Body condition scores in European zoo elephants (Elephas maximus and Loxodonta africana) – Status quo and influencing factors

• DOI: 10.19227/jzar.v6i3.355
• Publication Date: 2018-07-31
• Authors: Christian Schiffmann; Marcus Clauß; Jennifer Pastorini; Paulin Wendler; Nicolas Ertl; Stefan Hoby; Jean‐Michel Hatt; Prithiviraj Fernando
• Keywords: Asian elephant; African elephant

Obesity is a common problem in captive elephants. Therefore, physical state monitoring presents critical aspect preventive elephant healthcare. Some institutions lack the equipment to weigh elephants regularly, so body condition scoring (BCS) valuable alternative tool. As yet, BCS of both species has not been assessed comprehensively for European population. Using previously validated visual protocol, we 192 African (Loxodonta africana) and 326 Asian (Elephas maximus) living zoos (97% population). The majority were upper score categories with 56% adults range 7-10 out 10. Adult had significantly lower (males: mean 6.2 ± 1.0, median 6.0, 4-8; females: 6.6 1.3, 3-9) than 6.7 0.7, 6-8; 6.9 1.2, 1-9). Comparison samples free-ranging populations (163 121 elephants) revealed scores independent species, age sex category. Compared previous reports from populations, zoo population nevertheless less obese. In adult females, was correlated their breeding status current breeders; however, also group size, enclosure diet vegetables. Further attention weight management recommended regular longitudinal by scoring.