Group management influences reproductive function of the male cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana C. Koester ◽  
Elizabeth W. Freeman ◽  
David E. Wildt ◽  
Kimberly A. Terrell ◽  
Ashley D. Franklin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Function ◽  
Physiological Traits ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Acinonyx Jubatus ◽  
Group Management ◽  
Social Grouping ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Conservation Breeding ◽  
Free Ranging

Although the free-ranging cheetah is generally socially solitary, as many as 60% of males live in same-sex (usually sibling) coalitions. Under ex situ conditions, the cheetah experiences low reproductive success with only ~18% of males having ever produced young. Most male cheetahs (85%) are managed in captivity in coalitions, but with no data on the influence of social grouping on reproductive parameters. We examined the influence of singleton versus coalition management on various male cheetah physiological traits, including ejaculate quality and gonadal and adrenal hormone metabolite concentrations. We also assessed behaviour within coalitions for evidence of social hierarchy through initiation of interactions with group mates and relatedness to physiological traits. Ejaculate quality (including total motile and structurally normal spermatozoa per ejaculate) and androgen concentration profiles were higher (P < 0.05) in coalition compared with singleton males. These results support the conclusion that testis function in the cheetah, specifically related to the development of normal, motile spermatozoa and androgen production, is influenced by management with same-sex conspecifics. The findings have implications for ex situ conservation breeding programs by suggesting that reproductive quality can be enhanced through group maintenance of cheetah males.

Ejaculate traits in the Namibian cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus): influence of age, season and captivity

2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrienne E. Crosier ◽  
Laurie Marker ◽  
JoGayle Howard ◽  
Budhan S. Pukazhenthi ◽  
Josephine N. Henghali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sperm Motility ◽  
Sperm Quality ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Acinonyx Jubatus ◽  
Young Males ◽  
Sperm Density ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Free Ranging

The objective was to examine the influence of animal age, season and captivity status on seminal quality in wild-born cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) in Namibia, Africa. Animals were divided into three age categories: juvenile (14–24 months; n = 16 males, 23 ejaculates); adult (25–120 months; n = 76 males, 172 ejaculates); and aged (>120 months; n = 5 males, 5 ejaculates). Seasons were categorised into hot–wet (January–April), cold–dry (May–August) and hot–dry (September–December). A comparison between freshly wild-caught (n = 29 males, 41 ejaculates) and captive-held cheetahs (n = 68 males, 159 ejaculates) was also conducted. Raw ejaculates contained 69.0 ± 1.1% motile spermatozoa (mean ± s.e.m.) with 73.6 ± 1.5% of these cells containing an intact acrosome. Overall, 18.4 ± 0.9% of spermatozoa were morphologically normal, with midpiece anomalies being the most prevalent (~39%) defect. Juvenile cheetahs produced ejaculates with poorer sperm motility, forward progressive status, lower seminal volume and fewer total motile spermatozoa than adult and aged animals. Spermatogenesis continued unabated throughout the year and was minimally influenced by season. Proportions of sperm malformations were also not affected by season. Ejaculates from captive cheetahs had increased volume and intact acrosomes, but lower sperm density than wild-caught counterparts. In summary, Namibian cheetahs produce an extraordinarily high proportion of pleiomorphic spermatozoa regardless of age, season or living (captive versus free-ranging) status. Young males less than 2 years of age produce poorer ejaculate quality than adult and aged males. Because (1) all study animals were wild born and (2) there was little difference between freshly caught males and those maintained in captivity for protracted periods, our results affirm that teratospermia in the cheetah is mostly genetically derived. It also appears that an ex situ environment for the Namibian cheetah can ensure sperm quality comparable with that for free-living males.

scholarly journals Effects of personality and rearing-history on the welfare of captive Asiatic lions (Panthera leo persica)

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e8425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sitendu Goswami ◽  
Praveen C. Tyagi ◽  
Pradeep K. Malik ◽  
Shwetank J. Pandit ◽  
Riyazahmed F. Kadivar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Personality Traits ◽  
Ex Situ Conservation ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Repetitive Behaviours ◽  
Welfare Assessment ◽  
Social Grouping ◽  
Intraspecific Variations ◽  
Individual Variations ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Welfare Indices

