An international study involving more than 3,000 African and Asian elephants has found that elephant survival in zoos has improved dramatically over the past six decades.
Published in Scientific Reports, the research concludes that survival in modern zoos is now comparable to, or even higher than, that of the wild and semi-wild elephant populations included in the study.
The researchers analysed 64 years of records from the Species360 Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS), examining data from more than 3,000 African elephants (Loxodonta africana) and Asian elephants (Elephas maximus).
Since 1960, life expectancy has increased by up to 21% for females and 44% for males, according to the study.
The authors attribute these improvements to advances in animal husbandry, veterinary medicine and coordinated population management.
“Our analysis shows that elephant survival in zoos has improved markedly over the past six decades,” said Fiona Sach, co-author of the study, researcher at the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) Conservation Committee. “While longevity is only one component of welfare, these findings suggest that changes in husbandry, veterinary care and population management have been accompanied by measurable improvements in survival. Continued monitoring of both survival and welfare remains essential.”
The researchers emphasise that longevity alone does not define animal welfare, but it provides an important indicator of how husbandry practices have evolved over time.
