Assessment Of Reproductive Status Of Free Ranging Female African Elephants (loxodonta Africana) Using Non-invasive Techniques.
Abstract
The major aims of this study were to evaluate the
feasibility of using non-invasive techniques fo r th e
assessment of the reproductive status in free ranging African
elephant females. In order to find the behavioral indices of
oestrus, urination, defecation and number of dung boli
produced per defection were observed in receptive and nonreceptive
females. Urine testing, mating frequencies and
guarding distance were also observed in the receptive
females throughout the receptive period. Pregnancy was
assessed by observing breast development in mated
nulliparous females. Urine and faecal samples were
collected from cycling and pregnant females in order to
develop non-invasive method of hormone sampling in the free
ranging elephant. Urine samples from selected females (n =
9) were analyzed for oestrone, pregnanediol and
pregnanetrioI gIucuronide conjugates with the aim of
detecting oestrus and ovulation, pregnancy and postpartum.
Citation
Hamisi S. Mutinda. (1995). Assessment Of Reproductive Status Of Free Ranging Female African Elephants (loxodonta Africana) Using Non-invasive Techniques. A Thesis Submitted In Partial Fulfillment Of Requirements For The Award Of The M.sc. Degree (comparative Mammalian Physiology).Publisher
University of Nairobi School of Biological Sciences