Comparative endocrinology of cycling and non-cycling Asian (Elephas maximus) and African (Loxodonta africana) elephants
Up to 14% of Asian and 29% of African elephants in captivity are not cycling normally or exhibit irregular cycles based on progestin profiles. To determine if ovarian acyclicity is related to other disruptions in endocrine activity, serum pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, and ovarian hormones in weekly samples collected for 6–25 months were compared between normal […]
Results of a second survey to assess the reproductive status of female Asian and African elephants in North America
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.20238.abs Surveys are being conducted to monitor the reproductive health of elephants managed by the TAG/SSP. This study summarizes results of a 2005 survey and compares data to one conducted in 2002. Surveys were returned for 100% and 79.0% of Asian and African elephants, respectively. Of those, 79.3% of Asian and 92.1% of African […]
Influence of dominance status on adrenal activity and ovarian cyclicity status in captive African elephants
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.20292.abs The North American African (Loxodonta africana) elephant population is not self-sustaining, in part because of a high rate of abnormal ovarian activity. About 12% of adult females exhibit irregular cycles and 31% do not cycle at all. Our earlier work revealed a relationship between dominance status and ovarian acyclicity, with dominant females being […]
Examination of the interrelationships of behavior, dominance status, and ovarian activity in captive Asian and African elephants
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.20025.abs Ovarian inactivity has been identified in captive African (Loxodonta africana) and Asian (Elephas maximus) elephants and is thought to be mediated in part by social influences. Thus, a survey was conducted to determine how behavior and dominance status relate to each other and to ovarian cyclicity. For both Asian and African elephants, dominance […]
Survey of the reproductive cyclicity status of Asian and African elephants in North America
The Asian and African elephant populations in North America are not self-sustaining, and reproductive rates remain low. One problem identified from routine progestagen analyses is that some elephant females do not exhibit normal ovarian cycles. To better understand the extent of this problem, the Elephant TAG/SSP conducted a survey to determine the reproductive status of […]
Monitoring fecal samples for estrogen excretion across the ovarian cycle in Goeldi’s monkey (Callimico goeldii)
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.1430130304.abs In captive Goeldi’s monkeys, estrogen concentration was determined in fecal samples collected from 4 cycling/unmated females and 4 postpartum/mated females in order to ascertain the potential of fecal estrogen monitoring for providing basic information about reproductive status in this endangered Amazonian monkey. Subjects were fed an omnivorous diet and first-void feces were collected […]
Results of the third reproductive assessment survey of north American Asian (Elephas maximus) and African (Loxodonta africana) female elephants
A written survey assessed reproductive status of female Asian and African elephants in AZA/SSP facilities in 2008, and data were compared to surveys conducted in 2002 and 2005. Results showed that ovarian acyclicity rates across the surveys remained unchanged for Asian (13.3, 10.9 and 11.1%) and African (22.1, 31.2 and 30.5%) elephants, respectively (P>0.05), but […]