The effect of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions on self-directed behaviour, activity budgets, movement patterns, and spatial use in semi-captive African elephants (Loxodonta africana)

• Published in: Applied animal behaviour science 2023-09, Vol.266, p.106007, Article 106007
• Main Authors: Manning, Primrose, Dawson, Elisabeth, Tholander, Christina, Bonato, Maud
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal tourism venues; Anthropause; Captive animal welfare; Covid-19; Displacement activity; Human-animal interactions
• ISSN: 0168-1591
• DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2023.106007

Captive African elephants are continuously exposed to tourism, which can lead to chronic stress, and subsequently negatively impact an animals’ health, welfare, and fitness. However, the COVID-19 pandemic led to global closures of animal tourism venues, and thus a sudden and prolonged absence of tourists. We examined the impact of this abrupt, unique scenario on 10 semi-captive African elephants (8 F, 2 M; aged 12-30 yrs) maintained at the Knysna Elephant Park, South Africa, which offers close human-elephant interactions. We monitored rates of self-directed behaviours (SDBs), a novel indicator of anxiety in this species, to observe differences before, during, and after lockdown. SDBs were recorded as they occurred, along with the number of tourists present during sampling. Additionally, we recorded general behaviours to calculate activity budgets, and monitored the elephants’ movement patterns and spatial use. The data examined represented 3 × 2-month periods; Pre (February 2020-March 2020), where tourist pressure was normal, During (March 2020-April 2020), where tourism was non-existent, and Post (November 2020-January 2021), where tourism had returned. Pre was set as the reference category to compare against the normative baseline. Results revealed SDB rates were significantly lower During (p