What are the consequences of chaining elephants?
By chaining elephants, circuses not only severely restrict an elephant’s ability to obtain adequate exercise, but they take away an enormous source of mental stimulation needed for the basic well being of such a highly social intelligent individual. As a result, the elephants are behaviorally and psychologically harmed. The chaining and confinement of elephants in circuses deprives elephants of the opportunity to establish and foster the complex social relationships and social learning for which elephants are so well known. No matter what the arena, foraging, defending, socializing, or reproducing, an elephant’s daily life is distinguished by need, purpose, challenge, choice, will, autonomy and solidarity. Chaining denies an elephant these elements, so fundamental to its psychological and emotional well being. Given elephants’ high level of intelligence and inquisitive nature, the confinement of elephants on chains is therefore inhumane. Read more about the impact of chaining elephants
