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums recommends keeping together at least 4 cows over 2 years old. Over 69% Asian and 80% African cow groups-including those under 2 years-consisted of fewer than 4 individuals. Recently, Europe and North America have made progress with some zoos no longer keeping elephants and with others investing in improved facilities and forming larger herds. The welfare of individual elephants should outweigh all other considerations; zoos should urgently seek to integrate small groups into larger herds.

Diurnal and nocturnal activity budgets of zoo elephants in an outdoor facility

“…The creation and maintenance of these strong social bonds, including allomothering, has been reported to occur in unrelated zoo elephants [Garaï, ]. Maintaining a cohesive elephant herd in zoos is essential given that social housing is recognized as a highly effective enrichment which may improve welfare [Rees, ].…”

Social Life of Captive Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus) in Southern India: Implications for Elephant Welfare

“…Because the elephant's basic social unit is a family unit consisting of related females and their offspring, it is important to replicate this and to maintain related individuals together as recommended by AZA and BIAZA. If this is not possible, keeping socially compatible unrelated individuals together would improve the psychological situation of the social species better than a solitary condition; studies on captive elephants show that even unrelated individuals develop some bonds (Gadgil & Nair, 1984;Garai, 1992;Schulte, 2000;Rees, 2009). Given the limited purpose of hosting captive elephants in the temple and private establishments and limitations on space (excluding the larger Hindu temples), it may not be feasible for every facility to manage the elephants in large groups.…”

“…A recent study that examined the social structure of the global zoo populations estimated that 5.5% of the elephants housed in zoos (as of October 2006) are kept without any companion of the same species. BIAZA suggested that zoos failing to comply with the minimum number of captive elephants should either increase the elephant group sizes or phase out the keeping of elephants (Rees, 2009). Because the elephant's basic social unit is a family unit consisting of related females and their offspring, it is important to replicate this and to maintain related individuals together as recommended by AZA and BIAZA.…”

Effects of daily management changes on behavioral patterns of a solitary female African elephant (Loxodonta africana) in a zoo

“…Furthermore, a high frequency of stereotypy causes unsatisfactory body growth, foot problems and genital disorders (Kurt & Garai 2001). Rees (2009) reported that 20% of elephants in European and North American zoos live alone or with only one conspecific, suggesting that this problem affects not only Japanese zoos.…”