Elephant foot health is one of the most significant welfare challenges in captive management. Inappropriate substrate is the leading cause of foot disease and associated welfare compromise.
Elephant foot welfare is a welfare crisis that is largely substrate-determined - meaning it is preventable through appropriate enclosure design. Facilities that house elephants on concrete throughout are compromising their welfare in a fundamental, ongoing way. The welfare argument for soft substrate provision is overwhelming, and the practical challenges of maintaining clean soft substrate, while real, are surmountable. Accreditation requirements that mandate soft substrate provision represent the most effective lever for systematic improvement across the zoo sector.