Tang Yinpu, Jia Ting, Zhou Fangyi, Wang Liang, Chen Ziluo, Zhang Li
Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
Beijing Key Laboratory of Captive Wildlife Technologies, Beijing Zoo, Beijing 100044, China.
Animals (Basel). 2024 Dec 11;14(24):3571. doi: 10.3390/ani14243571.
Obesity is a prevalent health issue among captive wildlife, but the obesity status of captive Asian elephants () in China has not been systematically investigated. This study assessed obesity in 204 captive Asian elephants across 43 facilities by recording seven potentially relevant variables: sex, age, daily feed supply, proportion of high-calorie feed, outdoor enclosure area, outdoor time, and foot disorders. Body condition was evaluated using visual scoring, revealing a high prevalence of overweight and obesity, particularly in zoo-kept elephants. Over 70% of captive Asian elephants in China were classified as overweight or obese. Statistical analysis indicated that insufficient outdoor time is likely a primary contributor to obesity among zoo elephants. We recommend extending outdoor time and regulating the supply of high-calorie feeds (e.g., fruits, vegetables, and pellets) to promote exercise and balance energy intake. Additionally, implementing positive reinforcement training for routine health checks, including foot exams and blood sampling, could improve data collection on elephant health and welfare, ultimately enhancing obesity management and overall animal well-being.
肥胖是圈养野生动物中普遍存在的健康问题，但中国圈养亚洲象的肥胖状况尚未得到系统调查。本研究通过记录七个潜在相关变量，对43个设施中的204头圈养亚洲象的肥胖情况进行了评估：性别、年龄、每日饲料供应、高热量饲料比例、室外围栏面积、室外活动时间和足部疾病。使用视觉评分法评估身体状况，结果显示超重和肥胖的发生率很高，尤其是在动物园饲养的大象中。中国超过70%的圈养亚洲象被归类为超重或肥胖。统计分析表明，室外活动时间不足可能是动物园大象肥胖的主要原因。我们建议延长室外活动时间并规范高热量饲料（如水果、蔬菜和颗粒饲料）的供应，以促进运动并平衡能量摄入。此外，对包括足部检查和采血在内的常规健康检查实施积极强化训练，可以改善大象健康和福利的数据收集，最终加强肥胖管理和整体动物健康。
