Foot disease is the leading cause of euthanasia in zoo elephants. Understanding foot care welfare needs highlights the challenges of keeping the world's largest land animals in captivity.
Elephant foot disease is a welfare crisis that is both predictable and largely preventable - yet it remains the primary cause of euthanasia in captive elephants. The evolutionary mismatch is stark: animals designed to walk tens of kilometers daily on varied natural substrates are confined to relatively small spaces with hard floors. The resulting foot pathology causes chronic pain that profoundly affects quality of life. Well-managed facilities that provide extensive varied soft substrate, regular expert foot care, and sufficient space for appropriate movement achieve much better foot health outcomes. The welfare stakes are high: chronic foot pain in an elephant affects mobility, social behavior, and psychological wellbeing throughout the animal's decades-long life.