Intensity of play behavior as a potential measure of welfare: A novel method for quantifying the integrated intensity of behavior in African elephants

Abstract

To the authors' knowledge there is currently no discrete index to measure the integrated intensity of a play bout in mammals, despite the potential for using intensity and duration of play bouts as a measure of physical activity and welfare. This study was developed to test an equation that quantified the intensity and duration of play bouts in a particularly gregarious mammal, African elephants (Loxodonta africana) housed at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, CA. To quantify these behaviors, we created a scale of intensity and a subsequent equation that produces an index value, giving each unique bout a score. A compilation of these scores provides a range of intensity of play behavior that is a representative value for that particular herd at that point in time, and thus a database to which later bouts can be compared. It can be argued that play behavior is an indicator of positive welfare, and if quantifiable, it is our belief that it can be used as an additional measure of positive welfare in zoo housed animals. Here we present the methods and technique used to calculate a standardized Integrated Play Index (IPI) that has potential for use in other socially living species that are known to exhibit play behavior.

Play in Elephants: Wellbeing, Welfare or Distraction?

“…They therefore engaged in considerable amounts of physically and emotionally stimulating play behaviour during their active periods. The use of play as an indicator of welfare depends on its occurrence in the absence of compromises, but its presence alone is inadequate to demonstrate high welfare [49] nor is intensity [54] sufficient to represent the wealth of experiences derived from play. It is the absence of play that potentially indicates compromised welfare.…”

“…Our first objective was to investigate whether captive and wild elephant calves engaged in the same types of play and whether these varied as a function of age, sex and species. These basic descriptions are rare for captive elephants (but see [54]), and comparisons between wild and captive calves will shed light on the range of play behaviours possible, when these are observed during development, and whether they have any utility as indicators of wellbeing. Understanding the levels of variation in activities and behaviours between wild Asian and African elephants will also enable a greater understanding of the variance that we see in captivity.…”

Variables affecting the manifestation of and intensity of pacing behavior: A preliminary case study in zoo‐housed polar bears

“…These two variables should therefore be measured separately in future studies to together determine the “severity” of the behavior in an individual or across a population. Although frequency is easily quantified, more variables that measure the intensity of abnormal behavior and other important behaviors need to be developed for use in the zoo setting (Vicino & Marcacci, ).…”

“…Therefore, much behavioral research in the zoo setting has focused on identifying the causes of and reducing the frequency of these behaviors (Shyne, ; Whitham & Wielebnowski, ). However, this body of research often examines and describes abnormal behavior in a one‐dimensional way: it is common practice in research on abnormal behaviors in humans to quantify both the intensity and frequency of abnormal behaviors as standardized measurements (Bodfish, Symons, Parker, & Lewis, ; Crowther, Bond, & Rolf, ; Evans, Lewis, & Iobst, ; Rojahn, Matson, Lott, Esbensen, & Smalls, ), but most research in the zoo setting solely measure the frequency of behaviors, even when changes in intensity are observed (Bauer, Babitz, Boedeker, & Hellmuth, ; Canino & Powell, ; Shepherdson, Carlstead, Mellen, & Seidensticker, ; Vicino & Marcacci, ). Additionally, although much research focuses on understanding the over‐arching cause for the existence of abnormal behavior in captive animals, there is a dearth of research that carefully describes these behaviors in different species and individuals and catalogs them in significant detail (Swaisgood & Shepherdson, ).…”

The African Elephant (<i>Loxodonta africana</i>): Mini-Review of an Endangered Species

“…In addition, more social elephants indicate more positive interactions with other elephants: the influence that the personality of each individual has on connections with others reflects the importance of further evaluations in this area to enhance the formation of successful social groups in zoos [100]. These positive interactions can also be seen in play behaviour (like play bout) [101]. Thus, several indicators of well-being depend on social and management factors [102].…”