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Citation

Clubb R, Rowcliffe M, Lee PC, Mar KU, Moss CJ & Mason GJ (2008) Compromised survivorship in zoo elephants. Science, 322 (5908), p. 1649. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1164298

Abstract
Keeping elephants in zoos is extremely costly, yet does not yield self-sustaining 16 populations. In Europe, which holds c. half the global zoo elephant population, a long17 term decline of c.10% per year is expected in both species, if reliant on zoo-bred animals 18 under historically prevailing conditions. Fitness in zoos is compromised in several ways. 19 Compared with protected in situ populations (Burmese working Asians; Kenyan free20 living Africans), zoo elephants show premature reproductive senescence and -- despite 21 improving adult survivorship for Africans -- die earlier in adulthood than expected. In 22 Asian elephants, infant survivorship in zoos is also greatly reduced relative to Burmese 23 elephants, and furthermore, zoo-born animals die earlier in adulthood than wild-caught 24 conspecifics kept in zoos, via effects ‘programmed’ peri-natally. In this species, being 25 transferred between zoos also increases mortality rates. Both survival and fecundity 26 would need to improve to attain self-sustaining zoo populations. Our findings 27 demonstrate deficits in zoo elephant management, particularly for Asians, and implicate 28 stress and obesity as likely problems.

Keywords
lifespan; welfare; captive breeding; Amboseli elephants; Burmese timber elephants; Elephants; Captive mammals Breeding; Animal welfare; Zoo animals; Zoos Europe

Journal
Science: Volume 322, Issue 5908

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