[ELEPHANT WELFARE:]{.underline}

[RECOMMENDATIONS TO BRITISH WILD ANIMAL NGO'S FOR ELEPHANT MANAGEMENT IN
THE 21ST CENTURY]{.underline}

**[Contents]{.underline}**

**Recommendations Page 2**

**References Page 6**

**Appendix I: Trained Elephant- Attacks World-Wide Since 1990 Page 7**

**Appendix II: The Welfare Implications of Elephant Training in Zoo
Elephants Page 14**

[ELEPHANT WELFARE: RECOMMENDATIONS BY BRITISH WILD ANIMAL NGO'S FOR
ELEPHANT MANAGEMENT IN THE 21ST CENTURY]{.underline}

**It is now recommended in the welfare interests of captive elephants
and to protect the safety of both keepers and the public, that elephants
are managed "hands off". This will require extensive enclosures which
allow them to pursue essential aspects of their complex natural social
behaviour, without the need for training. This is clearly not possible
in the travelling circus environment and so the use of elephants as
performing circus animals should now be phased out. To achieve this
circuses should be banned from acquiring any further elephants by law.**

[BACKGROUND]{.underline}

Elephants are social, migratory herd animals living in hierarchical
groups consisting generally of extended families with a dominant
matriarch leader (Moss 2000). Family groups generally consist of females
and juveniles, whilst bulls and immature bulls form separate less
cohesive groups. The mature males undergo intermittent periods of
heightened aggression called "Musth" ( Rasmussen & Schulte, 1998) and
may adopt a more solitary existence roaming between "bachelor" groups
and families. This movement of bulls can be a source of stress within
groups especially when in musth. They are the earth's largest surviving
land mammal and are therefore immensely powerful and difficult to
contain in captivity. They are also extremely long-lived with a life
span comparable to humans. Their immense size also means that they have
huge appetites for both feed and water. As herd animals they have
therefore evolved complex behavioural patterns (Poole 1997, Moss 2000,
Chadwick 1994) to allow them to search out food and water supplies
throughout the year to satisfy the needs of the group. Essential to this
lifestyle is the ability to learn, as suitable migratory routes which
supply these essential nutrients must be learned through experience, and
are effectively transferred from generation to generation. This
necessity to learn has enhanced the development of intelligence in the
elephant and facilitated man's ability to train these essentially wild
animals. "Hands on" elephant management requires that all captive
elephants are trained (Koehl 1999).

[TRAINING]{.underline}

The Training process involves, "breaking", dominating, and severely
restricting the movement and natural group hierarchical development of
captive elephants, by replacing the trainer for the dominant animal.
Establishing complete dominance over the elephants is essential for
effective training to allow "hands on" management (Koehl 1999). For
Elephants it is primarily size (and therefore age) which establishes
dominance backed up by physical assertiveness and aggression (Sheldrick
1997, Poole 1998). Therefore humans must compensate for their lack of
size by over-relying on physical assertiveness and aggression to achieve
dominance, which inevitably involves cruelty (Adams 2000 see Appendix
II). This is very dangerous as it can precipitate aggression towards
keepers both at the time of training and later as the elephants either
challenge dominance as they mature or have learned that keepers inflict
pain which may one day provoke an attack. (See Appendix I- Trained
Elephant - attacks world-wide since 1990). As they grow in size it is
natural for elephants position of dominance within the group to change
intermittently, and they will challenge to raise their status within the
hierarchy of the group (Poole 1998). Thus, even after the initial
"breaking" period of the training process, the keeper (as dominant
individual) is likely to face dangerous challenges in the future as the
elephants mature. As elephants have such a long life span their growing
phase is also very long, compounding the danger for keepers.

In the wild the activity of the group is determined by the dominant
elephant and the loss of this essential component in elephant social
interactions leaves a "Behavioural vacuum" which the animals attempt to
fill by exhibiting clear behavioural signs of distress such as
stereotypic, intentional and displacement activities. Thwarting of their
natural behaviour by current "hands on" management, involving
confinement and training, can lead to dangerous bouts of aggression.
There is abundant evidence of this aggression which has lead to the
injury and loss of life to many elephant keepers and elephants (See
Appendix I). Training is frequently promoted as a way to prevent
"boredom" in elephants, when it is usually the cause. Elephants are not
"bored" in the wild and logically, given sufficient space in suitably
designed extensive enclosures, with suitable groups of elephants the
expression of natural not unnatural behaviour will be stimulated. Schmid
and Zeeb (1994) showed that stereotypic behaviour was reduced as
enclosure space and chaining times were reduced in circus elephants.

Zoo elephant training is an anomalous practice in modern zoos where the
emphasis should be on designing enclosures to stimulate the natural
behaviour of species usually by mimicking the wild habitat as closely as
possible. Elephants are very intelligent mammals, but also essentially
wild (Jordan 1998), and should be kept in captivity accordingly. Zoos
now promote conservation rather than entertainment as their "raison
d'être", but continue to manage this species as a performing animal
using circus training techniques to facilitate the current "hands on"
management policy.

[ENCLOSURES]{.underline}

Being herd animals elephants derive safety from numbers (with the
exception of mature bulls especially when in Musth) and so it is in
their welfare interests to keep them in groups in captivity rather than
as individuals or pairs in zoos. Dominance squabbles and challenges are
natural within groups especially as animals mature. To prevent injuries,
it is essential that animals have sufficient space for subordinates to
retreat and avoid injury. Small enclosures may prevent this leading to
injury and chaining animals can thwart the ability to determine an
effective group "pecking order" and lead to a build up of aggression
within the group. Adequate space in enclosures and freedom of movement
both indoors and outdoors are therefore essential to control aggression
within groups. Currently most "hands on" enclosures are lacking in both
space and freedom of movement with elephants chained overnight to thwart
aggression.

