Recent Publications on Asian Elephants
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Gajah 30 (2009) 58-67 Recent Publications on Asian Elephants Compiled by Jennifer Pastorini Anthropologisches Institut, Universität Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland and Centre for Conservation and Research, Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka L.A. Bates, J.H. Poole & R.W. Byrne the tested rhinoceros species and both elephant Elephant cognition species. The lower sorting indices in rhinos Current Biology 18 (2008) 544-546 indicate that sex sorting of spermatozoa from Review article, no abstract available. the rhinoceros will be more challenging than in elephants. © 2008 Blackwell Verlag. B. Behr, D. Rath, T.B. Hildebrandt, F. Goeritz, S. Blottner, T.J. Portas, B.R. Bryant, B. Sieg, A. M.F. Bertelsen, M. Kjelgaard-Hansen, C. Knieriem, S.P. de Graaf, W.M.C. Maxwell & R. Grondahl, P.M.H. Heegaard & S. Jacobsen Hermes Identifi cation of acute phase proteins and Germany/Australia index of sperm sex assays applicable in nondomesticated sortability in elephants and rhinoceros mammals Reproduction in Domestic Animals 44 (2009) Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 40 (2009) 273-277 199-203 Abstract. Flow cytometric sexing of spermatozoa Abstract. The serum concentration of acute followed by application in artifi cial insemination phase proteins (APPs) increases dramatically in or in vitro fertilization provides a unique response to infl ammation and tissue injury. APPs opportunity to predetermine the sex of offspring are clinically useful in a range of domesticated and might enhance the conservation management mammals; however, knowledge is limited in of endangered species in captivity such as the nondomesticated mammals. The detective ability elephant and rhinoceros. To obtain an indication of two assays for each of three potential APPs- of the sortability of spermatozoa from these -serum amyloid A (SAA), C-reactive protein species, the relative DNA differences between X (CRP), and haptoglobin (Hp)--was evaluated and Y chromosome bearing spermatozoa (fresh, in eight species. For SAA, a turbidimetric frozen thawed, epididymal) from three rhinoceros immunoassay (TIA) demonstrated signifi cant species [white (Ceratotherium simum), black detective abilities in the Asian elephant (Elaphas (Diceros bicornis), Indian (Rhinoceros unicornis)] maximus), impala (Aepyceros melampus), musk and both elephant species, the Asian and the ox (Ovibos moschatus), and chimpanzee (Pan African elephant (Elephas maximus, Loxodonta troglodytes), as did an SAA enzyme-linked Africana), were determined through separation of immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the impala. spermatozoa into X and Y chromosome bearing For CRP, both TIA and ELISA had signifi cant populations, using a modifi ed high speed fl ow detective abilities in the chimpanzee. For Hp, cytometer. The head profi le areas of spermatozoa a colorimetric assay demonstrated signifi cant from all fi ve species were measured using light detective abilities in impala, musk ox, sitatunga microscopy. By multiplying the relative DNA (Tragelaphus spekeii), and chimpanzee, as differences and the head profi le areas, the sperm did the Hp ELISA in the impala, musk ox, and sorting indices were calculated to be 47, 48 sitatunga. In conclusion, these results suggest that and 51 for white, black and Indian rhinoceros assays for detection of relevant APPs in several respectively. The calculated sorting index for the nondomesticated animals are available. © 2008 Asian elephant was 66. In the African elephant, by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians. we determined the highest sorting index of 76. These results indicate the practicability of fl ow A. Campos-Arceiz, T.Z. Lin, W. Htun, S. cytometric sex sorting of spermatozoa from Takatsuki & P. Leimgruber 58 Working with mahouts to explore the diet of of elephant geophagic soils in Udawalawe work elephants in Myanmar (Burma) National Park, Sri Lanka Ecological Research 23 (2008) 1057–1064 Environmental Geochemistry Health 31 (2009) Abstract. At an elephant camp in central 391–400 Myanmar (Burma), we interviewed mahouts and Abstract. Geophagy or deliberate ingestion veterinarians to describe the diet of Asian elephants of soils was observed among Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in a mixed-deciduous forest. (Elephas maximus) in the Udawalwe National Elephants showed a broad dietary breadth (103 Park, Sri Lanka, for several years. The plant species from 42 families); consumed geochemical and mineralogical composition of mostly browse (94% of plant species); and were the clayey soil layers which are purposefully very selective about plant parts [e.g., many trees selected and eaten by elephants in the park were were eaten exclusively for their bark (22%) or studied, in order