Observations on Musth in the Domesticated Asiatic Elephant (Elephas Maximus)

Jainudeen, M. R.; McKay, George M.; Eisenberg, John F.

doi:10.1515/mamm.1972.36.2.247

Cited by 72 publications

(47 citation statements)

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“…In the Asiatic elephant, on the other hand, temporal gland secretion only occurs in adult males during musth; the secretion is almost unknown in females (Eisenberg, McKay & Jainudeen, 1971 ;Jainudeen et al, 1972). Although the histological appearance of the temporal gland is similar in the two species, the factors that cause it to secrete appear to be completely different.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is also enlargement and discharge from the temporal glands and a continuous dribble of urine from the penis (Plate 1). Over 90% of adult bull elephants in good physical condition will come into musth once a year, and may remain in musth for 2 to 3 months at a time (Jainudeen, McKay & Eisenberg, 1972). During this period, they are too dangerous to handle so they have to be chained up and hand-fed at great expense to their owners.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Plasma Testosterone Levels in Relation to Musth and Sexual Activity in the Male Asiatic Elephant, Elephas Maximus

Jainudeen¹,

Katongole²,

Short³

1972

Reproduction

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120

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Summary. Testosterone was measured in the peripheral blood plasma of eleven male Asiatic elephants, using a competitive protein-binding assay. When the animals showed no signs of musth, the testosterone levels were low (<0\m=.\2 to 1\m=.\4 ng/ml) ; as they began to come into musth and the temporal glands started to enlarge, the testosterone levels rose (4\m=.\3 to 13\m=.\7ng/ml), and when the animals were in full musth, with discharging temporal glands and an aggressive temperament, the levels were extremely high (29\m=.\6 to 65\m=.\4 ng/ml). Musth may therefore be comparable to the rutting behaviour of some seasonally breeding mammals, although, in the elephant, there is some indication that it may be induced by sexual activity.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plasma Testosterone Levels in Relation to Musth and Sexual Activity in the Male Asiatic Elephant, Elephas Maximus

Jainudeen¹,

Katongole²,

Short³

1972

Reproduction

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120

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“…Such bulls may even endanger the lives of both animals and humans. The characteristics of musth in Asian (Elephas maximus) 11,21,22 and African (Loxodonta africana) 20,41 elephant bulls are remarkably similar 43 . Apart from increased aggressive behaviour, the main signs of musth are heavy and continuous temporal gland secretion (TGS) and continuous urine dribbling 20,22,41 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…The characteristics of musth in Asian (Elephas maximus) 11,21,22 and African (Loxodonta africana) 20,41 elephant bulls are remarkably similar 43 . Apart from increased aggressive behaviour, the main signs of musth are heavy and continuous temporal gland secretion (TGS) and continuous urine dribbling 20,22,41 . Musth has been shown to be associated with increased androgen levels in the blood 8,15,16,18,30,43,44 , urine 5,42 and faeces 17,18 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…The early appearance of long-lasting musth episodes also occurs in captive or domesticated bulls due to the decreased intensity of dominant relationships 43,45 , good nutrition and a reduction in environmental stressors 8,43,44 . Bulls become less responsive to commands and difficult to control 12,22,25 . Generally they have to be restrained to such an extent that it becomes an animal welfare issue 25,30,43,50 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Vaccination against GnRH may suppress aggressive behaviour and musth in African elephant (Loxodonta africana) bulls - a pilot study

Nys¹,

Bertschinger²,

Turkstra

et al. 2010

J. S. Afr. Vet. Assoc.

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Aggressive behaviour and musth are constant problems in captive and sometimes in free-ranging African elephant bulls. Aggressive bulls are difficult and musth bulls almost impossible to manage without severely restricting their movement either by leg-chaining or using tranquillisers. This study investigated the relationship between faecal androgen metabolites (FAM) and faecal cortisol metabolites (FCM) concentrations and aggressive behaviour and tested a GnRH vaccine as a means of down-regulating aggressive behaviour and musth in 1 free-ranging and 5 captive elephant bulls. The bulls were non-aggressive (n = 3), aggressive (n = 2) or in musth (n = 1) at the onset of the study. The bulls were injected with a GnRH vaccine-adjuvant combination 3 or 4 times at 3- to 7-week intervals. Behaviour, FAM and FCM concentrations were measured during every week prior to vaccination until 4 months after the last vaccination. FAM concentrations were positively correlated with aggressive behaviour before the 1st vaccination. Androgen production, as reflected by FAM concentrations, was down-regulated in 3 of the 6 immunised bulls. At least 2 bulls and possibly a 3rd showed behavioural improvement following GnRH vaccination and in all 3 temporal gland secretion ceased. No further aggressive behaviour was observed until the end of the study in any of the bulls. The results of this 1st GnRH immunisation study suggest that it could be a useful method to control aggressive behaviour and musth in African elephant bulls

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How chemical signals integrate Asian elephant society: The known and the unknown

Rasmussen

Krishnamurthy

2000

Zoo Biol.

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The importance of chemical senses to elephants was recognized in anecdotal observations by ancient humans. Modern scientific tools, such as molecular biological techniques, highly sensitive gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric instrumentation, and statistically valid ethological methods, have allowed the study of real events of chemical communication between elephants. Such communication encompasses long‐ and short‐range navigation, relationship recognition, and inter‐ and intra‐sexual exchange of reproductive condition, metabolic state, and social status. Asian elephants emit large amounts of complex chemical mixtures in breath and urine, and in secretions from the temporal gland, inter‐digital glands, and ears. Some emitted chemicals originate in blood and may be metabolic products; others are secretory products, at times apparently under hormonal control. The wide variety of emitted compounds includes hormones, proteins, and volatile compounds; selected volatile ketones and an acetate ((Z)‐7‐dodecenyl acetate) function as chemical signals and a pheromone, respectively. Some of these specific chemicals identified in emissions from Asian elephants dwelling in the United States have been found to be present in exudates from elephants in India. This similarity is demonstrable for three metabolic conditions: pregnancy in females and pre‐ and post‐musth in males. Future chemical communication studies on male elephants should focus on musth and its relevance to reproduction and male social structures. Such investigations should include hormones, metabolites, brain chemistry, and possible primer pheromones. For females, the factors influencing possible estrous synchrony, what role primer pheromones play in female reproduction, how chemical signals influence social behavior, and whether luteinizing hormone influences pheromone production are among remaining fundamental questions. Zoo Biol 19:405–423, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

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Observations on Musth in the Domesticated Asiatic Elephant (Elephas Maximus)

Cited by 72 publications

References 0 publications

Plasma Testosterone Levels in Relation to Musth and Sexual Activity in the Male Asiatic Elephant, Elephas Maximus

Plasma Testosterone Levels in Relation to Musth and Sexual Activity in the Male Asiatic Elephant, Elephas Maximus

Vaccination against GnRH may suppress aggressive behaviour and musth in African elephant (Loxodonta africana) bulls - a pilot study

How chemical signals integrate Asian elephant society: The known and the unknown

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