Captive elephants: Difference between revisions
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{{See|Cultural depictions of elephants}} |
{{See|Cultural depictions of elephants}} |
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[[File:Royal Elephant.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Royal Elephant]] |
[[File:Royal Elephant.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Royal Elephant]] |
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Tame elephants have been documented since the [[Indus Valley civilization]] around 2,000 BCE. They have been used as [[working animal]]s in forestry, and as [[war elephant]]s (by commanders such as [[Hannibal]]), as well as cultural and ceremonial use such as [[circus elephant]]s, [[elephant polo]], [[execution by elephant]] and displays in [[zoological garden]]s. The expression ''[[white elephant]]'' derives from elephants disqualified from useful work, still posing a large ownership cost. |
Tame elephants have been documented since the [[Indus Valley civilization]] around 2,000 BCE. They have been used as [[working animal]]s in forestry, and as [[war elephant]]s (by commanders such as [[Hannibal]]), as well as cultural and ceremonial use such as [[circus elephant]]s, [[elephant polo]], [[execution by elephant]] and displays in [[zoological garden]]s. The expression ''[[white elephant]]'' derives from elephants disqualified from useful work, still posing a large ownership cost. One of the tallest captive Asian elephant to have ever lived was Chengaloor Ranganathan which lived in Kerala, India [http://URL "http://www.starelephants.com/elephants/directory/chengallor-ranganadan.html"]. It was measured close to 12 feet in height . The skeleton of this animal is preserved at Kerala Museum in Thrissur, Kerala.[[File:Ranganathan Skeleton.jpg|thumb|Skeleton of Chengallor Ranganathan]][[File:Chengaloor.jpg|thumb|Ranganathan taking part in a temple procession]] |
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==Behaviour and training== |
==Behaviour and training== |
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Revision as of 10:26, 29 November 2012
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (October 2012) |
Elephants in captivity are in most cases Asian elephants captured in the wild. Selective breeding of elephants is impractical due to their long reproduction cycle, so there are no domestic breeds. African bush elephants and African forest elephants are less useful to domestication and training.
History
Tame elephants have been documented since the Indus Valley civilization around 2,000 BCE. They have been used as working animals in forestry, and as war elephants (by commanders such as Hannibal), as well as cultural and ceremonial use such as circus elephants, elephant polo, execution by elephant and displays in zoological gardens. The expression white elephant derives from elephants disqualified from useful work, still posing a large ownership cost. One of the tallest captive Asian elephant to have ever lived was Chengaloor Ranganathan which lived in Kerala, India "http://www.starelephants.com/elephants/directory/chengallor-ranganadan.html". It was measured close to 12 feet in height . The skeleton of this animal is preserved at Kerala Museum in Thrissur, Kerala.
Behaviour and training
Elephants have the largest brains of all land animals, and have since Aristotle been renowned for their cognitive skills, with behavioural patterns shared with humans. Elephants also have a longer lifespan than most livestock.
The adult male elephant occasionally goes through a musth period, making him dangerously aggressive.
Welfare concerns
Animal welfare activists have raised concern about the physical and mental health of elephants in captivity.
See also
- History of elephants in Europe
- Elephants in Kerala culture
- List of individual elephants
- Elephant goad
- Elephant crushing
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