to identify the possible reasons fruits (14%)]. The fruits from 29 plant species for elephant geophagy. The concentrations were recorded to be eaten by elephants. Several of major and trace elements were determined of these were found as fruit remains, seeds, or by means of X-ray fl uorescence spectrometry seedlings in elephant dung, suggesting a role of in 21 soil samples from eight geophagic sites Asian elephants in seed dispersal. Work elephants and six soil samples collected from four non- and their mahouts prove to be a rich source of geophagic sites. The mineralogical composition information to understand wild elephant ecology. of selected soil samples was investigated using © 2008 The Ecological Society of Japan. X-ray diffractometry (XRD). These geochemical analyses revealed that geophagic soils in the M. Chaiklin study areas are deeply weathered and that Ivory in early modern Ceylon: A case study in most of the elements are leached from the soil what documents don’t reveal layers under extreme weathering conditions. International Journal of Asian Studies 6 (2009) The XRD data showed that the soils of the area 37-63 consisted mainly quartz, feldspar, and the clay Abstract. In Sri Lanka elephants are endangered minerals kaolinite, Ferich illite, and smectite. and ivory carving, as an art, is dead. Sri Lanka Although no signifi cant geochemical differences was once famous for the number and quality were identifi ed between geophagic and non- of its elephants, whose tusks were carved and geophagic soils, a clear difference was observed exported since ancient times. Although Sri Lanka in their clay mineralogical content. Soils eaten became, successively, a pivotal outpost for the by elephants are richer in kaolinite and illite Portuguese, Dutch and English, details about the than non-geophagic soils, which contain a higher Ceylonese ivory trade appear in trade documents amount of smectite. It is suggested that elephants only rarely. And yet, if information is not to be in Udawalawe National Park ingest soils mainly found there, does that mean ivory trade did not not to supplement the mineral contents of their occur? Trade documents, after all, do not tell the forage but to detoxify unpalatable compounds whole story. Smugglers, illegal traders, big game in their diet. © 2008 with kind permission from hunters and plantation owners all played a part in Springer Science+Business Media. the disappearance of elephants and its corollary, the ivory trade. When archival evidence is viewed A. Coleing in combination with physical evidence and the The application of social network theory to anecdotes of visitors and residents, it becomes animal behavior evident that ivory remained an integral part Bioscience Horizons 2 (2009) 32-43 of trade and crafts in Ceylon well into the last Abstract. Social network analysis (SNA) is a century. © 2009 Cambridge University Press. mathematical technique for analysing social relationships and the patterns and implications R. Chandrajith, E. Kudavidanage, H.J. Tobschall of these relationships (Wasserman S, Faust K & C.B. Dissanayake (1994) Social Network Analysis: Methods and Geochemical and mineralogical characteristics Applications. Cambridge: Cambridge University 59 Press). It has only recently been discovered by viral genome. In addition to ascites, widespread behavioural biologists as a useful tool in the visceral edema, petechiae, and capillary study of animal behaviour (Wey T, Blumstein damage previously reported, important fi ndings DT, Shen W et al. (2008) Social network analysis with EEHV3 infection were the presence of of animal behaviour: a promising tool for the grossly visible renal medullary hemorrhage, a study of sociality. Anim Behav 75: 333–344). tropism for larger veins and arteries in various Video recording over a 2 month period was used tissues, relatively high density of renal herpetic to record the behaviour of the elephant group at inclusions, and involvement of the retinal vessels. Chester Zoo. SNA was applied in an investigation These fi ndings indicate a less selective organ of the group structure and interactions of the tropism, and this may confer a higher degree of group. Observations of individual and group virulence for EEHV3. © 2009 American College behaviour were based upon 40 h of playback of of Veterinary Pathologists. the social interactions were recorded and analysed using AGNA (2003) and Pajek (2005) packages. R. Greenwald, O. Lyashchenko, J. Esfandiari, The analysis showed that the many facets of M. Miller, S. Mikota, J.H. Olsen, R. Ball, G. individual behaviour could be understood in Dumonceaux, D. Schmitt, T. Moller, J.B. Payeur, terms of social structure of the group. This B. Harris, D. Sofranko, W.R. Waters & K.P. study has demonstrated that SNA is a powerful Lyashchenko approach to understanding group dynamics and Highly accurate antibody assays for early and