An examination of salivary cortisol concentrations and behaviour in three African elephants Loxodonta africana at Zoo Atlanta

Authors

  • Angela S. Kelling University of Houston-Clear Lake
  • Rebecca J. Snyder Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden, 2000 Remington Place; Oklahoma City, OK 73111
  • Christopher P. Ward University of Houston-Clear Lake
  • Mollie A. Bloomsmith Yerkes National Primate Research Center; 954 Gatewood Rd, Atlanta, GA 30329
  • Mark L. Laudenslager Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora CO 80045
  • Terry L. Maple Florida Atlantic University image/svg+xml

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.19227/jzar.v12i2.726

Keywords:

captive elephant, non-invasive, stereotypic behaviour, welfare

Abstract

Salivary cortisol assay is an effective method to quantify free cortisol levels, track diurnal patterns and measure acute hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal activation in response to acute stressors. This study examined salivary cortisol and behaviour in three African elephants Loxodonta africana. Salivary cortisol was within normal ranges for this species, declined across the day and responded to a mild social stressor. The relationship between salivary cortisol and stereotypic swaying in two of the elephants was also examined. Swaying was significantly associated with decreased cortisol values in one of the two elephants, indicating this stereotypy may function to reduce arousal, but also emphasising the complicated relationship between physiology and behaviour. This is the first study to demonstrate that swaying reduces salivary cortisol concentrations in some elephants. The opportunities this finding presents for future research and the complex relationship between physiology and behaviour are discussed.

Author Biographies

  • Angela S. Kelling, University of Houston-Clear Lake

    Associate Professor of Psychology

  • Rebecca J. Snyder, Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden, 2000 Remington Place; Oklahoma City, OK 73111

    Director of Conservation and Science

  • Christopher P. Ward, University of Houston-Clear Lake

    Department Chair of Psychology and Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience

  • Mollie A. Bloomsmith, Yerkes National Primate Research Center; 954 Gatewood Rd, Atlanta, GA 30329

    Director of Behavior Management

  • Mark L. Laudenslager, Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora CO 80045

    https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/psychiatry/research/faculty-labs/behavioral-immunology-and-endocrinology-lab

    We would like to keep him as an author, but not sure the best way to approach.

  • Terry L. Maple, Florida Atlantic University

    Research Professor

Downloads

Additional Files

Published

30-04-2024

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 2 (2024)

Section

Original Research Article

License

JZAR fulfils the DOAJ definition of open access and provides free and open access to the full text of all content without delay under a Creative Commons licence. The copyright holder of JZAR publications grants usage rights to third parties, allowing for immediate free access to the work and permitting any user to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of articles.

How to Cite

An examination of salivary cortisol concentrations and behaviour in three African elephants Loxodonta africana at Zoo Atlanta. (2024). Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research, 12(2), 79-87. https://doi.org/10.19227/jzar.v12i2.726