Integument System

Mikota, Susan K.

doi:10.1002/9780470344484.ch18

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Rather, chaining is the easiest and cheapest way to control several elephants in the limited space of an elephant camp. However, chaining for prolonged periods limits their movement, may cause joint damage or skin abrasions, and have negative effects on foot health ( Buckley, 2008 ; Mikota, 2008 ). Moreover, studies have shown that chaining is associated with stereotypic behaviors, as in circus elephants where the probability of stereotypic behaviors was higher when leg-chained ( Gruber et al, 2000 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changing trends in elephant camp management in northern Thailand and implications for welfare

Bansiddhi

Brown

Thitaram

et al. 2018

PeerJ

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BackgroundElephant camps are among the most attractive destinations in Thailand for tourists from many countries. A wide range of management strategies are used by these camps, which can have varied impacts on health and welfare of elephants.MethodsThis study surveyed 33 camps with 627 elephants in northern Thailand to quantify the types of management practices and work activities experienced by captive elephants. The survey consisted of an interview with camp owners, and direct observations of camp operations.ResultsData revealed considerable variation in elephant demographics, work activities, elephant care (i.e., housing, restraint, nutrition, health care, and breeding), and mahout management among the camps. In general, older camps (those in existence for >16 years) were involved in more intensive activities, like riding with saddles and shows. By contrast, newer camps provided more one-on-one activities for tourists and elephants, and emphasized more intimate, relaxing experiences (e.g., feeding, bathing, walking) than entertainment. A demographic shift also was observed, with elephants 20 years of age and younger having a sex ratio closer to 1:1 compared to elephants in older age categories (1:4.1–1:9.8).DiscussionShifts in elephant management to less intensive activities were observed, which could have positive implications for elephant welfare. The shifting sex ratio suggests successful captive breeding is resulting in the birth of more males, which could present new welfare challenges in the future, because bulls can be more difficult to manage and socialize, and are more likely to be kept isolated during musth. Ultimately, the goal is to understand how camp activities affect welfare, and to develop science-based guidelines and standards to aid in the management of both male and female elephants used in tourism.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changing trends in elephant camp management in northern Thailand and implications for welfare

Bansiddhi

Brown

Thitaram

et al. 2018

PeerJ

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“…The Upper Escarpment herd was found with conventional tracking methods and often located at a particular feeding spot which has been routinely used to provide supplementary feed during the winter months. The treated animals were observed daily from a distance to determine local side-effects of the vaccination, as well as for signs of lameness or illness [ 40 , 41 ]. Observations of the herds were performed using ad libitum sampling [ 42 ] and included recordings of reproductive behaviour such as signs of behavioural oestrus like sniffing of the genital orifice or urine by another female and the presence of a vaginal discharge [ 9 , 14 , 43 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Non-invasive assessment of the reproductive cycle in free-ranging female African elephants (Loxodonta africana) treated with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccine for inducing anoestrus

Valades

Ganswindt

Annandale

et al. 2012

Reprod Biol Endocrinol

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BackgroundIn southern Africa, various options to manage elephant populations are being considered. Immunocontraception is considered to be the most ethically acceptable and logistically feasible method for control of smaller and confined populations. In this regard, the use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccine has not been investigated in female elephants, although it has been reported to be safe and effective in several domestic and wildlife species. The aims of this study were to monitor the oestrous cycles of free-ranging African elephant cows using faecal progestagen metabolites and to evaluate the efficacy of a GnRH vaccine to induce anoestrus in treated cows.MethodsBetween May 2009 - June 2010, luteal activity of 12 elephant cows was monitored non-invasively using an enzyme immunoassay detecting faecal 5alpha-reduced pregnanes (faecal progestagen metabolites, FPM) on a private game reserve in South Africa. No bulls of breeding age were present on the reserve prior to and for the duration of the study. After a 3-month control period, 8 randomly-selected females were treated twice with 600 micrograms of GnRH vaccine (Improvac®, Pfizer Animal Health, Sandton, South Africa) 5-7 weeks apart. Four of these females had been treated previously with the porcine zona pellucida (pZP) vaccine for four years (2004-2007).ResultsAll 12 monitored females (8 treated and 4 controls) showed signs of luteal activity as evidenced by FPM concentrations exceeding individual baseline values more than once. A total of 16 oestrous cycles could be identified in 8 cows with four of these within the 13 to 17 weeks range previously reported for captive African elephants. According to the FPM concentrations the GnRH vaccine was unable to induce anoestrus in the treated cows. Overall FPM levels in samples collected during the wet season (mean 4.03 micrograms/gram dry faeces) were significantly higher (P<0.002) than the dry season (mean 2.59 micrograms/gram dry faeces).ConclusionsThe GnRH vaccination protocol failed to induce anoestrus in the treated female elephants. These results indicate that irregular oestrous cycles occur amongst free-ranging elephants and are not restricted to elephants in captivity. The relationship between ecological conditions and endocrine activity were confirmed. Free-ranging female elephants were observed to not cycle continuously throughout the year in the absence of adult bulls.

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“…Tactile interactions are perceived by the mechanoreceptors on the skin of the elephant, which vary in sensitivity across parts of their body (Mikota, 2006). The elephants' trunk tip perceives fine tactile interactions, as the skin of the trunk is particularly sensitive and highly enervated with three types of sensory receptors.…”

Section: Touchmentioning

confidence: 99%

The importance of sensory perception in an elephant's cognitive world

Jacobson¹,

Plotnik²

2020

CCBR

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The three living species of elephants (Elephas maximus, Loxodonta africana, L. cyclotis) have evolved adaptive, sensory perceptual abilities to successfully navigate the physical and social environments in which they live. In this article, we review research evaluating the sensory perception of elephants across four sensory modalities-vision, audition, touch, and chemosensation. We also address how these sensory modalities have been incorporated into empirical investigations of elephant cognition. Last, we discuss the importance of considering sensory perception when interpreting elephants' performance on cognitive tasks and the potential application of perception and cognition research to wild elephant conservation. Our review suggests that elephant cognition experiments should rely less on visual, primate-centric testing paradigms that neglect the elephant's multimodal sensory perception and instead focus on providing elephants with a complete sensory experience. Specifically, where appropriate, elephants should be given access to acoustic and olfactory information in cognitive experiments to ensure that results are due to the elephant's cognitive capabilities rather than confounds of experimental design. Based on what we now know about elephants, attention to their complementary visual, olfactory, and acoustic perception is crucial for understanding how they make decisions in their natural world.

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Integument System

Cited by 5 publications

References 25 publications

Changing trends in elephant camp management in northern Thailand and implications for welfare

Changing trends in elephant camp management in northern Thailand and implications for welfare

Non-invasive assessment of the reproductive cycle in free-ranging female African elephants (Loxodonta africana) treated with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccine for inducing anoestrus

The importance of sensory perception in an elephant's cognitive world

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