Freedom of movement is also physiologically important to these massive
mammals. Hours of standing chained in one place is a strain on the
cardiovascular system as without the activity of walking the heart is
not aided in promoting venous return from the limb extremities which
tends to cause fluid to gather in the lymphatic system of the limbs and
swelling which is aggravated by the constriction caused by chaining the
feet. Lymphangitis of the limbs is common in chained elephants (Fowler
1986) especially if the chains lead to damage of the skin, or the feet
are damaged due to standing on wet bare concrete floors. Lack of
movement can also cause muscular and joint stiffness and inflammation
(Fowler 1986). With time this inflammation can lead to arthritis
particularly in the shoulders and hips.

[SUMMARY OF THE PROBLEMS WITH CURRENT ZOO "HANDS ON"
MANAGEMENT.]{.underline}

1/ "Hands on" management is potentially very dangerous. (See Appendix I)

2/ Allows elephants to be kept in small (intensive) enclosures,
primarily for economic reasons, which are detrimental to elephant
welfare both behaviourally and physically.

3/ Requires training to allow handling, moving and chaining of
elephants. Training is necessarily cruel and dangerous.

4/ Requires relatively severe restriction of movement, thwarting natural
behaviour and is detrimental physiologically. Rough concrete floors in
indoor quarters are unsuitable without bedding or adequate drainage as
they lead to ulceration of the feet, especially when chained to one
spot.

5/ Keepers safety is poor and the risk of attack is constant but usually
unpredictable on a daily basis.

6/ Training facilitates potentially dangerous contact with the public.

7/ Represents poor animal welfare as it compromises 4 out of the 5
freedoms of animal welfare namely:-

"freedom from discomfort"

"freedom from pain injury or disease"

"freedom to express natural behaviour

"freedom from fear and distress"

only the "freedom from hunger, thirst and malnutrition" is achieved with
"hands on" management.

[SUMMARY OF THE BENEFITS OF "HANDS ON" ZOO MANAGEMENT OF
ELEPHANTS]{.underline}

1/ Apparently economic (unless the cost of loss of life and injuries to
keepers is properly accounted for). Small inadequate enclosures are
cheaper than large ones.

2/ Requires elephant training which allows elephants to perform for the
public and give elephant rides. This circus style exhibit is not in line
with the conservation ethic of modern zoos.

3/ Allows close contact between keepers and animals.

4/ Allows close controlled, but potentially dangerous examination of
elephants for health checks and veterinary care without
sedation/anaesthesia. This undoubtedly reduces veterinary costs. However
advances in elephant sedation/anaesthesia make this a relatively safe
procedure even under wild conditions and should be even safer in captive
animals.

[DISCUSSION]{.underline}

Clearly the main reasons are economic, for zoos continuing their "hands
on" management policy for elephants, as training cannot promote good
animal welfare for this wild species. The recommendation is for plans to
be drawn up by the zoo community to budget for an upgrade to extensive
enclosures which will allow the development of a more natural "hands
off" management policy. Not all zoos would be able to accommodate or
afford such a paradigm shift and so it is likely that elephant groups
will be amalgamated in to fewer, larger collections within the UK. It is
essential for zoos, to convince the public that they believe in their
own much publicised "Conservation ethic", that they start to treat
elephants as wild animals. Rather than part-domesticated performance
animals, as they do all other species they accommodate. Only then will
zoo elephants be allowed to express their natural behaviour and be of
value in future conservation efforts. Obviously this will be a costly
process and it will take time to raise funding for these improvements.
However, if zoos are to continue to accommodate elephants, plans for
this change of management should be implemented as a priority.

Elephant keepers treasure their unique "hands on" status and many savour
their close interaction and contact with the elephants. However , it is
not uncommon for even the most caring and single-minded elephant keeper
who promotes current "hands on" management to balk at the cruelty
involved in training, especially the initial "breaking" phase. Others
have not experienced this stage of training and are simply unaware of
the cruelty and the personal danger to themselves that this training
process represents. "Hands on" management is frequently presented as a
"no alternative" policy, which is no longer the case.

"Hands on" management is dangerous and it is irresponsible to pursue it
in terms of animal welfare, conservation potential, and keeper safety.
The liability to injury and loss of life among keepering staff in "hands
on" management represents an unacceptable risk to keeper safety. Even
though individual zoos may have an impeccable safety record, the dangers
of "hands on" elephant management and training are clear. Liability must
rest with the Zoos who pursue a "hands on" management policy in these
cases, it is clearly irresponsible to force elephant keepers to
personally accept this liability. Zoos who continue to pursue dangerous
"hands on" management, should make provision for adequate compensation
for the injuries and deaths which will inevitably follow. This may well
prove to be far more costly to zoos in the future, than funding new
"hands off" elephant enclosures.

**[SUMMARY]{.underline}**

**"Hands on" elephant management is outdated, it is dangerous, of no
conservation value and represents poor animal welfare. It is recommended
that zoos co-operate to budget and plan to develop a new "hands off" zoo
elephant management technique. This will require that suitable groups of
elephants are amalgamated from current zoo stocks. New extensive
enclosures will be required to facilitate their complex social natural
behaviour and improve their welfare in line with the internationally
accepted 5 Freedoms of Animal Welfare. This is in accordance with zoo's
conservation ethic and is essential to improve keeper safety.**

**It is recommended that performing circus elephants in travelling
circuses should be phased out, circuses should be prevented from
acquiring new elephants by law. Travelling circuses cannot adequately
provide for elephant welfare and these animals constitute a risk to
public safety.**

**[REFERENCES]{.underline}**

Adams, SJR, MRCVS (2000) "The Welfare Implications of Elephant Training
in Zoo Elephants and the use of electric shock devices on elephants."
Unpublished -paper presented for Captive Animal Protection Society.

