Musth in male African elephants involves intense hormonal and behavioral changes that create welfare challenges for bulls and increased conflict risk with humans.
Elephants in musth experience physiological states that while hormonally driven are associated with elevated cortisol indicating physiological stress. The heightened alertness and aggression of musth makes normal social interactions difficult and increases injury risk from encounters with other elephants and humans. In captive settings, musth management requires isolation and specialized care that restricts normal social interaction for the duration of the period. Wild bulls in musth crossing agricultural land risk retaliatory killing when they damage crops or threaten people. Understanding musth as a normal biological process rather than behavioral pathology is essential to welfare-centered management.