Males Matter: On the Status and Future Direction of Male Elephant Management in EAZA Institutions

Among European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) Ex-situ Programs (EEPs), both African and Asian elephant populations represent good models of the benefits of collective, unified action to contribute to the conservation of threatened species. However, the management of mature male elephants poses distinct challenges for both population sustainability and animal wellbeing. Identifying the goals and challenges of institutional members as they relate to male elephant management will inevitably aide in the planning of future management strategies and identify areas for collaboration with other ex-situ elephant populations. The purposes of this study were (1) to survey EAZA facilities housing adult male elephants to understand institutional priorities around musth management, male socialization, and semen collection to compare them to population-wide recommendations; and (2) to compare patterns to those obtained from a recent survey of Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited facilities. We received responses from 55 facilities, holding 76 adult male elephants. The highest priorities were natural breeding and male socialization; assisted reproductive techniques (e.g., semen collection) were not prioritized at the institutional level, despite emphasis by the EEPs. Further, while most facilities acknowledged the importance of managing elephants around musth, few had formalized monitoring programs. Compared to AZA institutions, EAZA facilities had similar goals and challenges, with lower reliance on and capacity for collecting semen. These results underscore the specialized care that male elephants require to achieve population sustainability and uphold high animal welfare standards, with clear opportunities for knowledge sharing with AZA counterparts.