Chadwick, DH (1994)"The Fate of the Elephant**"** Sierra Club Books;
ISBN: 0871564955

Fowler, Prof. ME (1975) "Zoo & Wildlife Medicine" (1986) Publ. Saunders
p915

Jordan, Dr. WJ, (1998) "Elephants", Ed. Jordan Dr. WJ. Publ. Care for
the Wild International 1998

Koehl, D (1999), **"**Elephant Training", Elephant Consult-
Managing-Trainer, Deputy of the Executive Secretary EEKMA (European
Elephant Keeper and Manager Association) taken from webpage
*http://www.elephant.se/main.htm*

Moss, CJ (2000), "Top of Form 1

Elephant Memories : Thirteen Years in the Life of an Elephant Family"
Univ of Chicago Pr (Trd); ISBN: 0226542378

J. H. Poole and C. J. Moss. 1981 "Musth in the African elephant,
Loxodonta africana."

*Nature* 292 (5826):830-831

Poole, Dr. J. (1997) **"**Coming of Age with Elephants" Publ Hyperion;
ISBN: 0786881917

Poole, Dr. J. (1998) "Elephants", Ed. Jordan Dr. WJ. Publ. Care for the
Wild International 1998

Rasmussen LE & Schulte BA (1998) "Chemical signals in the reproduction
of Asian & African elephants" Anim. Reprod. Sci. vol. 53 p19-34

J. Schmid and K. Zeeb. 1994."The introduction of paddocks in circus
elephant husbandry". *DTW Dtsch.Tierarztl.Wochenschr.* 101 (2):50-52,

Sheldrick, Dr. D, (1998), "Elephants", Ed. Jordan Dr. WJ. Publ. Care for
the Wild International 1998

**[APPENDIX I]{.underline}**

**[TRAINED ELEPHANT- ATTACKS WORLD-WIDE SINCE 1990]{.underline}**

( data supplied by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)
see http//:www.circuses.com/celetak.html)

Please note that these are largely performing circus elephant attacks

Elephant Attacks

![](media/image1.png){width="1.9152777777777779in"
height="1.5666666666666667in"}(revised July 2000)

![](media/image2.png){width="2.423611111111111in"
height="1.3472222222222223in"}

![](media/image3.png){width="2.4409722222222223in"
height="1.9972222222222222in"}

**The following is a partial listing of rampages by captive elephants
since 1990. These incidents have resulted in 50 deaths and more than 100
injuries. Contact PETA for documentation.**

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**June 22, 2000/Washington, Pa.\
**An elephant named Tonya traveling with Circus Hope became frightened
when children approached her with toy horns. Tonya escaped the control
of her handlers and was later led back to her tent by police officers,
security personnel, and trainers. All the animals in the circus were
\"on edge\" because of highway noise and the surface of the parking lot.

**May 5, 2000/Maun, Botswana\
**An elephant being used in a safari operation was spooked and attacked
a guide, killing him.

**May 1, 2000/São Paulo, Brazil\
**A 9-year-old girl suffered a broken jaw and lost 10 teeth after an
elephant being kept in the Sorocaba Zoo threw a large stone at her. The
child had to undergo surgery, with another surgery scheduled later.

**April 24, 2000/Bangkok, Thailand\
**An elephant used in a tourist park went berserk during a show and
attacked three visitors, killing one and seriously injuring the other
two.

**April 20, 2000/Yucca Valley, Calif.\
**Two elephants being used by the Culpepper & Merriweather Circus
escaped from their pens. One stomped down three city blocks, frightening
bystanders. Authorities said that a circus employee trying to get the
second elephant under control was \"trampled.\"

**February 14, 2000/Bangkok, Thailand\
**A bull elephant tossed his handler off his back and went berserk in
the heart of Bangkok, stampeding through a major shopping district
before being tranquilized. The elephant was hungry and exhausted from
walking along the busy streets begging for money for his handler, a
common practice in Thailand.

**February 7, 2000/Thailand\
**A bull elephant, used as a working animal, killed one man and crushed
the arm of another. The man\'s arm was so badly injured that it had to
be amputated.

**February 7, 2000/London, England\
**A keeper at a British zoo was crushed to death by one of the elephants
in his care. The handler was found with multiple injuries in the
elephant57;s stall.

**January 26, 2000/Riverview, Fla.\
**A female elephant named Kenya attacked and killed her trainer at the
Ramos Family Circus winter compound. Kenya knocked the trainer to the
ground, stepped on her, and knocked her down a second time when the
woman tried to stand up. Kenya was used in the Ramos57; traveling shows
and to give rides.

**January 8, 2000/Thodupuzha, India\
**A show designed to get placed in the *Guinness Book of World Records*
ended in tragedy when seven baby elephants panicked and ran amok,
killing one bystander and injuring several others. Several
cars52;including that of the ambassador52;were smashed. The secretary of
India57;s Elephant Protection Council said that elephants run amok or
die mainly because of torture. The council said that 250 *mahouts* and
234 elephants have been killed in the state since 1980.

**December 22, 1999/Madison, Wis.\
**An elephant attacked two keepers at the Henry Vilas Zoo, throwing one
against the wall and grabbing the other in her mouth. The elephant has
injured people at least three other times since being brought to the zoo
in 1966.

**November 17, 1999/Syed Zarir, Africa\
**An American tourist was killed when she fell off an elephant and was
trampled. The elephant she was riding was charged from behind by another
elephant in the procession. Two other tourists and an elephant keeper
were critically wounded in the incident.

