How elephants use long-term memory for survival and what disruptions to memory function mean for welfare in captivity and the wild.
Memory is central to elephant identity and function. Captive conditions that restrict movement or isolate individuals deprive elephants of the cognitive stimulation their large hippocampi require. Signs of memory-related stress include repetitive pacing along familiar fence lines and apparent disorientation when relocated. Sanctuaries that provide large acreage and stable social groups allow elephants to form and use spatial memories appropriately.