Analysis Of Captive Elephants In Circuses
This policy paper reviews literature addressing the well-being of elephants in captivity and makes recommendations for changes. The paper provides a list of current laws regulating elephants in captivity, by state, as well as an extensive list of studies addressing the issue. Overall, the paper reports that current laws are inadequate for protecting elephants in captivity.
From Executive Summary:
“Based on current scientific understanding, this paper examines the health and care of elephants in the entertainment industries in the United States, and provides specific recommendations to inform elephant welfare regulation and law. Two questions are addressed here: What does science tell us with regard to elephant health and well-being under conditions of captivity? And what do these results imply for existing regulations? Conclusions based on this inquiry indicate that because of the severe detrimental physical and psychological effects of confinement and training, practices of captive breeding and wild- capture need to desist, and elephants kept in close confinement captivity are best served by transfer to accredited sanctuaries.”
Table of Contents
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- Executive Summary
- Scope of Inference, Assumptions, and Terminology
- Elephants in American Circuses
- Elephant Health and Care Regulation 4.1 The Animal Welfare Act 4.2 The Endangered Species 4.3 State and local requirements and challenges
- Scientific Assessment of Elephant Health and Welfare
5.1 Current models of vertebrate brains and behavior 5.2 Trauma and stress 5.3 Stress and elephants in captivity 5.4 Early trauma and captive breeding
- Recommendations and Conclusions