Housing and Social Environments of African (Loxodonta africana) and Asian (Elephas maximus) Elephants in North American Zoos

Cheryl L Meehan, Jennifer N Hogan, Mary K Bonaparte-Saller and Joy A Mench

PLOS ONE, 2016, vol. 11, issue 7, 1-22

Abstract: We evaluated 255 African (Loxodonta africana) and Asian (Elephas maximus) elephants living in 68 North American zoos over one year to quantify housing and social variables. All parameters were quantified for the both the day and the night and comparisons were made across these time periods as well as by species and sex. To assess housing, we evaluated not only total exhibit size, but also individual animals’ experiences based on the time they spent in the unique environments into which the exhibits were subdivided. Variables developed to assess housing included measurements of area as a function of time (Total Space Experience), environment type (Indoor, Outdoor, In/Out Choice) and time spent on hard and soft flooring. Over the year, Total Space Experience values ranged from 1,273 square feet to 169,692 square feet, with Day values significantly greater than Night values (p

Date: 2016
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pone00:0146703

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0146703

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