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Response to long-distance relocation in Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) : monitoring adrenocortical activity via serum, urine, and feces
journal contribution
posted on 2013-01-01, 00:00 authored by Kerry FansonKerry Fanson, Michael Lynch, L Vogelnest, G Miller, T KeeleyUnderstanding how elephants respond to potentially stressful events, such as relocation, is important for making informed management decisions. This study followed the relocation of eight Asian elephants from the Cocos (Keeling) Islands to mainland Australia. The first goal of this study was to examine patterns of adrenocortical activity as reflected in three different substrates: serum, urine, and feces. We found that the three substrates yielded very different signals of adrenocortical activity. Fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM) increased as predicted post-transport, but urinary glucocorticoid metabolites (UGM) were actually lower following transport. Serum cortisol levels did not change significantly. We suggest that the differences in FGM and UGM may reflect changes in steroid biosynthesis, resulting in different primary glucocorticoids being produced at different stages of the stress response. Additional studies are needed to more thoroughly understand the signals of adrenocortical activity yielded by different substrates. The second goal was to examine individual variation in patterns of adrenal response. There was a positive correlation between baseline FGM value and duration of post-transfer increase in FGM concentration. Furthermore, an individual's adrenocortical response to relocation was correlated with behavioral traits of elephants. Elephants that were described by keepers as being “curious” exhibited a more prolonged increase in FGM post-transfer, and “reclusive” elephants had a greater increase in FGM values. Future research should investigate the importance of these personality types for the management and welfare of elephants.
History
Journal
European journal of wildlife researchVolume
59Pagination
655 - 664Publisher
SpringerLocation
Berlin, GermanyPublisher DOI
ISSN
1612-4642eISSN
1439-0574Language
engPublication classification
C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2013, SpringerUsage metrics
Categories
Keywords
cortisolglucocorticoidsindividual variationnoninvasivetransfertransportScience & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicineEcologyZoologyEnvironmental Sciences & EcologyFEMALE AFRICAN ELEPHANTSLOXODONTA-AFRICANANONINVASIVE ASSESSMENTSALIVARY CORTISOLGLUCOCORTICOID METABOLITESINDIVIDUAL-DIFFERENCESWELFARE ASSESSMENTADRENAL ACTIVITYOVARIAN ACTIVITYSTRESS-RESPONSEZoology
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