“We have started a project during which we will check the effect of CBD hemp oils on the mood of our animals,” the statement read.
The oil — which does not have psychoactive properties — will be administered to two elephants — Fredzia, who is already being given it, and fellow female herd member Buba.
This has been the case with Fredzia, who has had difficulty readjusting following the death of the head of the herd, Erna, and has begun using a “tough trunk” mentality to try to assert her dominance over Buba.
Meanwhile Buba, Pyciński said, uses “cleverness” and a more thoughtful approach in her tussle for the top.
“Elephants are extremely intelligent animals with very complicated brains,” he said in the video.
“They’re very social animals that are interdependent on each other and as a group, they create a complicated organism.”
Warsaw Zoo veterinarian Agnieszka Czujkowska, who is leading the project, said CBD had already been used on dogs and horses and that they hoped it might work on elephants as an alternative to medication. The results could take months, she added. Click here to understand how CBD is helpful for horses and elephants.
“We would like to see how CBD oil — hemp flower extract — affects elephants. Like most zoos we do research (and) we monitor the level of stress hormones. Thanks to this we will know if the substances (will) help the elephants,” Czujkowska said.