Differences in husbandry and management systems across ten facilities housing Asian elephants Elephas maximas in India
A face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted to document the husbandry and management systems followed by ten facilities housing Asian elephants Elephas maximas in India. Eighty-two Asian elephants at these ten facilities were surveyed between November 2004 and February 2005. A significantly greater percentage of the elephants managed by zoos (n54 zoos; 13 elephants surveyed) and […]
Behavioral Abnormalities in Captive Nonhuman Primates
In this study, we dealt with 11 species of nonhuman primates across 10 zoos in India. We recorded behavior as instantaneous scans between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. In the study, we segregated behaviors for analyses into abnormal, undesirable, active, and resting. The 4 types of abnormal behavior exhibited included floating limb, self-biting, self-clasping, and […]
The captive audience: the educative influence of zoos on their visitors in India
A questionnaire survey was conducted to assess the educative influence of zoo visits on their visitors at three Indian zoos. Although 300 questionnaires were completed at each site, 150 questionnaires each for ‘zoo visitors’ and the ‘general public’, only 863 (96%) were used in the analysis because the others were incomplete. A significantly higher number […]
A Visual Health Assessment of Captive Asian Elephants (Elephas Maximus) Housed in India
A visual health assessment and survey questionnaire was conducted on 81 Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) housed in 10 animal facilities throughout India between November 2004 and February 2005. The survey questionnaire consisted of 10 questions that evaluated the health of the elephants, and they were completed after visually assessing each individual elephant. The information collected […]
Influence of visitor presence on the behaviour of captive lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus) housed in Indian zoos
To study the influence of ‘visitor presence’ on captive lion-tailed macaques, a behavioural study (Short Term Effects) was conducted on 30 individuals housed in 8 zoos across India. The study animals were observed on ‘visitor presence’ days and on ‘visitor absence’ days, which were zoo holidays. To record the long-term impact of ‘visitor presence’ on […]
Patterns and Correlates of Human–Elephant Conflict Around a South Indian Reserve
Success stories in Indian conservation also carry opportunity costs in the form of human–wildlife conflicts, especially to people living in close proximity with wildlife. In India, human–wildlife conflict is a serious challenge to wildlife conservation, which needs a much-improved scientific and social understanding. In this study, I assess the patterns and correlates of human–elephant conflicts […]