Elephants sway at Oakland zoo

Even at the so-so enclosure at the Oakland zoo near San Francisco, bored African elephants show stereotypic behavior (swaying). This is most likely due to boredom and an inadequate habitat that does not allow the full range of elephants' behaviors. The habitat has some green and some shade, but just a concrete little pond that does not allow for mudbaths (as far as I could see).
There is also only 3 middle-aged females and a young male--hardly a real family as you would see in the wild, where they congregate in herds of a full range of ages and sexes. Imagine a human teenager forced to live in captivity with his three elderly aunts and you can begin to see the problem.
Thanks for watching!

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• elephants
• oakland
• zoo
• swaying
• stereotypic
• behavior
• san
• francisco
• elephant
• enclosure
• habitat
• animal

[hitheremynameisbingo]

I want to echo what MsRemy11 and YoWhiskers said. A lot of zoos' animals are rescued from bad situations (circuses, illegal pet trade, etc.) and develop stereotypic behaviors in their youth. There are animals at ANY zoo that might display such behaviors (swaying, pacing, overplucking feathers, etc.) but just because you observe this behavior at a zoo does not mean they are abused. These behaviors are hard to break, and it is important to know animals' histories before you judge institutions.

[journeyman47]

@hitheremynameisbingo Thanks for your thoughtful comments. I don't believe I ever said that these elephants were abused, and I doubt they are at this zoo. And you're right, they COULD have been previously.

However, I do believe this habitat, while not too bad, is still not adequate enough to meet elephants' wide range of social and intellectual needs as well as their physical ones. Many zoos are giving up their elephants because the admit that they simply cannot provide for their needs.

[hitheremynameisbingo]

@journeyman47 I'm sure we can all agree that the best habitat for elephants is definitely in the wild. I'm sure if people who truly cared about the welfare of animals had their way, there wouldn't be a need for zoos and sanctuaries. When it's not possible to return these animals to where they belong, there's only so much they can do to try to make their lives as good as possible, although they should always strive for improvement. At least zoos have come a long way from what they used to be.

[journeyman47]

@hitheremynameisbingo All very true. Thanks for commenting.

[Pfericks]

painful to see this? are you kidding me? this is not stereotypic behavior. every little sway does not mean the elephant is bored. inadequate habitat? omg....have you ever seen elephants in the wild? i thought not... this is an excellent exhibit. i agree there are many places in the US that should not house elephants... this is not one of them. if you want to do some serious good, focus on the worse abuses, not people who are doing a decent job.

[journeyman47]

Pfericks; ok, it's not the worst habitat in the world. But "excellent"? It's, what, a few acres? Elephant roam for MILES every day in the wild, in large family groups, raising families, passing on ancient knowledge to their young. These elephants are denied all this.

Have YOU observed elephants in the wild? Or even read about them in books?

Yes, this is not the worst place. But I wanted to point out that it's not the best, either. Elephants don't belong in zoos, only large preserves.

[letshaves0m3fun]

actually 2 of the elephants learned the "sway" from being strapped down at "other fwcilities" our other female has unlearned this behavior. But that one still sways but only when a feeding is coming up. Shes anxious and excited for the upcoming food, not cause shes bored.

[zoologychic]

I was an intern in 2001 working with the three female elephants at the Oakland Zoo. Donna, M'Dunda, and Lisa who was pregnant with Dohani.

The girls were on a schedule and knew when we were coming to get them. They would often be lined up waiting before we even called for them. When I was there, I was told of M'Dunda being badly abused before Oakland got her and she was the one I saw sway the most.

Like someone else said, don't judge without knowing all the facts please.

[min2virus]

These elephants at Oakland zoo that show swaying behaviors were rescued when they were young as their families were killed in Africa. Yes, I agree with most of you who argue that the zoo is not a good place for elephants to live but it was the best option back then. And Oakland zoo should not get all these blames since they are trying their best to make the best environment for elephants such as keeping a log to calculate how many miles each elephant is walking everyday.

[canucksgo]

It wouldn't cost a lot to revamp the exhibit

[KornKween1971]

It doesn't just have to do with the poor animal being bored, many zoo elephants are suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Many scientific tests have proven that human and elephant brains are very similar in brain chemistry, especially how we react to trauma. Most of these zoo elephants became orphans when their parents were brutally murdered in front of them. These amazing animals are so mistreated. Human beings can be so cruel.