Male elephants in musth — a period of heightened reproductive hormones — face unique welfare challenges in both wild and captive settings.
Bull elephants in musth experience profound physiological and behavioral changes that create welfare challenges, especially in captivity. In the wild, musth bulls travel widely and engage in intense social competition. In zoos, musth often triggers restrictive management including chaining — a significant welfare harm for highly intelligent, active animals. Progressive facilities use protected contact management and larger bull facilities to allow safer, less restrictive musth management. Wild bull welfare depends on intact social landscapes and the freedom to follow seasonal patterns.