Center of Elephant and Wildlife Research, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Department of Companion Animals and Wildlife Clinics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
PLoS One. 2019 Oct 1;14(10):e0221537. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0221537. eCollection 2019.
Elephant camps are among the most popular destinations in Thailand for tourists from many countries. A wide range of management strategies are used by these camps, which can have varied impacts on health and welfare of elephants. The objectives of this study were to examine relationships between FGM (fecal glucocorticoid metabolite) concentrations and camp management factors (work routine, walking, restraint, rest area, foraging), and to other welfare indicators (stereotypic behaviors, body condition, foot health, and skin wounds). Data were obtained on 84 elephants (18 males and 66 females) from 15 elephant camps over a 1-year period. Elephants were examined every 3 months and assigned a body condition score, foot score, and wound score. Fecal samples were collected twice monthly for FGM analysis. Contrary to some beliefs, elephants in the observation only program where mahouts did not carry an ankus for protection had higher FGM concentrations compared to those at camps that offered riding with a saddle and shows. Elephants that were tethered in the forest at night had lower FGM concentrations compared to elephants that were kept in open areas inside the camps. There was an inverse relationship between FGM concentrations and occurrence of stereotypy, which was not anticipated. Thus, assessing adrenal activity via monitoring of FGM concentrations can provide important information on factors affecting the well-being of elephants. Results suggest that more naturalistic housing conditions and providing opportunities to exercise may be good for elephants under human care in Thailand, and that a no riding, no hook policy does not necessarily guarantee good welfare.
象营是许多国家游客在泰国最受欢迎的目的地之一。这些象营采用了广泛的管理策略，这些策略对大象的健康和福利可能产生不同的影响。本研究的目的是检验粪皮质激素代谢产物（FGM）浓度与营区管理因素（工作程序、步行、束缚、休息区、觅食）之间的关系，并检验其与其他福利指标（刻板行为、身体状况、脚部健康和皮肤伤口）的关系。在为期一年的时间里，从 15 个象营中收集了 84 头大象（18 头雄性和 66 头雌性）的数据。每 3 个月对大象进行一次检查，并对其身体状况、脚部状况和伤口状况进行评分。每月采集两次粪便样本进行 FGM 分析。与一些观点相反，在观察计划中，象夫没有使用钩针进行保护的情况下，大象的 FGM 浓度较高，而在提供鞍骑和表演的营地中，大象的 FGM 浓度较低。夜间被拴在森林里的大象的 FGM 浓度比在营地内开阔区域的大象低。FGM 浓度与刻板行为的发生呈反比，这是出乎意料的。因此，通过监测 FGM 浓度评估肾上腺活动可以为影响大象福利的因素提供重要信息。结果表明，在泰国，为大象提供更自然的居住条件和锻炼机会可能对人类照顾下的大象有益，而且不骑马、不使用钩子的政策不一定能保证良好的福利。
