ANIMALS ARE | vgrnenton.o we NOT OURS } abuse in any other way a What's the Ideal Weight of a Tiger or an Elephant? You May Be Surprised We rely on whistleblowers (https://www.peta.org/blog/ads-urge- roadside-zo0-whistleblowers-come-forward-report-animal-abuse/) and good Samaritans to report details of abuse or neglect observed at roadside zoos (https://www.peta.org/living/entertainment/deadly-destinations/) and circuses (https:/www_peta.org/issues/animals-in- entertainment/circuses/)—thanks to such tips, we've learned of shocking cruelty and scored victories (https://www.peta.org/category/main-issues/animals-in- entertainment/page/2/2post_type=victory) for countless victims of the entertainment industry (https://www.peta.org/issues/animals- in-entertainment). DID YOU KNOW THAT CAPTIVE ELEPHANTS, (HTTPS://WWW.PETA.ORG/CATEGORY/MAIN- ISSUES/ANIMALS-IN-ENTERTAINMENT/ELEPHANTS/) AND BIG CATS (HTTPS://WWW.PETA.ORG/CATEGORY/MAIN- ISSUES/ANIMALS-IN-ENTERTAINMENT/BIG-CATS/) ACTUALLY TEND TO BE OBESE? Use this guide to learn about body condition scoring to determine if an elephant or a big cat is emaciated or obese. And keep reading to find out what you can do if you witness something alarming at a facility where animals are held. What's the Ideal Weight of an Elephant? Elephant body condition is usually scored on a five-point scale. A score of 3 is ideal, 1is very thin, and 5 is obese. (See the chart below. These scores are based on observations of certain keypoints on the body, such as the ribs and backbone. African and Asian elephants can both be assessed using this scale: BCS [Ribs | Povie one | —taekime —[ Prods, zp | Prods rm ai ieimaeles wana ’ 1 | realy visible Sentero: rvs | akg pvc | conics Tow ecbone Somes may | CH V6 | pon fom ‘be noticeable, depression tail head to ' ribs appear to sien | shoulders, obvious L 2 tt aor tommreweny | Qamcter | "ices =n avery thin fat be a alongside entire layer a rckbone jt vise fmt a . Bon | “Mites te Norvisihle: | sists, atigh: | bapimngto Socios | eunibe iectoas | ‘sheets ion ecb Stig sett and | Vidoes, « vatge | abe si | te bone more be Ne oe sunken or ‘visible than others teowdans |" dots fatmcor | semmaiaton on Natvisbleor ‘cus 5 | wovvisite | notvsbte | amide bacon ied ingiing and — (https://www.peta.org/wp- content/uploads/2020/07/weight_of_an_elephant.png)e mores KA Meshan, CL; Hogan, JN: Brown, Jt As mentioned above, elephants in captivity tend to be overweight. Obesity in elephants is actually considered a welfare issue, as it's associated with arthritis, foot problems, cardiovascular disease, ovarian cycle abnormalities, and even shorter life spans. >(https:/mww.peta.org/wp- content/uploads/2020/07/elephant_viola_circus-scaled.jpg) Viola, who's held captive by Carson & Barnes Circus {https:/www.peta.org/action/action-alerts/end-cruel-animal-acts-carson- barnes-circus)), is an obese elephant, with a score of 4 or 5. Her pelvic bone and ribs aren't visible, and parts of her backbone are somewhat (not prominently) visible. Elephants used for circuses (https://www.peta.org/issues/animals- in-entertainment/circuses/elephants-broken-spirits/)—such as Viola, above—are subjected to an inadequate exercise and movement routine. They're hauled around the country in trailers and chained or confined to temporary pens in arena parking lots when not performing. Space for adequate exercise or foraging for these animals is virtually non-existent, causing many to be overweight. On the other end of the spectrum, Tikiri (https://www.peta.org/blog/captive-elephant-incidents/) is an extreme example of what an underweight elephant might look like: >(https:/www.peta.org/wp- content/uploads/2020/07Itikiri_emaciated_elephant jpeg) Tikiri, who was used in Sri Lankan parades and festivals until her death, demonstrates what an emaciated elephant looks like, with a score of 1. The starving 70-year-old elephant's individual ribs are easily visible, her pelvic bone protrudes significantly, and there are deep depressions on both sides of her extremely prominent backbone, A recent study found that of 22 African elephants observed in 008, 33% were obese. This is because they live in enclosures a fraction the size of their natural range and have limited opportunities for exercising and foraging. (https:www.peta.org/wp- content/uploads/2020/07/elephant_ideal_weight-scaled.jpg) >This mother elephant exemplifies the ideal weight of an elephant, with @ score of 3, Her ribs aren't visible—and although her backbone is clearly Visible, it's not protruding in an alarming way. Elephant Fun Facts Researchers have repeatedly documented compassion in elephants, who have been observed removing tranquilizer darts from downed friends. They also spread dust on their wounds to protect against flies. Get a copy of Animalkind to discover more fascinating facts about elephants and other animals. (https://amzn.to/33u8GE2) What’s the Ideal Weight of a Tiger and Other Big Cats? Just like captive elephants, captive big cats tend to be ‘overweight, which can cause liver problems, arthritis, respiratory and heart issues, and thermoregulatory problems as well as joint swelling (hygromas) and skin thickening (especially when combined with living on a hard surface, such as concrete) (https://www.peta.org/wp- content/uploads/2020/07/big_cat_body_scoring