Elephants typically live much longer in the wild than in captivity.
- In the wild, African elephants generally live around 60 to 70 years, with some males living up to 90 years. Asian elephants have a slightly shorter lifespan, around 60 years on average
- Studies have shown wild elephants have a median lifespan of about 56 years, while those in captivity often live significantly shorter lives, around 17 years on average, due to health issues and psychological stress caused by captivity
- Captive elephants suffer from chronic health problems such as arthritis, tuberculosis, obesity, and foot issues, which contribute to their reduced lifespan
- The disparity is also influenced by the lack of natural social structures, exercise, and freedom from abuse in captivity, all of which are essential for elephants' well-being and longevity
In summary, elephants can live up to 60-70 years or more in the wild, but their lifespan is often drastically reduced in captivity, sometimes to less than 20 years.
