Commonalities in Management and Husbandry Factors Important for Health and Welfare of Captive Elephants in North America and Thailand

Abstract

Simple Summary: There is considerable concern about the welfare of elephants used for education, research, and entertainment purposes in western zoos and Asian tourist camps, and whether captive venues meet the needs of these highly social and intelligent animals. Therefore, it is important to conduct studies to determine how factors in the captive environment affect animal welfare both positively and negatively. The use of multi-disciplinary approaches to assess welfare has aided improvements in the management of captive elephants in North American zoos and Thailand tourist camps. In this paper, we review the most recent findings of our elephant studies that, using similar methodologies, highlight the importance of proper diets, adequate exercise, natural and stimulating environments, and freedom of movement to welfare. Overall, we found a number of commonalities in how environmental factors affect biological function of elephants managed under vastly different conditions. This type of integrative information is important for establishing welfare guidelines to ensure healthy, sustainable global populations of captive elephants.Abstract: This review paper is a synthesis of results from multiple studies that we have conducted over the past several years using similar methodologies to identify factors related to welfare of captive populations of elephants in North American zoos and Thailand tourist camps. Using multiple conservation physiology tools, we found that, despite vastly disparate management systems, there are commonalities in how environmental and husbandry factors affect physical and physiological outcomes. Elephants appear to have better welfare, based on fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) analyses, when housed under conditions that provide a more enriched, stimulating, and less restrictive environment. We also found it is essential to balance diet and exercise for good body condition and metabolic function. In Thailand, use of tools to control elephants, such as the ankus (i.e., guide, hook) and chains, did not equate to poor welfare per se, nor did riding; however, improper uses were associated with higher wound scores and FGM concentrations. Foot health was good overall in both regions, with cracks being the most common problem, and better foot scores were found in elephants kept on softer substrates. Based on these findings, science-based guidelines are being developed in Thailand, while in North America, changes are being incorporated into elephant standards and husbandry resource guides. Management across venues can be improved by encouraging elephant exploration and exercise, establishing socially compatibility groups, ensuring proper use of tools, and providing balanced diets. We contend there is no "one-size-fits-all" management strategy to Animals 2020, 10, 737 2 of 23 guarantee good welfare for elephants, but there are essential needs that must be met regardless of where or how they are managed. Future studies are needed to find ways to better socialize elephants; determine how temperament...

Effect of Tourist Activities on Fecal and Salivary Glucocorticoids and Immunoglobulin A in Female Captive Asian Elephants in Thailand

“…This finding emphasizes again that exercise likely is beneficial to the physiological health of captive elephants [ 3 , 4 , 40 , 41 ], and perhaps can counteract the negative effects of tourist feeding. Elephants at camps that limit exercise and where tourists are allowed to feed supplements, such as bananas and sugar cane, are more likely to be obese and exhibit metabolic derangements [ 7 , 10 ], and in this study, the two no-riding camps had the highest average BCSs. High energy food consumption can cause adrenal activation given a primary function of GCs is energy mobilization [ 14 ].…”

“…As a result, a growing number of camps are now promoting more hands-off experiences, with tourists walking alongside elephants, feeding treats from behind a barrier, or just observing them from afar [ 6 ]. While limiting tourist interactions with elephants likely reduces the amount of control needed to keep animals and people safe, and thus may be better for welfare, new questions arise as to whether elephants are able to get adequate exercise and if diets are properly balanced [ 2 , 10 ].…”

“…Adrenal glucocorticoid (GC) activity is modulated by acute and prolonged stressors via the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, and is the most common physiological indicator used to assess welfare in wildlife, including elephants [ 3 , 9 , 13 , 14 ]. In recent years, correlational studies have identified factors in the captive environment that affect welfare outcomes in elephants, including GCs [ 2 , 10 ]. In Thailand, elephants that participated in riding had better body condition and metabolic function (i.e., glucose, insulin, lipids) [ 7 ], and lower fecal GC metabolite (FGM) concentrations [ 3 ], perhaps related to the beneficial effects of exercise.…”

Welfare Assessment and Activities of Captive Elephants in Thailand

“…Welfare studies are beneficial for developing science-based guidelines and standards, which should not be based on human emotion or belief. To that end, for the past several years the authors have conducted a series of studies on tourist elephants throughout northern Thailand to determine what management practices affect health and welfare using an epidemiological approach (see review in this issue, Brown et al [ 39 ]). The first study was a survey of elephant camps ( n = 627 elephants at 33 camps) to quantify what activities elephants were engaged in, and their general management and care [ 6 ].…”

“…Difficult as it will be, we need to tease apart the influence of all factors in the captive environment that could affect welfare as they pertain to the five domains. From our elephant welfare studies, the important of proper diets, adequate exercise, natural and stimulating environments, and freedom of movement are key to good physical and psychological health and well-being [ 39 ]. Ultimately, it remains to be determined if ‘no hook’, ‘no riding’ policies are all that is needed for good welfare.…”