Chinanews.com, Taiyuan, February 25 (Gao Yuqing) Recently, a video of "Taiyuan Zoo Elephant Suspected Depression" caused heated discussions on social platforms.
On the 25th, the Taiyuan Zoo in Shanxi replied that the elephant’s unusual behavior was a stereotype.
The Asian elephant, also known as the Indian elephant, is the most continental animal in Asia.
China's wild Asian elephants are only distributed in the border areas adjacent to Myanmar and Laos in the south of Yunnan Province, and their numbers are rare.
The reporter went to the Taiyuan Zoo and saw that in the elephant hall, an elephant was leaning against the wall, shaking his head and shaking his nose, his buttocks were still rubbing the wall.
Many netizens also reported that this elephant kept repeating the same actions after going to Taiyuan Zoo several times.
"It may be really depressed, and has been shaking his head since entering the elephant hall." "When I went last year, he had been like this."...The content of this Asian elephant quickly appeared on social platforms and local hot searches.
The elephant "Dongdong" moved into Taiyuan Zoo in 2014.
Photo by Gao Yuqing
According to the staff of Taiyuan Zoo, this elephant is called "Dongdong" and moved to Taiyuan Zoo in 2014.
"For elephants, shaking their heads constantly is a stereotyped behavior typical of zoo captive elephants."
After the video caused heated discussion, the zoo began to continuously adjust its living environment.
To this end, positive intensive behavior training was introduced, bamboo feeding was added, and physical facilities such as "ticking" were added to the playground outside the house to enrich the elephant's life.
In fact, such stereotypes are not "exclusive" to elephants.
Tiger walking in place, wolves walking horoscopes, and whales turning around in circles are all stereotyped behaviors.
Most zoos in the world have encountered similar problems and are working to correct such behaviors of animals.
The staff of Taiyuan Zoo stated that they will continue to accompany "Dongdong", and strive to reduce stereotyped behaviors and improve animal welfare.
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