Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://dr.iiserpune.ac.in:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/5218
Title: Non-invasive assessment of reproductive status and stress in captive Asian elephants in three south Indian zoos
Authors: Kumar, Vinod
REDDY, VIVEKANANDA PALUGULLA
Kokkiligadda, Adiseshu
Shivaji, Sisinthy
Umapathy, Govindhaswamy
Dept. of Biology
Keywords: Asian elephant
Progestogen
Androgen
Glucocorticoids
Stress Musth
2014
Issue Date: May-2014
Publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Citation: General and Comparative Endocrinology, 201, 37-44.
Abstract: Asian elephants in captivity need immediate attention to be bred so as to meet the increasing demand for captive elephants and to overcome the dependence on supplementing the captive stock with wild animals. Unfortunately, captive breeding programs across the globe have met with limited success and therefore more effort is needed to improve breeding in captivity. Endocrine profiling of reproductive hormones (progestagens and androgens) and the stress hormone (glucocorticoids) could facilitate better management and breeding strategies. In the present study, we investigated reproductive and stress physiology of 12 captive Asian elephants for 10–27 months using a non-invasive method based on steroid analysis of 1700 elephant dung samples. Most of the elephants were cycling regularly. Males during musth showed increased fecal androgen metabolite concentrations and exhibited a slight increase in fecal glucocorticoid metabolite levels. Elephants used in public festivals and processions showed significantly increased in faecal glucocorticoid metabolite levels. The results indicate that captive elephants require periodic health care, better husbandry practices and scientific management for sustainable captive population.
URI: http://dr.iiserpune.ac.in:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/5218
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygcen.2014.03.024
ISSN: 0016-6480
1095-6840
Appears in Collections:JOURNAL ARTICLES

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