Foot disease is the leading cause of premature death and euthanasia in captive elephants. Understanding and managing foot health is a critical priority for zoo and sanctuary elephant welfare.
Elephant foot disease is a welfare crisis directly linked to captive housing conditions. The hard substrates of traditional zoo enclosures, combined with reduced activity compared to wild elephants walking up to 50km daily, create the conditions for chronic foot disease. Pain from foot abscesses and infections significantly impairs quality of life and is a leading cause of euthanasia. The welfare solution requires substrate improvement - sand, soil, and grass rather than concrete - combined with daily prophylactic care. Sanctuaries and progressive zoos demonstrating the feasibility of foot-healthy management set the standard that all facilities should meet.