Serum Cortisol Concentrations Associated with Artificial Insemination Events in an African Elephant (Loxodonta africana)

  • Brent C. White Centre College, Danville, Kentucky
  • Steven R. Taylor Louisville Zoological Garden
  • Zoltan S. Gyimesi Louisville Zoological Garden
  • Cristin L. Rieskakmp Centre College, Danville, Kentucky
  • William Sarros Centre College, Danville, Kentucky
  • Steven D. Burton II Louisville Zoological Garden
DOI: https://doi.org/10.19227/jzar.v7i3.379
Keywords: animal well-being, artificial insemination, cortisol, elephant, Loxodonta africana, stress

Abstract

            Elephants are among the most charismatic and controversial species in modern zoo collections. Advanced cognitive and emotional capabilities have been attributed to elephants. As a result, good zoo management includes monitoring and enhancing the well-being of individual animals. To this purpose, we have assessed the serum cortisol concentration (SCC) of an adult female African elephant (Loxodonta africana) as artificial insemination (AI) procedures were performed. Fifteen AI procedures spanning four years showed a statistically significant decline in SCC from the morning on the day of the AI to the afternoon sample, which followed the AI within 30 min. A similar decline was found on 15 control days when the afternoon samples did not follow an AI, indicating that the decline was most likely due to circadian variation common to many species. Six of the AI procedures occurred after the transition from free contact management of the elephants to restricted contact. There was no significant difference between SCC after AI’s during free and restricted contact management, suggesting that for this elephant under these conditions AI is not stressful.

Author Biography

Brent C. White, Centre College, Danville, Kentucky

Emeritus Professor of Psychology

Published
2019-07-28
Issue
Vol 7 No 3 (2019)
Section
Evidence Based Practice

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