Question 10

What is the average lifespan of animals in captivity and ones which are not?


I will make elephants as an example, and to make matters simple I will just say the results. Elephants that live in the wild live up to 60 to 70 years. On the other hand, elephants in captivity often die before the age of 40. Elephants are some of the world's most intelligent mammals, and they need close contact with other elephants and exercise for their health and well being. In the wild they make herds of up to 100 or more elephants, but in zoos they are usually kept alone or in units of two or three. Breeding programs of elephants have proved unsuccessful, with many calves dying prematurely because of health problems such as tuberculosis and other major diseases.




One Green Planet http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/the-life-of-animals-in-captivity-versus-the-wild/