(ROOT (S (NP (JJS Most) (NNS people)) (VP (VBP think) (PP (IN of) (NP (NNS zoos))) (PP (IN as) (NP (NP (JJ safe) (NNS heavens)) (PP (IN for) (NP (NP (NNS animals)) (, ,) (SBAR (WHADVP (WRB where)) (S (NP (NP (NNS problems)) (PP (JJ such) (IN as) (NP (NP (NN difficulty)) (S (VP (VP (VBG finding) (NP (NN food))) (CC and) (VP (VBG avoiding) (NP (NNS predators)))))))) (VP (VBP do) (RB n't) (VP (VB exist)))))))))) (. .)))
Most people think of zoos as safe heavens for animals, where problems such as difficulty finding food and avoiding predators don't exist.
amod
Degree=Sup
most
Most
ADJ
JJS
nsubj
Number=Plur
person
people
NOUN
NNS
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
think
think
VERB
VBP
case
of
of
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Plur
zoo
zoos
NOUN
NNS
case
as
as
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
safe
safe
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Plur
heaven
heavens
NOUN
NNS
case
for
for
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Plur
animal
animals
NOUN
NNS
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
advmod
PronType=Rel
where
where
ADV
WRB
nsubj
Number=Plur
problem
problems
NOUN
NNS
case
Degree=Pos
such
such
ADJ
JJ
fixed
as
as
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
difficulty
difficulty
NOUN
NN
acl
VerbForm=Ger
find
finding
VERB
VBG
obj
Number=Sing
food
food
NOUN
NN
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
VerbForm=Ger
avoid
avoiding
VERB
VBG
obj
Number=Plur
predator
predators
NOUN
NNS
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
do
do
AUX
VBP
advmod
not
n't
PART
RB
conj
VerbForm=Inf
exist
exist
VERB
VB
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (ADVP (RB Therefore)) (, ,) (NP (NP (NNS animals)) (PP (IN in) (NP (NNS zoos)))) (VP (MD should) (VP (VB live) (PP (IN to) (NP (DT a) (JJ ripe) (JJ old) (NN age))))) (. .)))
Therefore, animals in zoos should live to a ripe old age.
advmod
therefore
Therefore
ADV
RB
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
Number=Plur
animal
animals
NOUN
NNS
case
in
in
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Plur
zoo
zoos
NOUN
NNS
aux
VerbForm=Fin
should
should
AUX
MD
root
VerbForm=Inf
live
live
VERB
VB
case
to
to
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
ripe
ripe
ADJ
JJ
amod
Degree=Pos
old
old
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Sing
age
age
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (CC But) (NP (DT that)) (VP (MD may) (RB not) (VP (VB be) (ADJP (JJ true)) (PP (IN for) (NP (NP (DT the) (JJS largest) (NN land) (NNS animals)) (PP (IN on) (NP (NN earth))))))) (. .)))
But that may not be true for the largest land animals on earth.
cc
but
But
CCONJ
CC
nsubj
Number=Sing|PronType=Dem
that
that
PRON
DT
aux
VerbForm=Fin
may
may
AUX
MD
advmod
not
not
PART
RB
cop
VerbForm=Inf
be
be
AUX
VB
root
Degree=Pos
true
true
ADJ
JJ
case
for
for
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Sup
large
largest
ADJ
JJS
compound
Number=Sing
land
land
NOUN
NN
obl
Number=Plur
animal
animals
NOUN
NNS
case
on
on
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
earth
earth
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (NNS Scientists)) (VP (VBP have) (VP (VBN known) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (NP (NNS elephants)) (PP (IN in) (NP (NNS zoos)))) (ADVP (RB often)) (VP (VBP suffer) (PP (IN from) (NP (JJ poor) (NN health)))))))) (. .)))
Scientists have known that elephants in zoos often suffer from poor health.
nsubj
Number=Plur
scientist
Scientists
NOUN
NNS
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
have
have
AUX
VBP
root
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
know
known
VERB
VBN
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Number=Plur
elephant
elephants
NOUN
NNS
case
in
in
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Plur
zoo
zoos
NOUN
NNS
advmod
often
often
ADV
RB
ccomp
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
suffer
suffer
VERB
VBP
case
from
from
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
poor
poor
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Sing
health
health
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (S (NP (PRP They)) (VP (VBP develop) (NP (NNS diseases)))) (CC and) (S (NP (PRP they)) (VP (VBP are) (ADJP (RB even) (JJ unable) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB have) (NP (NNS babies)))))))) (. .)))
