14 DAY TRIAL // Researchers with the University of Alabama in the United States say that, as surprising as this may sound, about 40% of the African elephants currently living in captivity across the world are too plump for their own good.
Simply put, nearly half of world's captive elephant population is obese, and, contrary to what some might assume, this is no laughing matter. On the contrary, this problem is a threat to the entire species' survival chances.
According to specialist Daniella Chusyd, elephants are not all that different to humans, at least not when it comes to how obesity can affect their overall health condition, Science Daily informs.
In a nutshell, studies have shown that, much like people, elephants can develop several medical complications such as heart disease, arthritis, and even infertility as a result of packing too much body fat.
Since elephants living in the wild are rapidly nearing extinction, it is believed that, in order to safeguard the species, these animals must be bred in captivity. By fostering infertility, obesity stands to put a dent in these plans.
In fact, it is estimated that, just to make sure that the elephant population in zoos across the United States remains stable, about six calves must be born yearly. Presently, the figure stands at about three.
“There are similarities between obese animals and obese humans in terms of onset of puberty, onset of menopause and overall life span, among other variables,” Daniella Chusyd wishes to stress.
“It may be that zoos will need to rethink how they house and feed elephants to reduce the incidence of overweight,” the specialist goes on to comment on the outcome of this investigation.