Birth statistics for African (Loxodonta africana) and Asian (Elephas maximus) elephants in human care: history and implications for elephant welfare
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.20234.abs African (Loxodonta africana) and Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) have lived in the care of humans for many years, yet there is no consensus concerning some basic parameters describing their newborn calves. This study provides a broad empirical basis for generalizations about the birth heights, birth weights, birth times and gestation periods of elephant […]
Comparison of noninvasive methods for the evaluation of female reproductive condition in a large viviparous lizard, Tiliqua nigrolutea
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.10017.abs We compared the diagnostic value of three noninvasive methods (radiography, ultrasound, and palpation) of evaluating reproductive status in females of a large viviparous skink, the blotched blue-tongued lizard (Tiliqua nigrolutea). Radiography could be used to identify postovulatory females during the periovulatory period. However, in early to mid-gestation, radiography did not allow differentiation of […]
Patterns of excretion of fecal estradiol and progesterone and urinary chorionic gonadotropin in Grevy’s zebras (Equus grevyi): Ovulatory cycles and pregnancy
Abstract The ovulatory cycle and pregnancy of the endangered Grevy’s zebra (Equus grevyi) was characterized by analyzing excretion patterns of fecal estradiol and progesterone. Pregnancy was further described by assay of urinary equine chorionic gonadotropin. Courtship and mating behavior were similar to that seen in the domestic horse, but cycle length was longer, ranging from […]
Reproductive biology of captive Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) in Saudi Arabia
Abstract 10.1002/(SICI)1098-2361(1996)15:43.3.CO;2-P Reproductive data on captive Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) were collected from June 1986 through April 1992 at the National Wildlife Research Center (Taif, Saudi Arabia). Oryx females are polyestrous. The estrous cycle averaged 22 days and mean gestation length was 260 ± 5.5 days (S.D). Sex ratio at birth was unbiased and mean […]
Reproductive parameters of mandrills at the Tulsa Zoo
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.1430140205.abs The genital swelling patterns and birth records of female mandrills housed at the Tulsa Zoo between 1979 and 1992 were examined to determine various reproductive parameters. Mean age at first adolescent genital swelling was 2.7 years (sd = .55), first adult swelling was 3.7 years (sd = .64), and first conception was 5.1 […]
Reproduction of the Indian wild dog (Cuon alpinus) in captivity
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.1430110403.abs The reproductive behavior and development of 3 wild-caught and 2 captive-born dholes (Cuon alpinus) was observed at the Arignar Anna Zoological Park during 4 successive mating seasons. Courtship was characterized by frequent urine marking and vocalizing by both sexes, by olfactory inspection of marked spots and of partners’ genitalia, and by the female’s […]
Reproduction of the lesser kudu (Tragelaphus imberbis) at Dvůr Králové Zoo
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.1430110205.abs Reproductive data on captive lesser kudus (Tragelaphus imberis) were collected from 1972 to 1990. The estrous cycles of two females were 21 and 22 days. Mean gestation length of 18 pregnancies was 244 ± 5.5 days (range = 235–256 days), and 71.2% of interbirth intervals (n = 146) were from 248 to 365 […]
Body mass and food intake in captive, breeding bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.1430100603.abs Body mass (BM) was recorded regularly during pregnancy in four female Indian Ocean bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Daily food intakes were recorded for each animal before and after parturition. BM increase occurred variably between 2 and 5 months of gestation, and at parturition mass increases averaged 41.2% of initial prepregnancy mass. Changes in […]
Captive reproduction in Heermann’s kangaroo rat, Dipodomys heermanni
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.1430100205.abs This paper summarizes 8 years of captive breeding experience with the endangered Morro Bay kangaroo rat (Dipodomys heermanni morroensis) and the non-endangered Lompoc kangaroo rat (D. h. arenae), a related form used as a surrogate. Kangaroo rats are aggressive and must be caged individually; copulation can only take place when the female is […]
The reproductive biology of female Père David’s deer (Elaphurus davidianus)
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.1430080107.abs Data for this study came from breeding records of 27 Père David’s (Elaphurus davidianus) hinds maintained in large pastures and from estrous records of four hand-reared nulliparous hinds. The mean estrous cycle length ranged from 17.5 to 19.6 days. Standing estrus resembled that of other cervids, except that a low, moaning vocalization was […]