They develop diseases and they are even unable to have babies.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
They
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
develop
develop
VERB
VBP
obj
Number=Plur
disease
diseases
NOUN
NNS
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
they
PRON
PRP
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
are
AUX
VBP
advmod
even
even
ADV
RB
conj
Degree=Pos
unable
unable
ADJ
JJ
mark
to
to
PART
TO
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
have
have
VERB
VB
obj
Number=Plur
baby
babies
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (S (VP (TO To) (VP (VB learn) (NP (ADVP (JJR more)) (PP (IN about) (SBAR (WHADVP (WRB how)) (S (NP (NN captivity)) (VP (VBZ affects) (NP (NNS elephants)))))))))) (, ,) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN team)) (PP (IN of) (NP (JJ international) (NNS scientists)))) (VP (VBD compared) (NP (NP (DT the) (NNS lifespans)) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT the) (JJ zoo-born) (NNS elephants)))) (PP (IN with) (NP (NP (DT the) (NNS lifespans)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (NNS thousands)) (PP (IN of) (NP (JJ wild) (NNS elephants)))))))) (. .)))
To learn more about how captivity affects elephants, a team of international scientists compared the lifespans of the zoo-born elephants with the lifespans of thousands of wild elephants.
mark
to
To
PART
TO
advcl
VerbForm=Inf
learn
learn
VERB
VB
obj
Degree=Cmp
more
more
ADJ
JJR
mark
about
about
SCONJ
IN
advmod
PronType=Int
how
how
ADV
WRB
nsubj
Number=Sing
captivity
captivity
NOUN
NN
advcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
affect
affects
VERB
VBZ
obj
Number=Plur
elephant
elephants
NOUN
NNS
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
nsubj
Number=Sing
team
team
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
international
international
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Plur
scientist
scientists
NOUN
NNS
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
compare
compared
VERB
VBD
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obj
Number=Plur
lifespan
lifespans
NOUN
NNS
case
of
of
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
zoo-born
zoo-born
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Plur
elephant
elephants
NOUN
NNS
case
with
with
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obl
Number=Plur
lifespan
lifespans
NOUN
NNS
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Plur
thousand
thousands
NOUN
NNS
case
of
of
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
wild
wild
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Plur
elephant
elephants
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP They)) (ADVP (RB also)) (VP (VBD compared) (NP (NP (DT some) (JJ Asian) (NNS elephants)) (VP (VBG living) (PP (IN in) (NP (NNS zoos))) (PP (IN with) (NP (NP (DT some) (JJ Asian) (NNS elephants)) (SBAR (WHNP (WDT which)) (S (VP (VBP work) (PP (IN in) (NP (NN logging) (NN camp)))))))) (, ,) (PP (IN over) (NP (RB almost) (DT the) (JJ same) (NN time) (NN period)))))) (. .)))
They also compared some Asian elephants living in zoos with some Asian elephants which work in logging camp, over almost the same time period.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
They
PRON
PRP
advmod
also
also
ADV
RB
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
compare
compared
VERB
VBD
det
some
some
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
Asian
Asian
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Plur
elephant
elephants
NOUN
NNS
acl
VerbForm=Ger
live
living
VERB
VBG
case
in
in
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Plur
zoo
zoos
NOUN
NNS
case
with
with
ADP
IN
det
some
some
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
Asian
Asian
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Plur
elephant
elephants
NOUN
NNS
nsubj
PronType=Rel
which
which
PRON
WDT
acl:relcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
work
work
VERB
VBP
case
in
in
ADP
IN
compound
Number=Sing
logging
logging
NOUN
NN
obl
Number=Sing
camp
camp
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
case
over
over
ADP
IN
advmod
almost
almost
ADV
RB
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
same
same
ADJ
JJ
compound
Number=Sing
time
time
NOUN
NN
obl
Number=Sing
period
period
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (S (NP (DT The) (NN team)) (VP (VBD found) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (NP (NNS elephants)) (VP (VBN born) (PP (IN in) (NP (NNS zoos))))) (VP (VBD lived) (NP (NP (DT an) (NN average)) (PP (IN of) (NP (CD 16.9) (NNS years))))))))) (, ,) (CC but) (S (NP (NP (NNS elephants)) (SBAR (WHNP (WDT that)) (S (VP (VBD died) (PP (IN of) (NP (JJ natural) (NNS causes))))))) (VP (VBD lived) (NP (NP (DT an) (NN average)) (PP (IN of) (NP (CD 56) (NNS years)))))) (. .)))
The team found that elephants born in zoos lived an average of 16.9 years, but elephants that died of natural causes lived an average of 56 years.