**October 24, 1999/Valledupar, Colombia\
**An elephant gored and trampled her trainer to death after performing
in a show with the Modelo Circus. Maggy had just gone through her
nightly routine when she suddenly turned on her whip-wielding trainer,
tossed him into the air, and impaled him with her tusks.

**October 4, 1999/Dallas, Texas\
**An elephant walked out of the ring in which she was performing and out
into a Dallas intersection filled with spectators. It took two hours for
her handlers to coax her back into the arena.

**July 11, 1999/Bangkok, Thailand\
**An elephant used for carrying tourists at a popular resort gouged his
13-year-old keeper to death. The boy was taking the 25-year-old
elephant, Boonlieng, for his usual bath when the animal suddenly became
nervous and killed him.

**May 26, 1999/Madrid, Spain\
**An elephant brought to a stock exchange for a promotional event
spooked, broke away from her handlers, and crashed into traffic lights,
a lamppost, and a trash bin. She escaped a second time and was subdued
with a tranquilizer gun, hoisted by crane into a truck, and hauled back
to the zoo.

**May 15, 1999/Ontario, Canada\
**A 23-year-old American circus worker died after an elephant backstage
at a circus performance attacked him. Police say the man, who assisted
the trainers with the animals in the Leonardo Circus, was kicked in the
head.

**May 12, 1999/Bethune, S.C.\
**A circus elephant trainer suffered a broken leg when she fell off the
back of an elephant named Flora and was stepped on.

**April 29, 1999/Duluth, Minn.\
**An animal handler with the Tarzan Zerbini Circus (also doing business
as Circus Maximus) was injured by an elephant and hospitalized in
serious condition with multiple injuries.

**February 21, 1999/Poughkeepsie, N.Y.\
**Luna, an elephant with the Royal Hanneford Circus, escaped the ring
and charged the crowd in the middle of a performance. Luna ran through
two tiers of seats, causing panic and sending spectators running for
safety.

**November 17, 1998/Kathmandu, Nepal\
**A circus elephant killed her trainer and ran through the town of
Janadpur. Police shot the elephant 40 times and killed her.

**November 9, 1998/Indianapolis, Ind.\
**Cita, a 29-year-old elephant at the Indianapolis Zoo, attacked her
keeper after being reprimanded. She struck the keeper with her trunk,
breaking several ribs.

**August 27, 1998/Syracuse, N.Y.\
**An elephant with the Commerford & Sons petting zoo, carrying children
on her back at the state fair, panicked and knocked down her trainer,
then stepped on him. A 3-year-old girl was also injured after falling
off the elephant. Both were treated at a local hospital.

**July 1998/Madison, Wis.\
**An Asian elephant named Winky and an African elephant named Penny
injured a zookeeper at the Henry Vilas Zoo. The zookeeper was \"picked
up by one, thrown, and \[then\] knelt down upon by a second elephant.\"

**June 1998/Minsk, Belarus\
**A male elephant named Surik at the Hrodno Zoo in Belarus suddenly
attacked a keeper, who died of her injuries.

**February 21, 1998/Indio, Calif.\
**An elephant being ridden in a festival show spooked, reared back, and
bolted back to her pen, taking the \"queen of the festival\" with her.

**February 16, 1998/Mentor, Ohio\
**A circus elephant named Tonya panicked while in a high school hallway
and forced open a door. She ran a quarter of a mile and damaged a police
car before being caught outside a discount store.

**December 25, 1997/Colombo, Sri Lanka\
**Raja, an elephant at the National Zoological Gardens who had killed
his trainer 18 months before, killed another trainer by grabbing him
with his trunk and goring him with his tusk.

**November 3, 1997/Bangkok, Thailand\
**An elephant killed eight people and injured his trainer.

**September 23, 1997/New Delhi, India\
**An elephant forced to carry heavy loads went berserk, trampled his
owner to death, and destroyed nearly 100 huts before being shot and
killed by police.

**August 30, 1997/York, Maine\
**Two African elephants fled from York Wild Kingdom when they were
startled by a truck. One elephant was found in a wooded area behind
neighborhood houses.

**June 28, 1997/Seagoville, Texas\
**A 65-year-old man who entered a \"storage yard for circus animals\"
was attacked by an elephant and suffered a broken arm and dislocated
shoulder.

**May 28, 1997/Gainesville, Texas\
**An elephant at the Frank Buck Zoo crushed her handler to death.

**April 13, 1997/Calgary, Canada\
**An elephant bit her trainer on the head and back at the Shrine Circus.
The circus refused to remove the elephant from public performances,
stating, \"Elephants are safe.\"

**April 13, 1997/Alberta, Canada\
**A spooked elephant performing at a Shrine Circus slapped a handler
with her trunk and bit him on the head and neck, causing injuries
serious enough to require hospitalization.

**March 17, 1997/Bangkok, Thailand\
**A spooked elephant killed an Australian man at a tourist show in
northern Thailand.

**January 1997/Bangkok, Thailand\
**An elephant who had been chained to a tree for 20 years was gunned
down after going berserk and breaking free.

**October 20, 1996/Los Angeles, Calif.\
**An assistant trainer was attacked by a female elephant during a
training exercise at the Los Angeles Zoo. Onlookers reported that the
elephant grabbed the worker57;s head, knocked him down, and tried to
trample him. He was taken to a nearby hospital and treated for three
broken ribs and a broken collarbone.

**July 1996/Quebec, Canada\
**An elephant attacked her trainer while he was preparing her to give
elephant rides.

**June 14, 1996/Casper, Wyo.\
**An elephant knocked down and repeatedly kicked her trainer. At the
time of the incident, the elephant was giving rides to children. One
child fell off the elephant. This elephant was performing with Jordan
World Circus and is currently owned by John Cuneo. She is the same
elephant who attacked a trainer in Salt Lake City in 1994.

