Daily structured walking programmes for captive elephants improve foot health, musculoskeletal condition, and psychological wellbeing beyond what enclosure access alone can achieve.
Walking programmes represent one of the most impactful welfare improvements available to captive elephant facilities. The evidence from facilities that have implemented them is compelling: foot disease — the leading cause of elephant death in captivity — declines dramatically when elephants walk significant distances on varied substrates daily. Musculoskeletal condition improves, obesity rates decline, and behavioural indicators of psychological wellbeing improve measurably. The management investment is significant — walking requires keeper time and safe routes — but the welfare return justifies it. Facilities that implement walking programmes as a core welfare provision, rather than an occasional enrichment activity, achieve consistently better elephant health outcomes.