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
The
DET
DT
nsubj
Number=Sing
team
team
NOUN
NN
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
find
found
VERB
VBD
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Number=Plur
elephant
elephants
NOUN
NNS
acl
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
bear
born
VERB
VBN
case
in
in
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Plur
zoo
zoos
NOUN
NNS
ccomp
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
live
lived
VERB
VBD
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
an
DET
DT
obj
Number=Sing
average
average
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nummod
NumForm=Digit|NumType=Frac
16.9
16.9
NUM
CD
nmod
Number=Plur
year
years
NOUN
NNS
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
cc
but
but
CCONJ
CC
nsubj
Number=Plur
elephant
elephants
NOUN
NNS
nsubj
PronType=Rel
that
that
PRON
WDT
acl:relcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
die
died
VERB
VBD
case
of
of
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
natural
natural
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Plur
cause
causes
NOUN
NNS
conj
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
live
lived
VERB
VBD
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
an
DET
DT
obj
Number=Sing
average
average
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nummod
NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card
56
56
NUM
CD
nmod
Number=Plur
year
years
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (JJ Asian) (NNS elephants)) (VP (VBD followed) (NP (DT a) (JJ similar) (NN pattern))) (. .)))
Asian elephants followed a similar pattern.
amod
Degree=Pos
Asian
Asian
ADJ
JJ
nsubj
Number=Plur
elephant
elephants
NOUN
NNS
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
follow
followed
VERB
VBD
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
similar
similar
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Sing
pattern
pattern
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (PP (IN In) (NP (NNS zoos))) (, ,) (NP (PRP they)) (VP (VBD lived) (NP (CD 18.9) (NNS years)) (, ,) (SBAR (IN while) (S (NP (NP (DT those)) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT the) (NN logging) (NN camp)))) (VP (VBD lived) (NP (CD 41.7) (NNS years)))))) (. .)))
In zoos, they lived 18.9 years, while those in the logging camp lived 41.7 years.
case
in
In
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Plur
zoo
zoos
NOUN
NNS
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
they
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
live
lived
VERB
VBD
nummod
NumForm=Digit|NumType=Frac
18.9
18.9
NUM
CD
obl:tmod
Number=Plur
year
years
NOUN
NNS
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
mark
while
while
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Number=Plur|PronType=Dem
that
those
PRON
DT
case
in
in
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
compound
Number=Sing
logging
logging
NOUN
NN
nmod
Number=Sing
camp
camp
NOUN
NN
advcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
live
lived
VERB
VBD
nummod
NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card
41.7
41.7
NUM
CD
obl:tmod
Number=Plur
year
years
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (NP (NNS Scientists)) (VP (VBP do) (RB n't) (ADVP (RB yet)) (VP (VB know) (SBAR (WHADVP (WRB why)) (S (NP (JJ wild) (NNS elephants)) (VP (VBP seem) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB live) (ADVP (ADVP (RB so) (RB much) (JJR better)) (PP (IN than) (NP (PRP$ their) (JJ zoo-raised) (NNS counterparts)))))))))))) (. .)))
Scientists don't yet know why wild elephants seem to live so much better than their zoo-raised counterparts.
nsubj
Number=Plur
scientist
Scientists
NOUN
NNS
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
do
do
AUX
VBP
advmod
not
n't
PART
RB
advmod
yet
yet
ADV
RB
root
VerbForm=Inf
know
know
VERB
VB
advmod
PronType=Int
why
why
ADV
WRB
amod
Degree=Pos
wild
wild
ADJ
JJ
nsubj
Number=Plur
elephant
elephants
NOUN
NNS
ccomp
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
seem
seem
VERB
VBP
mark
to
to
PART
TO
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
live
live
VERB
VB
advmod
so
so
ADV
RB
advmod
much
much
ADV
RB
xcomp
Degree=Cmp
good
better
ADJ
JJR
case
than
than
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
their
their
PRON
PRP$
amod
Degree=Pos
zoo-raised
zoo-raised
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Plur
counterpart
counterparts
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (NNP Georgia) (NNP Mason)) (, ,) (NP (NP (NP (DT a) (NN biologist)) (PP (IN at) (NP (NP (DT the) (NNP University)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NNP Guelph))) (PP (IN in) (NP (NNP Canada)))))) (, ,) (SBAR (WHNP (WP who)) (S (VP (VBD led) (NP (DT the) (NN study))))) (, ,))) (VP (VBZ thinks) (SBAR (S (NP (NN stress) (CC and) (NN obesity)) (VP (MD may) (VP (VB be) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB blame))))))))) (. .)))