Background The long-term success of ex-situ conservation programmes depends on species-appropriate husbandry and enrichment practices complemented by an accurate welfare assessment protocol. Zoos and conservation breeding programmes should employ a bottom-up approach to account for intraspecific variations in measures of animal welfare. We studied 35 (14:21) captive Asiatic lions in Sakkarbaug Zoological Garden, Junagadh, India to understand the implications of individual variations on welfare measures. We categorized the subjects based on personality traits (bold or shy), rearing history (wild-rescued or captive-raised), sex, and social-grouping. We explored the association of these categorical variables on welfare indices such as behavioural diversity, latency to approach novel objects, enclosure usage and aberrant repetitive behaviours. Further, we assessed the inter-relationships between different behavioural measures of welfare. Results Our results show that intraspecific variations based on rearing-history and personality traits are significantly associated with the welfare states of captive Asiatic lions. Asiatic lions with bold personality traits (M = 0.50, SD = 0.12, N = 21) and those raised in captivity (M = 0.47, SD = 0.12, N = 16) used enclosure space more homogenously compared to shy (M = 0.71, SD = 0.15, N = 14) and wild-rescued (M = 0.67, SD = 0.15, N = 19) animals. Behaviour diversity was significantly higher in captive-raised (M = 1.26, SD = 0.3, N = 16) and bold (M = 1.23, SD = 0.26, N = 21) subjects compared to wild-rescued (M = 0.83, SD = 0.35, N = 19) and shy (M = 0.73, SD = 0.34, N = 14) individuals. Aberrant repetitive behaviours (stereotypy) were significantly lower in bold (M = 7.01, SD = 4, N = 21) and captive-raised (M = 7.74, SD = 5.3) individuals compared to wild-rescued (M = 13.12, SD = 6.25, N = 19) and shy (M = 16.13, SD = 5.4, N = 16) lions. Sex and social-grouping of subjects did not show significant associations with behavioural welfare indices. Interestingly, behaviour diversity was reliably predicted by the enclosure usage patterns and aberrant repetitive behaviours displayed by subjects. Discussion Our findings underline the importance of individual-centric, behaviour-based, and multi-dimensional welfare assessment approaches in ex-situ conservation programmes. The results suggest that behavioural welfare indices complemented with individual variations can explain inter-individual differences in behavioural welfare measure outcomes of Asiatic lions. These findings also provide zoo managers with a non-invasive tool to reliably assess and improve husbandry practices for Asiatic lions. Understanding the unique welfare requirement of individuals in captivity will be crucial for the survival of the species.

scholarly journals Captive husbandry and breeding of the Nguru spiny pygmy chameleon Rhampholeon acuminatus

2021 ◽  
pp. 24-27
Author(s):  
Jay Redbond
Keyword(s):  
Captive Breeding ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Pet Trade ◽  
Total Length ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Breeding Programmes ◽  
Conservation Breeding ◽  
Published Account

The Nguru spiny pygmy chameleon (Rhampholeon acuminatus) is endemic to the Nguru mountains in Tanzania. It is assessed as Critically Endangered and is collected from the wild for the pet trade. An ex-situ population of this species was recently established at The Wild Planet Trust, Paignton Zoo, in the hope of learning more about the husbandry and biology of this species. We report on the captive husbandry of adults and the successful breeding, hatching and rearing of juveniles. Females carried four eggs but laid them in pairs. When eggs were incubated at 19.2-22.8 °C, hatchlings emerged roughly 180 days after laying. The hatchlings had a total length of about 30 mm and weighed 0.2-0.3 g. To our knowledge, this is the first published account of captive breeding for this species. The husbandry methods described could be used to establish populations of this and other Rhampholeon species in captivity, which in turn would reduce the demand for wild caught (Rhampholeon), as well as inform future conservation breeding programmes for this species.

scholarly journals Canine distemper virus infection in a lesser grison (Galictis cuja): first report and virus phylogeny

2013 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Megid ◽  
Carlos R. Teixeira ◽  
Adriana Cortez ◽  
Marcos B. Heinemann ◽  
João M.A.P. Antunes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virus Infection ◽  
Canine Distemper Virus ◽  
Wildlife Conservation ◽  
Domestic Animals ◽  
Canine Distemper ◽  
Habitat Alterations ◽  
Source Of Infection ◽  
First Case ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Free Ranging

