Is the chaining up of elephants an issue?

The fact that elephants are restrained by ropes or chains is a topic on which there has been a lot of discussion, both among elephant keepers and among zoo or circus visitors.
Many zoo visitors cannot understand why elephants should have to be restrained at all and the sight of the elephants chained up inside the elephant house leaves them feeling ill at ease.

The issue of chaining up elephants is closely linked to the overall manner in which animals are kept in different zoos and circuses.

There are a numerous reasons why elephants should not be chained up. There are, however, also some good reasons in favour of this measure.

Why are chains traditionally used?

The chaining up of elephants in zoos and circuses has a long history. Until quite recently, it would have been unthinkable to keep elephants and leave them unrestrained. Many elephant professionals thought that the elephants would go wild and that the resulting lack of discipline in the elephants' stables would be dangerous for both man and animal.

In most zoos, it was customary to chain up the elephants, either in their outdoor enclosure or inside the elephant house, depending on the weather.

Are there also people with a more enlightened attitude?

Many elephant keepers today prefer a more progressive approach towards elephant handling and thus tether their elephants for short periods only.

On the other hand, there are still many zoos and circuses today where elephant keepers think nothing of leaving their elephants chained up for hours, in some cases even for days on end.

Why are chains a necessary requirement in many elephant houses?

Often, it is the structural conditions of the building which force the elephant keepers to tie up their animals.
The lack of space and the dividing ditch frequently leaves them no other choice. The struggle for position within the herd and jealousy about food can lead to fights and accidents. Chaining up the potential opponents is a means to avoid such conflicts.

Not only in the narrow confines of the stable but also outside, a simple act of clumsiness can sometimes cause an elephant to a fall into the deep ditch surrounding the enclosure. This can have serious consequences for the elephant in question. Sad examples of such accidents are described in "Elefanten im Zoo und Zirkus" ("Elephants in Zoos and Circuses), a book by A. Haufellner.

How should modern elephant housing be constructed?

Today, elephant stables are built to be more spacious and, wherever possible, without the dividing ditch.
Instead of a ditch with steep walls, there are moats with gentler slopes made to look unappealing to the elephants. These have rolling logs at the sides or are filled with gravel.
Such ditches are avoided by the elephants. In case an accident does happen, however, the consequences for the elephant are no longer serious.

Are there also temporary solutions?

An older elephant house can use a bar fence, such as the one at Zurich Zoo, to protect the elephants from falling into the ditch. The fence can be moved vertically by means of electric motors.

At night, this barrier is pulled up and during the day it is moved out of sight to allow the zoo visitors an unhindered view of the elephants. This system has proved successful although it does require a harmonious relationship within the elephant herd in order to be effective.

And at the circus?

As a rule, circus elephants did not even have an outdoor enclosure in which to be able move around freely. If the elephants were not busy training or performing in the ring, they were kept chained up inside the stable tent or in their winter quarters. This situation has improved in many zoos and circuses. Today, many elephants have an outdoor enclosure surrounded by an electric fence.

What options does a circus have?

The concept of electric fencing is becoming more and more common in circuses. Just like the electrified orange ribbons surrounding pastures for cattle, the electric elephant fence acts as an effective barrier. Its construction does not even have to be stronger or use a stronger current than a cattle fence.
Thus, the elephants are able to enjoy a "new" outdoor enclosure whenever their circus changes location.
It is important to fence in a large enough piece of land to ensure that the elephants can move freely without having to be afraid to be zapped by the fence.

Why would elephants still have to chained up for short periods of time?

In spite of all the technical possibilities which allow elephants to move freely during the day and at night, there are still a few good reasons why elephants might have to be restrained for short periods. Daily hygiene, training and veterinary procedures are usually still performed on chained up elephants.

Restraining an elephant for cleaning or training purposes forces it to focus on the elephant handler and to stand still. Thus, the elephants' foot chains have the same purpose as benches and chairs in a classroom full of lively children.
During veterinary procedures, the foot chain mainly serves as a safety device. In order to enable the vet to examine and treat a sick elephant, the elephants in the stable must be securely tethered. A vet is no elephant keeper and cannot move about freely among the animals. In order to enable him to do his job unhindered, the other animals need to be secured as well.