Diurnal Behavior of Captive and Free-ranging Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus): A Case Study in Sri Lanka and Implications for Captive Management

1. Diurnal Behavior of Captive and Free-ranging Asian
Elephants (Elephas maximus):
A Case Study in Sri Lanka and Implications for Captive
Management.
Nadun Hansana1, Isuru Priyaranga1, Nilmini Jayasena2, Nayana Wijayathilaka1*
1Department of Zoology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
2Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya,
Sri Lanka
Photographs : Internet

2. What do you think?
Photograph : Internet

3. Introduction.
 Asian elephant is an integral part of the culture and
religious landscape.
 Used as draught animals, for tourist-related activities and
cultural pageants (Poole et al., 1997).
 In captive conditions elephants have been restrained by
chaining (Gruber, 2000).
 Confined to small enclosures and affect the species-typical
behaviors greatly
Photograph : Internet

4.  Wild elephants roam extensively on a day-to-day-basis and
engage in different activities (Gore, Hutchins and Ray, 2006)
 Few studies focusing on species-specific indicators to
improve the wellbeing of captive individuals.
 Still failed to implement successful management strategies.
 Behavioral observation can be used as a tool to explore their
condition in captivity.
Introduction.
Photograph : Internet

5. Objective
 To assess the diurnal behavior of captive and free
ranging asian elephants and understand the
variations in order to improve the wellbeing of
captive elephants.
Free ranging elephants at Udawalawe NP Captive elephant “Choola” at Pallebedda.

6. Methodology.
Study sites
Free ranging
1. Udawalawe National Park; 6 elephants
In Captivity
2. National Zoological Garden, Dehiwala;
two elephants
3. Pallebedda temple (caretaker elephant);
one elephant
Locations of the study sites
1
2
3

7. Methodology.
Data collection
 Instantaneous scan sampling at 5 minute interval
 Field work: November 2017 to May 2018
 Observation time- 09.00 am to 05.00 pm
(total of 120 hours.)
 Nikon 10 x15 binocular was used to observe the free
ranging individuals when needed.
 All the behaviors were recorded using a Sony HDR
video camcorder

8. Methodology.
Category Behaviors
Ingestion Eating, Drinking, Foraging,
Searching
Locomotion Locomotion
Social Leaning, Touching, Calling, Trunk
up
Resting Lay down, Standing
Stereotypies Stereotype
Comfort Sand Bathing, Sanitation,
Scratching, Chain pulling, Bathing,
Mud Bathing

9. Methodology.
Stereotype behavior
Captive elephant “khema” at National Zoological Garden, Dehiwala

10. Foraging behavior
Free ranging elephant at Udawalawe National Park
Methodology.

11. Results and Discussion.
Percentage variation of behaviors;
Captive and free ranging elephants
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Ingestion Resting Locomotion Social Stereotype Comfort
Percentage of behavior of captive elephants
Percentage of behavior of free ranging elephants

12. Results and Discussion.
ANOVA
Behavioural categories -
1. Locomotion
2. Resting
3. Comfort
4. Feeding
Wild elephants - more time feeding (P value = 0.003)
Captive elephants - more time on comfort (P value= 0.05)
No difference in time spent for resting (P value = 0.15).

13. Results and Discussion.
Shannon Diversity index (H) for behavioural categories
 H value for captive elephants = 1.28619
 H value for free ranging elephants = 1.07727
-

14. Conclusion.
 Results emphasize the contrasting behavior of the two
groups and highlight the importance of behavioral
studies in captive elephant management
 Successful management programs should focus on
changing behavioral patterns of captive elephants to
more closely resemble those of free-ranging elephants.

15. Acknowledgement.
 Department of Zoology, University of Sri
Jayewardenepura
 National Zoological Garden, Dehiwala
 Mr. Maduranga, Walawe Wadiya lodge and safari
service, Udawalawe.
 Mr. Kasun caretaker of captive elephant “choola”
pallebedda.
 Mr. Ravindralal for expenses for the study
 Mr. Nuwan Sandakelum for providing accommodation

16. References.
 Gore, M., Hutchins, M. and Ray, J. (2006) ‘A review of injuries
caused by elephants in captivity: An examination of predominant
factors’, International Zoo Yearbook, 40(1), pp. 51–62. doi:
10.1111/j.1748-1090.2006.00051.x.
 Gruber (2000) ‘Stereotypic Behavior in Elephants’, Zoo Biology,
19(5), pp. 369–382. doi: 10.1002/1098-2361(2000)19.
 Poole, T. B. et al. (1997) ‘Social behaviour and breeding physiology
of a group of Asian elephants Elephas maximus at the Pinnawala
Elephant Orphanage, Sri Lanka’, International Zoo Yearbook,
35(1), pp. 297–310. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-1090.1997.tb01224.x.

17. Thank you