Infectious diseases in wild animals have been increasing as a result of their habitat alterations and closer contact with domestic animals. Canine distemper virus (CDV) has been reported in several species of wild carnivores, presenting a threat to wildlife conservation. We described the first case of canine distemper virus infection in lesser grison (Galictis cuja). A free-ranging individual, with no visible clinical sigs, presented sudden death after one day in captivity. Molecular diagnosis for CDV infection was performed using whole blood collected by postmortem intracardiac puncture, which resulted positive. The virus phylogeny indicated that domestic dogs were the probable source of infection.

The effects of environmental and visitor variables on the behavior of free-ranging ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) in captivity

Zoo Biology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 250-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtney Collins ◽  
Ilse Corkery ◽  
Amy Haigh ◽  
Sean McKeown ◽  
Thomas Quirke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lemur Catta ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Free Ranging

Dissociative anaesthesia in free-ranging male koalas and selected marsupials in captivity

1990 ◽  
Vol 67 (12) ◽  
pp. 449-451 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. BUSH ◽  
JAM GRAVES ◽  
SJ O'BRIEN ◽  
DE WILDT
Keyword(s):  
In Captivity ◽  
Free Ranging

scholarly journals Reference intervals for selected serum biochemistry analytes in cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus)

2016 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gavin C. Hudson-Lamb ◽  
Johan P. Schoeman ◽  
Emma H. Hooijberg ◽  
Sonja K. Heinrich ◽  
Adrian S.W. Tordiffe
Keyword(s):  
Bootstrap Method ◽  
Parametric Method ◽  
Serum Biochemistry ◽  
Reference Intervals ◽  
Dietary Factors ◽  
Future Health ◽  
Baseline Serum ◽  
Acinonyx Jubatus ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Non Parametric

Published haematologic and serum biochemistry reference intervals are very scarce for captive cheetahs and even more for free-ranging cheetahs. The current study was performed to establish reference intervals for selected serum biochemistry analytes in cheetahs. Baseline serum biochemistry analytes were analysed from 66 healthy Namibian cheetahs. Samples were collected from 30 captive cheetahs at the AfriCat Foundation and 36 free-ranging cheetahs from central Namibia. The effects of captivity-status, age, sex and haemolysis score on the tested serum analytes were investigated. The biochemistry analytes that were measured were sodium, potassium, magnesium, chloride, urea and creatinine. The 90% confidence interval of the reference limits was obtained using the non-parametric bootstrap method. Reference intervals were preferentially determined by the non-parametric method and were as follows: sodium (128 mmol/L – 166 mmol/L), potassium (3.9 mmol/L – 5.2 mmol/L), magnesium (0.8 mmol/L – 1.2 mmol/L), chloride (97 mmol/L – 130 mmol/L), urea (8.2 mmol/L – 25.1 mmol/L) and creatinine (88 µmol/L – 288 µmol/L). Reference intervals from the current study were compared with International Species Information System values for cheetahs and found to be narrower. Moreover, age, sex and haemolysis score had no significant effect on the serum analytes in this study. Separate reference intervals for captive and free-ranging cheetahs were also determined. Captive cheetahs had higher urea values, most likely due to dietary factors. This study is the first to establish reference intervals for serum biochemistry analytes in cheetahs according to international guidelines. These results can be used for future health and disease assessments in both captive and free-ranging cheetahs.

Comparison of body weights between captive and free-ranging juvenile Richardson's ground squirrels (Spermophilus richardsoni)

1981 ◽  
Vol 59 (10) ◽  
pp. 1916-1920 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah H. Harding ◽  
Josefine C. Rauch
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Food Availability ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Free Ranging

Body weights of free-ranging and captive juvenile Richardson's ground squirrels (Spermophilus richardsoni) were determined at regular intervals during the nonhibernating season. Animals in captivity gained weight at a faster rate and to a greater extent than those in their natural habitat. Attainment of maximum weights in captive ground squirrels was associated with a reduction in food intake and could not be related to food availability, a change in temperature, or in photoperiod.

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