**June 1996/Colombo, Sri Lanka\
**Raja, a \"star\" attraction at the National Zoological Gardens in Sri
Lanka, was being led to a performance when he grabbed his trainer with
his trunk and smashed him against a pole, killing him.

**June 1996/Iquique, Chile\
**An elephant at a circus killed a 10-year-old boy after knocking him
down during a circus performance.

**March 5, 1996/Comfort, Texas\
**A high school principal suffered two broken ribs and was nearly
trampled when he fell from a King Royal Circus elephant. An elephant he
had been mounting for an elephant race became upset and shook him off.

**February 8, 1996/Thailand\
**An elephant was shot and killed after he killed his owner and damaged
several houses. The elephant had broken free just the night before and
caused damage in the village.

**December 7, 1995/Cairo, Egypt\
**An elephant being used to give rides at the Cairo Zoo killed her
keeper by picking him up, throwing him to the ground, and stomping on
him. Veterinarians said the elephant had recently seemed severely
depressed.

**November 1, 1995/Rome, Italy\
**A trainer was killed by an elephant with the Togni Circus.

**July 10, 1995/Queens, N.Y.\
**Two elephants with the Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus went on a
rampage, triggering a panic among hundreds of spectators that left 12
people injured. Six spectators were hospitalized after the elephants
bolted from the circus tent and crashed into a parked car before being
brought under control by a trainer.

**May 19, 1995/Hanover, Pa.\
**Two elephants with the Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus rampaged at the
North Hanover Mall, smashing store windows, damaging cars, and escaping
into the woods. One of the elephants, Frieda, had killed Joan Scovell,
47, of New London, Conn., in 1985 by grabbing the woman with her trunk
and throwing her down to the ground in a parking lot of the New London
Mall.

**May 1995/Zurich, Switzerland\
**An 11-year-old female elephant in the Zurich zoo seriously injured her
keeper and was later destroyed.

**April 2, 1995/Brussels, Belgium\
**Two elephants trampled their keeper to death at a wildlife park. The
male and female pair broke out of their pens because they were upset at
being separated from each other.

**March 16, 1995/Bangkok, Thailand\
**An elephant in a circus trampled two men to death before being shot
and killed by police. The elephant was killed when chloroform bullets
failed to stop him from charging the crowd.

**February 1995/Fort Wayne, Ind.\
**An employee of Tarzan Zerbini Circus was stepped on by an elephant
while loading the elephants into a trailer. The employee suffered a
crushed pelvis and was in critical condition.

**October 10, 1994/Riley County, Kan.\
**A 3-year-old girl was feeding grass to a 15-month-old elephant at the
King Royal Circus when the elephant wrapped his trunk around her neck
and attempted to pull her into the arena. The girl was treated for
injuries at a local hospital.

**August 20, 1994/Honolulu, Hawaii\
**Tyke, an elephant with Circus International, killed her trainer and
stomped and injured a circus groom and a dozen spectators. Tyke had run
amok just before her performance, breaking out of the arena and leading
police on a chase down several city blocks until they shot her to death
with almost 100 bullets. This was the second elephant incident at the
circus in as many weeks. Multiple lawsuits were filed.

**August 15, 1994/Honolulu, Hawaii\
**Elaine, an elephant with Circus International, pinned Sean Floyd, his
wife, and their eight children under a fence that separated the first
row of spectators from the circus rings. Floyd and his 15-year-old
daughter, Rachel, suffered injuries. Suits were filed against John Cuneo
and the Hawthorn Corporation, owners of the elephant, and also against
Roy Yempuku, the circus promoter.

**July 23, 1994/Nyborg, Denmark\
**An elephant at Circus Benneweis attacked her trainer and trampled
members of the audience before running amok through the town57;s harbor.
Two people were injured. The elephant later returned on her own to join
her three companions and was destroyed.

**July 18, 1994/New York, N.Y.\
**An elephant with the Moscow Circus attacked a Russian translator
backstage at ABC57;s *Live With Regis and Kathie Lee* television show.
The elephant repeatedly smashed her head into the woman, pinning her to
a wall and leaving her with a skull fracture, broken ribs, and a
punctured lung. Lawsuits were filed against the circus, the show, and
ABC for \$5 million.

**July 1, 1994/Louisville, Ky.\
**A man visiting the Louisville Zoological Gardens was picked up and
dropped several times by an elephant. As a result of the man57;s
injuries, his spleen and part of his pancreas were removed. The elephant
had just finished giving rides to zoo visitors and was being led away
when she wandered away and picked up the man. Zoo officials believe the
elephant, normally considered calm and docile, was just \"horsing
around.\"

**April 6, 1994/Salt Lake City, Utah\
**While giving rides to two children, an elephant picked up, tossed, and
stepped on an animal trainer with the Jordan Circus, breaking his arm
and ribs and causing internal organ damage. Another trainer was also
injured in the incident.

**April 1994/Muskegon, Mich.\
**Three children were injured when an elephant giving rides at a
Shrine-sponsored circus fell into the passenger loading platform,
spilling the riders and bending the platform.

**March 16, 1994/Java, Indonesia\
**An elephant giving rides to a family of three at the Surabaya Zoo
tossed them off, trampled them, and ran wildly through the zoo, injuring
seven others.

**February 24, 1994/Chicago, Ill.\
**An elephant handler suffered broken ribs, a broken sternum, a
collapsed lung, and a wound on her back when she slipped under an
elephant she was trying to secure. The elephant had broken through some
chains and ropes in the holding area at the Lincoln Park Zoo. The
handler is seeking \$1 million in damages against the zoo.