Georgia Mason, a biologist at the University of Guelph in Canada, who led the study, thinks stress and obesity may be to blame.
nsubj
Number=Sing
Georgia
Georgia
PROPN
NNP
flat
Number=Sing
Mason
Mason
PROPN
NNP
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
appos
Number=Sing
biologist
biologist
NOUN
NN
case
at
at
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nmod
Number=Sing
University
University
PROPN
NNP
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
Guelph
Guelph
PROPN
NNP
case
in
in
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
Canada
Canada
PROPN
NNP
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
PronType=Rel
who
who
PRON
WP
acl:relcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
lead
led
VERB
VBD
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obj
Number=Sing
study
study
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
think
thinks
VERB
VBZ
nsubj
Number=Sing
stress
stress
NOUN
NN
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Number=Sing
obesity
obesity
NOUN
NN
aux
VerbForm=Fin
may
may
AUX
MD
cop
VerbForm=Inf
be
be
AUX
VB
mark
to
to
PART
TO
ccomp
VerbForm=Inf
blame
blame
VERB
VB
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (NN Zoo) (NNS elephants)) (VP (VBP do) (RB n't) (VP (VB get) (NP (NP (NP (DT the) (JJ same) (NN kind)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN exercise)))) (SBAR (S (NP (PRP they)) (VP (MD would) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT the) (NN wild))))))))) (. .)))
Zoo elephants don't get the same kind of exercise they would in the wild.
compound
Number=Sing
zoo
Zoo
NOUN
NN
nsubj
Number=Plur
elephant
elephants
NOUN
NNS
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
do
do
AUX
VBP
advmod
not
n't
PART
RB
root
VerbForm=Inf
get
get
VERB
VB
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
same
same
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Sing
kind
kind
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
exercise
exercise
NOUN
NN
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
they
PRON
PRP
acl:relcl
VerbForm=Fin
would
would
AUX
MD
case
in
in
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
wild
wild
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (NNS Elephants) (POS ')) (JJ social) (NNS lives)) (VP (VBP are) (ADVP (RB also)) (ADJP (ADJP (RB much) (JJ different)) (PP (IN in) (NP (NNS zoos))) (PP (IN than) (PP (IN in) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN wild)) (, ,) (SBAR (WHADVP (WRB where)) (S (NP (PRP they)) (VP (VBP live) (PP (IN in) (NP (JJ large) (NN family) (NNS groups))))))))))) (. .)))
Elephants' social lives are also much different in zoos than in the wild, where they live in large family groups.
nmod:poss
Number=Plur
elephant
Elephants
NOUN
NNS
case
's
'
PART
POS
amod
Degree=Pos
social
social
ADJ
JJ
nsubj
Number=Plur
life
lives
NOUN
NNS
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
are
AUX
VBP
advmod
also
also
ADV
RB
advmod
much
much
ADV
RB
root
Degree=Pos
different
different
ADJ
JJ
case
in
in
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Plur
zoo
zoos
NOUN
NNS
mark
than
than
ADP
IN
case
in
in
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
advcl
Number=Sing
wild
wild
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
advmod
PronType=Rel
where
where
ADV
WRB
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
they
PRON
PRP
acl:relcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
live
live
VERB
VBP
case
in
in
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
large
large
ADJ
JJ
compound
Number=Sing
family
family
NOUN
NN
obl
Number=Plur
group
groups
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
Most people think of zoos as safe heavens for animals, where problems such as difficulty finding food and avoiding predators don't exist. Therefore, animals in zoos should live to a ripe old age.  But that may not be true for the largest land animals on earth. Scientists have known that elephants in zoos often suffer from poor health. They develop diseases and they are even unable to have babies.  To learn more about how captivity affects elephants, a team of international scientists compared the lifespans of the zoo-born elephants with the lifespans of thousands of wild elephants. They also compared some Asian elephants living in zoos with some Asian elephants which work in logging camp, over almost the same time period.  The team found that elephants born in zoos lived an average of 16.9 years, but elephants that died of natural causes lived an average of 56 years. Asian elephants followed a similar pattern. In zoos, they lived 18.9 years, while those in the logging camp lived 41.7 years.  Scientists don't yet know why wild elephants seem to live so much better than their zoo-raised counterparts. Georgia Mason, a biologist at the University of Guelph in Canada, who led the study, thinks stress and obesity may be to blame. Zoo elephants don't get the same kind of exercise they would in the wild. Elephants' social lives are also much different in zoos than in the wild, where they live in large family groups.