Cues and mechanisms for lateral exposure preference in the common eland (Taurotragus oryx)

Positional biases in social behaviors: Humans vs. saiga antelopes

“…Saiga calves showed a preference to keep other familiar calves (age-mates) on the left rather than the right side (Karenina et al, 2017). A similar bias in positioning relative to a familiar conspecific was also found in adult ungulates, e.g., in domestic horses during affiliative interactions (Farmer et al, 2018) and captive common elands during routine group behaviors (Bordes et al, 2018).…”

Habituation of common eland (Taurotragus oryx) to intensive routine handling, and the effect of immunocastration thereon

“…Noya et al (2019) also suggested that the inability of immunocastration to influence temperament might be related to other factors other than decreased androgen production, such as genetics and environment. Like other social animals, common eland are sensitive to their environment, and learn to improve their chance of survival by adjusting their behaviour through postural lateralization and ritualization (Kiley-Worthington, 1978;Wirtu et al, 2005;Bordes et al, 2018). For example, Kiley-Worthington (1978) observed that an increase in the postural tonus in common eland signifies excitement and demanding attention, and are often associated with a warning or aggressive approach.…”

“…Protective movements are related to threats, either from conspecific species or predators, and includes head lowering, horn pointing, horn clashing, and wrestling, in order of increasing intensity (Kiley-Worthington, 1978). Such postures and other social behaviours (affiliative as well as dominant) are important behavioural communicators, influencing the dominance hierarchy within social groups, and enabling the formation of larger herds which provide greater protection against predators, and access to important resources, such as food, water, and mates (Appleby, 1983;Bordes et al, 2018;Ceacero et al, 2012;Šárová et al, 2017).…”

Knowledge of lateralized brain function can contribute to animal welfare

“…Generally, in vertebrate species, including horses and sheep, infants position themselves on their mother's right side and thereby monitor her behavior with their left eye and right hemisphere (24,25). In adult, feral horses grazing in pairs with one leading and another following, there is a side bias for the leading horse to use its left eye and right hemisphere to monitor the follower (26). Similarly, elands position themselves so that the nearest herd mates are on their left side and thus can be monitored using the right hemisphere (27).…”