**January 30, 1994/Cleveland, Ohio\
**An elephant at the Cleveland Zoo lunged at her keeper, gashing his
head. Although zoo officials said the elephant had never before acted so
aggressively, they believe she had a \"temper tantrum\" as a result of
her confinement during a subzero cold spell.

**October 1993/Toronto, Canada\
**An elephant keeper was gored by an elephant, causing serious injuries.

**September 1993/Vallejo, Calif.\
**Radio personality Scott Stuart was posing for a publicity photograph
when an elephant ran wildly across a public area and threw Stuart onto a
cement path. The elephant was being used to give rides to children.
Stuart sued the park for the injuries he suffered and was awarded
\$600,000 in an out-of-court settlement.

**July 30, 1993/Tampa, Fla.\
**An elephant at the Lowry Park Zoo killed her keeper by pinning her to
the ground and kicking her in the chest. Several weeks beforehand, the
elephant had pushed the same keeper into a moat surrounding the elephant
compound.

**July 23, 1993/Minot, N.D.\
**Tyke, the elephant killed in the August 20, 1994, incident described
above, escaped from her trainer while at the North Dakota State Fair and
trampled an elephant show worker, breaking two of his ribs.

**June 5, 1993/Fishkill, N.Y.\
**An elephant crushed a man to death by pinning him against a trailer in
the elephant area of the Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus grounds at the
Fishkill Mall.

**May 5, 1993/Williston, Fla.\
**A circus trainer died of internal injuries after an elephant knocked
him down and stomped on his chest at a Ringling Bros. and Barnum &
Bailey Circus elephant farm.

**April 21, 1993/Altoona, Pa.\
**A female elephant, Tyke, charged through an arena entryway during a
Great American Circus performance. She ripped away part of the wall,
causing \$10,000 in damage. More than 3,000 children were in the
audience. One young girl suffered injuries to her ankle. Her parents
made a cash settlement with the Hawthorn Corporation. The elephant ran
out onto an upstairs balcony and was later coaxed back by her trainers.

**February 23, 1993/Pliego, Spain\
**An elephant handler was injured when an elephant leading a parade
drove her tusk into the handler57;s back.

**December 16, 1992/San Antonio, Texas\
**An elephant killed his keeper by grabbing him and slamming him to the
ground as he was leading a group of elephants into an enclosure at the
San Antonio Zoo.

**November 2, 1992/San Salvador, El Salvador\
**An elephant at the San Salvador National Zoo crushed her keeper to
death as schoolchildren looked on. The elephant had spent her entire
life at the zoo without a mate and was reportedly \"frustrated and
lonely.\" She killed two keepers in 15 years.

**August 31, 1992/Indianapolis, Ind.\
**A 3-year-old girl sustained permanent facial scarring after falling
off an elephant during a ride. Three others riding with the girl also
fell to the ground.

**July 15, 1992/Lafayette, Ind.\
**Nine people were injured when they could not get out of the way as
elephants in the Tarzan Zerbini International Circus collided and
toppled a barricade at a shopping center.

**April 24, 1992/Delhi, India\
**An elephant killed a man after the man had been tormenting the
elephant with needles.

**February 1, 1992/Palm Bay, Fla.\
**An elephant with the Great American Circus went on a rampage while
carrying children on her back. She injured 12 people and threw a police
officer to the ground before being shot and killed by police.

**1992/Moscow, Russia\
**A keeper at the Moscow Zoo was killed by an elephant.

**December 1991/Houston, Texas\
**An elephant attacked her trainer and broke his collarbone and four
ribs.

**September 3, 1991/Tarragona, Spain\
**An elephant gored a circus worker to death.

**August 1991/Leicestershire, England\
**An elephant at the Twycross Zoo killed her keeper as he was examining
her injured foot. She butted him with her head, breaking his neck
against the cage bars.

**July 10, 1991/Tokyo, Japan\
**An elephant, apparently maddened by being confined to a cage in the
municipal zoo, trampled her keeper to death.

**April 1991/Bangkok, Thailand\
**An elephant was frightened by a camera flash and trampled a person to
death.

**March 15, 1991/San Diego, Calif.\
**A keeper was killed by an elephant at the San Diego Wild Animal Park.

**January 13, 1991/Oakland, Calif.\
**An animal handler who was cleaning an elephant57;s pen at the Oakland
Zoo was kicked to death by the elephant.

**1991/Portland, Ore.\
**Tamba, an elephant with Metro Washington Park Zoo, \"accidentally\"
slammed a trainer against a wall. Seven months later, he knocked the
same man down, fracturing his skull. He survived, but zookeepers decided
to keep him away from Tamba.

**1991/Windsor, Canada\
**A circus hand was killed by an elephant.

**October 1990/Indianapolis, Ind.\
**A father and his 2-year-old son fell off an elephant during a ride.
The man suffered a dislocated hip and a severe groin injury.

**July 8, 1990/Reading, Pa.\
**During a Great American Circus show, an elephant attacked her trainer
and went on a rampage, panicking the crowd and injuring one man.

**June 21, 1990/Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.\
**An elephant named Carol with the Hanneford Family Circus kicked and
sat on her handler after being startled by a passing car. The man was
crushed to death.

**April 10, 1990/Oakdale, Calif.\
**An elephant giving rides threw the passengers off. The elephant began
spinning and bumping into cars before she was brought under control. One
passenger fell and was dragged 40 feet before being freed.

**March 19, 1990/Loxahatchee, Fla.\
**An elephant named JoJo injured a handler at Lion Country Safari when
she lifted him with her trunk, spun him around over her head, threw him
to the ground twice, and gored him. The handler had five crushed ribs
and a damaged liver and required 23 pints of blood.