jpg) >Similarly, they have far less space to exercise, run, and roam than they would in their natural habitat. Lions and tigers, for example, traverse up to 500 square miles of territory—but big cats at roadside zoos and in traveling acts live inside enclosures that are more than 100 times smaller. (https:v/www.peta.org/wp- content/uploads/2020/07/overweight_tigerjpg) Dana, a female white tiger confined at the Barty R. Kirshner Wildlife Foundation (httpsi/wwwpeta.org/action/action-alerts/barry-t-kirshner- wildlife foundation) (a California roadside z00 known for housing animals who are overweight and in otherwise poor condition), is an example of what an obese tiger might look like, with a score of 5. Even when she’s, lying down, the fat deposits on her stomach are easily noticeable, as is the lack of definition around her neck. The ideal feline body is lean and muscular with defined shoulders, abdomen, and hindquarters(https:/www.peta.org/wp- contentuploads/2020/07/ideal_weight_big_cat.jpg) This lion is lean and muscular—she would be scored a 3 (ideal) according to the chart above. Notice the obvious definition of the shoulders, abdomen, and pelvis as well as her well-maintained coat and clear, alert eyes As with elephants, big-cat body condition is usually scored on a five-point scale. A score of 3 is ideal, 1 is very thin, and 5 is obese. The scores can be determined by looking at certain key points on the body, such as the hips, shoulders, and face. (https:/www.peta.org/wp- content/uploads/2020/07/thin_tiger.png) ‘The ribs, hipbones, and shoulder blades of Mocton (a male tiger keot at Bhagavan “Doc" Antie’s South Carolina hellhole, TLG.ERS. {httosiv/www.peta org/wp-contentiuploads/2021/06/TIGERS-bhagavan-an- >tle-fs.pdf}), are obviously protruding. He would likely be scored as a t—very thin, If observing big cats, note the following: ‘Thin cats have bony faces and lack muscle, with obvious ribs and hipbones showing, Their coat and eyes are often dull. * Overweight cats have fat deposits on their hips and stomachs, with little obvious definition on their pelvic, abdomen, and shoulder or neck areas, The vast majority of the big cats in the US. are kept at dingy roadside zoos or used in traveling acts (httpsi/www.peta.org/features/big-cats-lions-tigers-circus/). They often don’t have access to structures for climbing, swimming, and other natural forms of behavior, making it harder for them to build muscle and lose weight. (Imagine how out of shape you would be if you were kept in a cage and denied proper nutrition and exercise for most or all of your life—you'd be painfully weak) Many are improperly fed, whether because their handlers are unable or unwilling to buy good-quality food or they lack knowledge about these animals’ complex nutritional needs. Big-Cat Fun Facts Tigers (https:/www.peta.orgifeatures/tiger-facts-ani- malkind/ are great swimmers and love the water—they can cross rivers 5 miles wide in a matter of minutes. And did you know that lions can determine the number of lions in an unseen pride by listening to their roars? Order a copy of Animaikind to discover more fascinating facts about tigers, lions, and other animals. (https://amzn.to/33u8GE2)What to Do With All Your Newfound Elephant and Big-Cat Knowledge Now that you're an expert at scoring big-cat and elephant body condition, do you have something to report? If you think you've spotted a very thin or an extremely obese elephant, lion, tiger, or other big cat, please share your firsthand accounts at PETA.org/Abuse (https://www.peta.org/abuse) Ifyou haven't witnessed such neglect, you can still be a hero to animals—click on the buttons below to take action for elephants and big cats held captive at roadside zoos (https://headiines.peta.org/take-action-help-animals-roadside- z008/) and in circuses (https://headlines.peta.org/take-action-end- animal-circus-acts/). TAKE ACTION TO HELP ANIMALS AT ROADSIDE ZOOS (HTTPS: //HEADLIN ES.PETA.ORG/ TAKE -ACTION-HELP- ANIMALS- ROADSIDE- ZOOS/#ACTION) TELL CIRCUSES YOU WON'T SUPPORT CRUEL ANIMAL ACTS (HTTPS: //HEADLIN ES.PETA.ORG/TAKE -ACTION-END- ANIMAL-CIRCUS- ACTS/#ACTION)RELATED POSTS (httpsviwww.peta.org/blog/cocai _(https/www.peta.org/blog/see- cat-aftican-serval-tescued-ohiof) —_ who-won-petas-oscat-awards/) ‘Cocaine Cat’ Case And the Winners of in Cincinnati PETA's Sixth Annual Causes Oscat Awards Are... Commotion; PETA (https://www.peta.org/blog/see- Says, ‘Leave who-won-petas- Servals Alone’ oscat-awards/) (https: //www.peta.org/blog/cocaine- -african-serval- © Sanne com rescued-ohio/) (hitpsvimmw,peta.crg/blogivictor _(https//www,peta.org/blog/big- top-sponsors-cut-ties-with-the- cat-habitat-cited-usda-over- hadi-shrine-circus/) jaguar-petting/) Florida Roadside Zoo ‘Big Cat Habitat' Cited by top-sponsors-cut- cat-habitat-cited-00 ith-the-t usdieaveryagaae shrine-cireus/1 ) petting/) Also of Interest Will You Help Elephants Used in Circuses? (nttps:/headlines.peta.org/how-circuses-‘train-baby-clephants/) 410 Roadside Zoos That Have Exploited Elephants. (ttpss/wmu peta orglfeatures/elephantpainting-other-ticks-bad-for-animals) Feds Cite Natural Bridge Zoo Over Dangerous... itosd/ivww peta orgimecia/news-rleasesifeds cite natural bridge-200-over dangerous-elephantsides-peta-learns)