Paul A. Rees’s research while affiliated with University of Salford and other places

Stereotypic behaviour is undesirable in zoos, especially when it occurs in large sentient mammals such as elephants because there is evidence that it is often linked to poor welfare conditions and suboptimal management. Elephant managers make great efforts to prevent, or at least reduce, the performance of stereotypic behaviours and this is perceived as beneficial for individual animals. Some studies of stereotypic behaviours in mammals have found links with central nervous system dysfunction while others have suggested that stereotypies reduce stress in captive environments and function as a coping mechanism. Although repetitive behaviours are common in mammals, only some of these behaviours are strictly speaking stereotypic in nature, that is to say, they have no obvious purpose. This case study examines the nature of stereotypic behaviours and other repetitive behaviours in elephants, their aetiology and changes in elephant management that might result in a reduction in stereotypic behaviours and a consequent welfare gain. Information © The Author 2024

Zoos and aquariums are culturally and historically important places where families enjoy their leisure time and scientists study exotic animals. Many contain buildings of great architectural merit. Some people consider zoos little more than animal prisons, while others believe they play an important role in conservation and education. Zoos have been the subject of a vast number of academic studies, whose results are scattered throughout the literature. This interdisciplinary volume brings together research on animal behaviour, visitor studies, zoo history, human-animal relationships, veterinary medicine, welfare, education, enclosure design, reproduction, legislation, and zoo management conducted at around 200 institutions located throughout the world. The book is neither 'pro-' nor 'anti-' zoo and attempts to strike a balance between praising zoos for the good work they have done in the conservation of some species, while recognising that they face many challenges in making themselves relevant in the modern world.

Zoos and aquariums are culturally and historically important places where families enjoy their leisure time and scientists study exotic animals. Many contain buildings of great architectural merit. Some people consider zoos little more than animal prisons, while others believe they play an important role in conservation and education. Zoos have been the subject of a vast number of academic studies, whose results are scattered throughout the literature. This interdisciplinary volume brings together research on animal behaviour, visitor studies, zoo history, human-animal relationships, veterinary medicine, welfare, education, enclosure design, reproduction, legislation, and zoo management conducted at around 200 institutions located throughout the world. The book is neither 'pro-' nor 'anti-' zoo and attempts to strike a balance between praising zoos for the good work they have done in the conservation of some species, while recognising that they face many challenges in making themselves relevant in the modern world.

The first recorded elephant in England arrived in 1255; a gift to King Henry III from King Louis IX of France. Elephants have been kept in zoos in the United States for over 200 years and, throughout the world, they are extremely popular with zoo visitors. Since the 1980s there have been captive breeding programmes for elephants in zoos but these have not been successful in creating self-sustaining zoo populations. Many people now believe that the welfare compromises endured by captive elephants outweigh any actual or potential benefits for elephant conservation that accrue from their being kept in zoos. Although there have been recent improvements in the longevity of elephants living in zoos, many zoos have given up keeping elephants and some have sent their animals to elephant sanctuaries. This case study considers the relative merits of the claims that elephants living in zoos have conservation and scientific functions and the counter-claims that, not only do they have no legitimate function, but they suffer significant welfare harms.