Elephants Elephants - Wildpro - Twycross Zoo

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being fed or when waiting to come in (something they have to wait to come in
to be fed).
Other behaviour
A further nine females were described as having ‘behavioural problems’ other
than stereotypy. These were mostly in their inability to mix with some of the
other elephants (three collections in particular reported on this). Possibly that
most of this is ‘elephant politics’ as only two collections actually separate their
elephants as a management tool.
Comments were made as to behaviour of certain elephants towards certain
other elephants and particular keepers.
Frequency of handling
Males – no Asian bull over eight years old is handled in free contact, the
others being in restricted (x 2) or protected contact. The eight, nine and twelve
year olds have been recently moved in to restricted or protected contact. These
are handled every day. The older bulls are handled occasionally.
Africans – all bulls under the age of 10 are handled daily in free contact,
although the two eldest are in training for protected contact. Of the three bulls
over 20, one is in zero contact, another in protected (but handled daily) and
the third is still in free contact.
Females – Nine collections handle their females every day in a free contact
management system. Two collections do not handle their animals at all and
practise a zero contact management system. One collection handles their
animals daily in a protected management system. One collection handles two
out of five females in protected contact and three in free contact. All animals
are handled daily. The remaining collection (total = 14) handles two animals
daily in protected contact and one is not handled at all in zero contact.
Tools used during handling
Eight collections used the ankus, two used targets, and one used both. Three
collections did not answer the question.
Time spent on chains
Bulls - No bulls over the age of 12 are put on chains. Of those put on chains,
none were put on for more than three hours.
Female - Five collections put their female elephants on chains for less than an
hour a day and two for between one and three hours per day. Five collections
do not chain their animals at all.
Trained routines and removal from enclosure
Males – no bull elephants are trained in a routine nor removed from their
enclosure