Captive elephant welfare is one of the most pressing issues in zoo and tourism animal welfare, with the physical and psychological complexity of elephants creating extraordinary challenges for captive management.
Elephants are among the most welfare-compromised species in captive settings. Their intelligence, emotional complexity, social needs and physical requirements combine to create welfare demands that virtually no captive setting fully meets. Isolated elephants show profound psychological disturbance. Foot disease from standing on hard substrates is endemic. The lifespan of captive elephants is dramatically shorter than wild counterparts. Tourist elephant camps that offer riding, performances and washing experiences are typically associated with severe welfare harms from the abusive training required to make wild-natured elephants compliant. The welfare case for phasing out elephant captivity except in genuine sanctuary settings is compelling.