**February 13, 1990/San Francisco, Calif.\
**An elephant keeper at the San Francisco Zoo suffered a fractured back
when he was pushed into a moat by an elephant.

**January 1990/Oakland, Calif.\
**An 18-year-old elephant crushed his handler to death at the Oakland
Zoo.

**1990/Japan\
**A keeper was killed by an elephant at the Cunna Safari Park.

**[APPENDIX II]{.underline}**

Simon JR Adams, BSc.BVMS.MRCVS.
![](media/image5.wmf){width="1.1465277777777778in"
height="1.229861111111111in"}

***Zoo & Wildlife Veterinarian and Adviser* Beacon Cottage**

**Beacon Hill lane**

**Wareham Rd**

**Corfe Mullen**

**Dorset, BH21 3RU**

**Tel/Fax: 01202 603667**

***Email-Simonadams@aol.com***

[The Welfare Implications of Elephant Training in Zoo Elephants
and]{.underline}

[the use of electric shock devices on elephants]{.underline}.

**[Summary]{.underline}**

> **In the author's opinion, elephant training is inherently dangerous
> and interferes with the expression of the complex natural behavior of
> the group which can cause boredom and stereotypic behavior. Training
> usually requires the use of punitive "aids" to attain a position of
> dominance. Electric devices should not be used as a routine training
> aid. This article explains the reasoning for this opinion. Electric
> shocks are considered to be dangerous as they stimulate a reflex
> response via the nervous system. The author considers that this is
> detrimental to the elephant's welfare and the safety of the keepers
> both at the time of application and in the future. A brief explanation
> of the basis of elephant training is given to explain this conclusion.
> In the author's opinion this circus style "hands on" technique of
> elephant management, is likely to be replaced in the future by
> extensive "hands off" techniques, which do not require training.**

**[Explanation]{.underline}**

Electric aids trigger the sympathetic nervous system (stimulates a
"flight" or "fight" response) instantly stimulating a reflex **flight**
response which is why they are so successful in stock confinement, as
with electric fences. If the animal is shocked and the flight response
is prevented they are likely to stimulate aggression as the **fight**
response will eventually be triggered, if flight is thwarted or
ineffective in preventing the electric stimulus. Finally, if the
electric shocks continue there is a danger the animal will go into
"physical shock" which is potentially life threatening. To explain why I
believe that electric devices should not be used as "training" aids but
merely as a last resort defense to protect keepers, we must first
discuss the principles of elephant training.

**[Elephant Training]{.underline}**

Working with elephants is dangerous, they are essentially hierarchical
wild herd animals subject to domestication. This process of
domestication involves the trainer becoming essentially the dominant
member of the herd. To become dominant, the trainer must assert

authority over the other elephants and challenge and replace the current
dominant animal as leader of the herd. In nature this is generally
achieved *primarily by visual stimuli* and secondarily by age and
experience and physical prowess (ability to control their actions by
sheer bulk, or aggression = ability to inflict pain). In general it is
the size (and therefore age) of the elephant which is the determining
factor in establishing hierarchical position .*This is important, humans
are small to any elephant and so to establish dominance they must
compensate by relying a great deal more on physical control and
inflicting pain.* Initially the elephants must be shown that the trainer
is capable of controlling their actions to usurp the dominant position.
This generally involves restricting their movements (via chains and
shackles) and the infliction of pain, balanced with reinforcing coaxing
techniques which should reward the animal for compliance with the
trainers wishes.

Once the dominant position is established the training can proceed and
the elephants will naturally tend to follow the trainers lead, thereby
facilitating further training. However, it is natural for this position
of dominance of the trainer, to be challenged intermittently, as the
elephants grow and undergo cyclical hormonal changes such as Musth,
requiring further "lessons" in dominance by the trainer to maintain his
dominant position.

I believe it is essential that the coercive side of this training is on
a reward basis (positive reinforcement) and not merely relying on a "do
it or I'll hurt you" coercion (negative reinforcement), for reasons I
shall explain in detail later. In the long term elephants are more
likely to respond positively to direction if it is something they desire
to do, than if it is punishment for doing something they do not desire
to do. Only if there is no response to positive (reward) coaxing, should
negative (punishment) coercion be employed. Punishment should never be
used as a first choice as it aggravates the animal and stimulates the
all important "flight/ fight" response controlled by the sympathetic
nervous system. It is also very important that there be a gradual
gradation in coercion, to facilitate early compliance and learning by
the animal. If positive coaxing fails then the training aid, usually an
Ankus (pointed and hooked elephant stick) can be used to exert
increasing pressure initially and later pain to coerce the animal (*it
is important to understand that although an elephants skin is thick, it
is very sensitive, hence the need for sun shades to protect it in hot
climates*). It can also be moved from a less painful pressure point to a
more painful pressure point to effect control. At all times the trainer
must be assessing the reasons for noncompliance and watch for signs
rather than just increasing the pain inflicted. For example
noncompliance with the command to move forward could be due to a snag in
the chains, or because the animal is lame. Without judging the response
to increasing coercion there is a danger that this may be perceived by
the elephant as an attack by the trainer, with potentially very
dangerous consequences. Elephants are herd animals and are used to
responding positively to directions of the dominant leader. They will
also tolerate bullying by dominant animals without overt aggression,
this is averted by the animal lower in the hierarchy giving ground and
moving away. In extreme cases the animal may be chased from the herd
altogether and abandoned without ever challenging the dominant animal,
but the reverse situation is never tolerated i.e. a subordinate
challenging the dominant animal will stimulate aggression. This natural
hierarchical behavior is very important to the trainer who can generally
use punishment without stimulating a dangerous aggressive response ( as
long as the elephants consider him dominant). This behavior becomes
learned so that a mere threat either vocal or by the manner of the
trainer will produce compliance without the physical back up of the
coercion, as with threat postures in the wild.

