Do lions live longer in the wild or in captivity?

Answer 1

Dec. 11, 2008 -- Zoo elephants don't live as long as those in the wild, according to a study sure to stir debate about keeping the giant animals on display.

Researchers compared the life spans of elephants in European zoos with those living in Amboseli National Park in Kenya and others working on a timber enterprise in Myanmar. Animals in the wild or in natural working conditions had life spans twice that or more of their relatives in zoos.

Animal care activists have campaigned in recent years to discourage keeping elephants in zoos, largely because of the lack of space and small numbers of animals that can be kept in a group. Debates have been especially vocal in Dallas and Los Angeles.

The researchers found that the median life span for African elephants in European zoos was 16.9 years, compared with 56 years for elephants who died of natural causes in Kenya's Amboseli park. Adding in those elephants killed by people in Africa lowered the median life span there to 35.9 years. Median means half died younger than that age and half lived longer.

From NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC NEWS -

Wild elephants in protected areas of Africa and Asia live more than twice as long as those in European zoos, a new study has found.

British and Canadian scientists who conducted the six-year study say their finding puts an end to that debate once and for all.

"We're worried that the whole system basically doesn't work and improving it is essential," said lead author Georgia Mason, a zoologist at the University of Guelph in Canada.

Obesity and stress are likely factors for the giant land mammals' early demise in captivity, she said.

Until these problems are resolved, the authors are calling for a halt to importing wild elephants and breeding them in facilities unless an institution can guarantee long, healthy lives for its elephants. The study will be published tomorrow in the journal Science.

Answer 2

Lions typically live longer in captivity compared to the wild. In the wild, lions face threats such as competition for food, territory, and conflicts with humans, which can result in a shorter lifespan. In captivity, lions receive regular veterinary care, a controlled diet, and protection from natural threats, which can contribute to a longer life expectancy.

Answer 3

The elephant in the wild lives longer

Answer 4

Captives usually live longer.