New Policy Passed To Encourage Humane Treatment Of Captive Elephants, Appropriate Use Of Training Tools - American Veterinary Medical Association

Main Category: Veterinary
Article Date: 07 May 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) issued a new policy offering guidance on the humane treatment and handling of elephants by veterinarians and handlers.

Elephant handlers and veterinarians generally use two tools in handling and training elephants, tethers, to restrict movement temporarily and a shaft with a blunt hook near one end known as a guide. The new policy, passed by the AVMA Executive Board on April 12, 2008, states that guides should not tear or penetrate the skin and tethers should not result in discomfort or skin injury for the elephant.

Dr. Gail Golab, director of the AVMA Animal Welfare Division, explains that when used in an appropriate manner these tools can assist in humanely managing elephants and that without guides and tethers it can be difficult for veterinarians to safely perform certain medical procedures that are necessary to keep elephants healthy.

"Our policy provides some guidance for how these tools are appropriately used," Dr. Golab explains. "For example, there are situations where elephants must be tethered for a short period of time so that a medical procedure can be safely performed or for their own protection when they are in an area or building where they might wind up in conflicts with other animals if they were allowed to wander. At the same time, our policy is clear that tethers should only be used for the shortest time required for such management purposes."

Dr. David Miller, an AVMA Animal Welfare Committee member, explains the AVMA approved the new policy not only to ensure the appropriate use of these tools, but also to help keep these vital tools available. California, New York and Massachusetts have considered banning the use of guides and tethers, as have local municipalities.

"There are those who are opposed to keeping elephants in captivity or are concerned about situations in which elephants are perceived to be abused. By proposing legislation that bans the use of guides and tethers, these groups feel they are addressing those issues," Dr. Miller explains. "In reality, elephants are long-lived animals that will be in the United States for a long time regardless, and these legislative bans hinder the ability of veterinarians to safely diagnose and treat elephants on the level of individuals, as well as conduct research that is needed for their long-term persistence as a species."

Dr. Linda Reeves Peddie, an expert on veterinary care for elephants, explained that the use of these tools helps in providing appropriate health care for elephants.

"Our primary concern in promoting the new AVMA policy with regard to guides and tethers is to facilitate optimal health care for our elephant patients and to safeguard the providers of that care," explains Dr. Linda Peddie. "The use of tethers and guides makes it possible to train elephants to accept us-veterinarians-as purveyors of medicine, and they also allow us to work with and to do research on these endangered species. Bear in mind that Asian elephants are an endangered species."

In the new policy, the AVMA advises that guides should not be used to strike or inflict harm upon elephants, nor should they puncture or lacerate the skin. In addition to indicating that elephants should be tethered for only as long as necessary, the policy states that tethers should be long enough to allow the animal to lie down and rise.

The full policy may be accessed on the AVMA Website here. A related backgrounder on elephant training compiled by the AVMA Animal Welfare Division is available here.

http://www.avma.org