Matcom how did you miss this - Breeding Captive Elephants Is Difficult

[Florida_Geek]

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/science/AP-Saving-Elephants.html?oref=login

December 6, 2004
Breeding Captive Elephants Is Difficult
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 9:41 a.m. ET

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- Elephants in zoos are living as long as those in the wild, but their population in captivity is dwindling because it is so difficult to breed them, according to studies released Friday.

The study of elephant life spans concluded that the average life expectancy of Asian and African elephants in captivity in North America is 45 years and 33 years, respectively. Those figures are similar for elephants in the wild, according to the study, presented Friday at the International Elephant Foundation's research symposium and published recently in Zoo Biology magazine.

..more at AP.....