However, it should be stressed that under natural conditions, the
elephant shows compliance to the dominant animal by initially gesture
and then by giving ground i.e. the animal will remove itself from the
threat by allowing the flight response of the stimulated sympathetic
nervous system to determine it's actions. Captive elephants either
chained or confined within buildings, crushes or small paddocks cannot
always move away from the trainer. This is potentially very dangerous.
If the sympathetic nervous system becomes over stimulated (flight/fight
response) and the flight response is blocked then there is a real danger
that the fight response is stimulated resulting in aggression towards
the trainer. Under such circumstances this fight response may become
learned and stimulated by the activity or situation, which is then
difficult to break. Indeed I believe that it would be almost impossible
to break this aggressive behavior with further coercion as the animal's
sympathetic system will be further stimulated by increasing any pain or
control of movement which will only increase the aggressiveness of the
animal as it has no other outlet (i.e. flight blocked). In these
circumstances. Further use of punishment will lead to an enraged and
very dangerous elephant which could turn on it's trainer. Elephants have
a good memory (essential for migratory foragers) and I believe that
cumulative bouts of rage from a learned experience can lead to
unpredictability and spontaneous bouts of aggression towards keepers in
the future. This may be triggered by physiological modification in their
behavior such as Musth, or other oestrus and aging changes in the
nervous system.

**In conclusion**, elephant training requires the trainer to attain a
dominant position in the herd and, using both positive coaxing and
negative coercion techniques, to learn routine behavioral patterns and
to follow the directions of the trainer. In the interests of both animal
welfare and the safety, of the trainer and especially future keepering
staff. The emphasis should be on positive (reward) coaxing supported by
gradual increasing degrees of suitable coercion (restrictions, pain)
using appropriate aids and restraint. I believe that the reliance on
primarily, punishment especially if applied inappropriately with
inappropriate aids and restrictions is unacceptable. In my opinion this
constitutes barbaric treatment of the animal and increases the risks of
future attacks on keepers.

The necessity to inflict pain, in establishing the dominance of the
trainer, will eventually, in my opinion, lead to a change in captive
elephant management away from this "hands on" technique towards a safer
and less abusive "hands off" technique, as animal welfare legislation
evolves. "Hands off" is the preferred management used for zoo animals as
the danger to the keepers is minimised and the ability of the captive
wild life to express their normal behavior is maximised. Zoos should now
have a primarily "conservation" ethic, rather than a circus like
"entertainment" ethic, to justify keeping captive wildlife species.
Eventually I believe only zoos that can accommodate a large enough
enclosure to facilitate the "hands off" management of these intelligent
animals, will continue to be allowed to exhibit them. There is an
argument that training facilitates veterinary examination of elephants,
but the developments in elephant sedation and anaesthesia make this a
relatively safe procedure now for both the vet and elephant. In the
future this is likely to make this type of training redundant in zoos.

Finally, I believe elephant training has a major negative effect on
suppressing the natural behaviour of zoo elephants. Current "Hands on"
elephant management is anomalous in modern zoos as virtually all other
wild, dangerous animals are kept "hands off" in enclosures designed to
stimulate their natural behaviour. The natural behaviour of a wild herd
of elephants is almost completely determined by the actions of the
dominant leader (usually a matriarch). Elephant training necessitates
the imposition of the keeper/trainer as the dominant group leader which
interferes with their natural behaviour maximally. Hence when training
is not ongoing and the group leader is not present or active, the group
is left in what amounts to a "**behavioural vacuum**", which in my
opinion actually leads to boredom, stereotypic behaviour and other
vices. **Thus ironically, I believe training can cause elephant
behavioural problems, yet it is frequently argued that training is
important to prevent or cure these vices. These vices do not occur in
normal wild elephant groups, in my opinion they are the result of
thwarting of their social structure and natural behaviour by training
and as a result of confinement in small enclosures.**

**[Why electric devices are inappropriate training aids in my
opinion]{.underline}**

I believe that electrical aids are not advisable as coercion aids in
elephant training. They work by rapidly stimulating the elephants
nervous system, without any gradation in stimulation, it is always
instantaneous and maximal. This is dangerous, as it does not allow the
animal time to respond or learn the implications of a gradual increase
in stimulus and it risks stimulating a fight, instead of flight response
to the stimulus. These electric aids literally "shock" the animal and
the greater the shock the more the animal will show a reflex rather than
a considered or learned response. This also makes it harder for the
elephant to learn from the experience. Most seriously if these electric
aids are used on a chained or confined animal which cannot escape then
they will quickly stimulate a fight response and aggression. This may
well precipitate dangerous aggression in the future if the elephant
associates confinement with electric shocks.

The electric shock device is potentially a useful protection for the
keeper as it stimulates flight from the device and also the keeper who
holds it, **unless the animals have already been exposed to it's use
during training in which case this is contraindicated**. **My
recommendation is strongly that it should not be used for keeper defence
in these circumstances.**

This shock effect represents a potent aversion therapy to cause the
animal to withdraw, after stimulation of the "flight" response, but this
potentially life saving shock effect will be diminished if the elephant
becomes acclimatised to its routine use in training, where "flight" is
prevented, with potentially disastrous consequences. There is clearly a
real danger that if the device is used in training and later used for
keeper defense it may be useless and actually endanger the keeper i.e.
the device may stimulate the "Fight" not the "Flight" response. This is
very important as it could lead to the death or injury of the keeper.
Therefore it's use as aversion therapy should be minimised and never
used if the elephant cannot withdraw, to be most effective in protecting
the keeper.