Comportamento de fêmeas de elefantes asiáticos (Elephas maximus) e africanos (Loxodonta africana) em cativeiro: uma abordagem comparativa e sua importância para o bem-estar

Abstract

For animals with complex lifestyles, large size, or a more developed cognitive system, such as elephants, promoting well-being in artificial environments becomes challenging. The study of animal behavior emerges as an essential tool to ensure the well-being of these species, providing management strategies tailored to their specific needs. In our research, we focused on the behavioral repertoire of captive female elephants, aiming to comparatively evaluate the behavioral repertoire of Asian (Elephas maximus) and African (Loxodonta africana) female elephants in these situations. To do this, we observed the behavior of both species through online cameras available at two zoos, each species in one zoo – Prague Zoo (Czech Republic) and Reid Park Zoo (USA) – with rigorous inclusion criteria to standardize the comparison, including: having female elephants, online cameras in the outdoor enclosures of the females, enclosures of similar sizes, similarity in reaction to the size of the elephant group, and group composition. We observed 9 behavioral categories, analyzing 6 (foraging, moving, stationary, self-maintenance, affiliative social, and agonistic social) over 13 days, with 50 hours of observation for each zoo. The Ad libitum method and the 5-minute scan sampling method were used for the elaboration of the ethogram and data collection, respectively. To verify if there were differences in the behavioral repertoire between the two species, we conducted the Mann-Whitney U test. Surprisingly, although the literature indicates differences in some behaviors between African and Asian species, such as foraging, stereotypy, and self-maintenance, we found no statistically significant differences between them in the analyzed categories, suggesting similar behaviors for both species in captivity. Our research suggests that, under the specific conditions of our participating zoos, Asian and African female elephants exhibited similar behaviors. It is essential to emphasize the importance of broader comparative studies, with comprehensive inclusion criteria, to obtain a holistic understanding of the specific behaviors of each species. This knowledge is crucial for the development of more effective care and management practices and strategies in zoo environments. The preservation of these magnificent species requires a continuous commitment to research and the development of adaptive strategies to ensure their well-being in zoo environments.