Elephants in captivity develop debilitating foot and joint problems from hard substrates and limited movement that shorten their lives and cause chronic pain, making walking distance a key welfare indicator.
Foot disease in captive elephants is a predictable consequence of housing animals evolved for continuous locomotion on natural substrates in concrete-floored facilities. The deterioration begins early and progresses throughout the animals captive life, causing chronic pain from cracked pads, infected nail beds, and arthritic joints. Animals in pain show reduced activity, which worsens the problem. Natural substrate footing and daily walking exercise dramatically reduce foot disease rates. Facilities unwilling to provide adequate space and substrate cannot provide good elephant welfare.