Terra Natura Benidorm participates in a project to analyze the morphology and feeding of elephants living in zoos. The park is collaborating in this international program, with another 40 institutions from all over Europe, with the aim of establishing indicators that can measure the optimum state of weight and body condition of the elephants in captivity, in order to control and improve their conditions of wellness.
The park has sent a collection of details that includes present and past pictures to evaluate morphological variations over the years experienced by Asian elephants living in the park, as well as feeding patterns. Each elephant consumes 100 kilos of oats and vegetable, 5 kilos of fruit and vegetables and 2 kilos of feed each day. These quantities are supplemented in periods of low temperatures or bad conditions.
“The diets are similar in zoos, especially those belonging to the Iberian and European associations of Zoos and Aquariums (AIZA) and (EAZA), which we share the same view of wellness and Animal health, and they are even more demanding than those contained in national and intra-Community legislation. ” the zookeepers said.
The project is entitled “Body Condition Scores in European zoo elephants” and is supported by the European Endangered Species Program (EEP) and the Elephant TAG (a European scientific group about elephants).