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Updated zoo standards for care of elephants in England

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

E Carter
E Carter*
Affiliation:
UFAW
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In 2008, a Report found that there were a number of welfare concerns for zoo-housed elephants in the United Kingdom (UK) (Harris et al 2008). Many elephants had foot or joint problems (over half the national herd was either mildly or severely lame), 75% of the herd was classed as ‘overweight’ or ‘very overweight’, and many elephants exhibited abnormal behaviour (stereotypies). Subsequent to this Report, the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) formed the Elephant Welfare Group and were tasked by the UK Government with improving the welfare of captive elephants over the next ten years.

Type
Reports and Comments
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 27 , Issue 2 , May 2018 , pp. 182 - 183
Copyright
© 2018 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

References

Defra 2015 Developing behavioural indicators, as part of a wider set of indicators, to assess the welfare of elephants in UK zoos. Defra Project WC1081, Final report prepared for the Zoos policy team, Defra. Prepared by University of Nottingham. http://science-search.defra.gov.uk/Document.aspx?Document=12816_Elephant welfarereportWC1081.pdfGoogle Scholar
Harris, M, Sherwin, CM and Harris, S 2008 The welfare, housing and husbandry of elephants in UK zoos. Report to Defra. http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Document.aspx?Document=WC05007_7719_FRP.pdfGoogle Scholar