Are AZAs elephant care standards adequate for the needs of the animals?
Yes, we strongly believe that the AZA Standards for Elephant Management and Care are good standards, and we fully expect them to evolve as scientists learn more about the care of elephants, just as they have changed since 2001 when they were first adopted. None of these Standards however, should be viewed in isolation. For example, the minimum space requirements must be viewed in the broader context of the entire elephant care program. While large enclosures may be appealing from an aesthetic viewpoint, space is not the only consideration when evaluating the appropriateness of any given facility. Also important are group size and composition, behavior and social compatibility of individual animals, quality of veterinary care and facilities, environmental enrichment programs, and the institution’s financial stability.
