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Genetec security desk multiple monitors9/12/2023 ![]() ![]() ![]() Identifying positive indicators of welfare for each species is an important step in determining where resources for improved care should be placed. Zoological facilities strive on all levels to enhance social experiences, improve opportunities for choice and control, promote species-specific behaviors, and reduce negative behaviors like stereotypies, which can be indicators of compromised welfare. In 2018, AZA added accreditation standard 1.5.0 that recognizes the need to assess welfare on an individual level, and a growing body of work has established the importance of providing quality care 24/7. Monitoring activity levels of individual zoo elephants provides information on behavior, habitat use, and social interactions that can inform management practices to best fit the needs of elephants. ![]() Methodologies such as these, alone or in combination, have the potential to produce valuable data about potential changes in welfare over time in a zoological setting and can be performed either by staff or volunteers with high reliability. The goal was to compare how these two methods function to provide individual activity budgets, habitat use, and social interactions. Behavioral observations were conducted on all elephants for two years using two methods involving ZooMonitor, closed circuit cameras, and camera traps. ![]() The Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park housed one male and six female Asian elephants in dynamic social groupings. In long-lived, social species like elephants, it is particularly important to document herd dynamics, calf development, geriatric health, and social bonds throughout their lifetimes. Data collected through behavioral observations can be used to modify management as animals respond over time to social, environmental, or physical changes. The AZA also makes explicit recommendations for long-term monitoring of welfare. In North America, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) relies on species-specific standards to ensure facilities provide the best care for collection animals. Accredited zoos and aquariums value superior animal husbandry and strive to ensure that the physical, psychological, and social needs of animals are met. ![]()
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