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Recent Publications on Asian Elephants Gajah 31 (2009) 50-60 Recent Publications on Asian Elephants Compiled by Jennifer Pastorini Anthropologisches Institut, Universität Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland and Centre for Conservation and Research, Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka S.L. Bartlett, N. Abou-Madi, M.S. Kraus, E.B. 9°. Position-speci c reference ranges should be Wiedner, S.R. Starkey & G.V. Kollias used when interpreting ECGs, and clinicians Electrocardiography of the Asian elephant must be aware of how age and body weight may (Elephas maximus) affect the ECG. © 2009 American Association of Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 40 (2009) Zoo Veterinarians. 466-473 Abstract. Electrocardiograms (ECGs) are A. Benz, W. Zenker, T.B. Hildebrandt, G. infrequently performed on Asian elephants Weissengruber, K. Eulenberger & H. Geyer (Elephas maximus), and few studies have been Microscopic morphology of the elephant’s reported in the literature. The aim of this study was hoof to determine reference ranges of ECG parameters J. of Zoo and Wildlife Med. 40 (2009) 711-725 in Asian elephants and to ascertain if age, body Abstract. As a result of the lack of basic weight, and position of the elephant signi cantly microscopic anatomy of the elephants’ foot, affected the ECG. Electrocardiograms were this study deals with the normal microscopic obtained from 27 captive, nonsedated apparently morphology of both the Asian (Elephas maximus) healthy Asian elephants while they were standing and African (Loxodonta africana) elephant foot (ST), in right lateral recumbency (RL), and/or with consideration of pathologic changes. A total in left lateral recumbency (LL). Six-lead ECGs of 727 histologic samples from de ned locations were obtained using novel clamps and long ECG of 24 hooves of both species (17 Asian and seven cables (71 cm). From lead I, standard waveforms African species) were studied, measured, and and intervals were analyzed, including PR evaluated. Minor differences between the feet interval, QT interval, ST segment, P, QRS, T, and and species are seen histologically. Poor horn U waves if they were present. One animal was quality in captive elephants’ hooves and loci of determined to have a previously undiagnosed minor resistance in captive and wild animals are conduction abnormality and was not included in detected. The thickness of the weight-bearing the study. Most elephants had a sinus arrhythmia surface of the captive elephants’ hooves is in at least one position. With increasing age, histologically measured as “very thin” (about 10 there was a trend toward a slower heart rate and mm). The normal histologic ndings provide a signi cantly longer P waves. Increasing body basis for assessing histopathologic changes and weight was signi cantly correlated with longer especially horn quality. The histologic ndings QT intervals and T waves with lower amplitude. might explain some of the foot problems, Compared with measurements in ST, LL resulted but they also give rise to questions about the in P waves and QRS complexes with shorter quality and correctness of current husbandry amplitude, U waves with greater amplitude, PR techniques. © 2009 American Association of intervals with shorter duration, and an increased Zoo Veterinarians. heart rate. Compared with measurements in LL, RL resulted in larger QRS complexes. U waves R.W. Byrne, L.A. Bates, & C.J. Moss were most commonly detected in RL and LL. Elephant cognition in primate perspective Mean electrical axis calculated in the frontal Comparative Cognition & Behavior Reviews 4 plane were as follows: standing range -125 to (2009) 65-79 +141°, mean -5°; left lateral range -15 to +104°, Abstract. On many of the staple measures of mean 27°; right lateral range -16 to +78°, mean comparative psychology, elephants show no 50 obvious differences from other mammals, such have shorter adult lifespans than protected as primates: discrimination learning, memory, conspeci cs in range countries. This effect was spontaneous tool use, etc. However, a range the cause of greatest concern in Asian elephants, of more naturalistic mea sures have recently and risk factors within this species included suggested that elephant cognition may be being zoo-born, transferred between zoos, and rather different. Wild elephants sub-categorize possibly removed early from the mother. Here, humans into groups, independently making this we investigate these risk factors further; assess classi cation on the basis of scent or colour. fecundity and sustainability in European zoos; In number discrimination, elephants show no and propose testable hypotheses as to the causes effects of absolute magnitude or relative size of these animals’ problems. Although imported disparity in making number judgements. In wild-born Asian elephants live longer than zoo- the social realm, elephants show empathy into born conspeci cs, being imported when juvenile the problems faced by others, and give hints of or adult appears no more protective than being special abilities in cooperation, vocal imitation imported in infancy, suggesting that the bene ts of and per haps teaching. Field data suggest that the being wild- rather than zoo-born are conferred early elephant’s vaunted reputation for memory may in life. Zoo-born Asian neonates are signi cantly have a factual basis, in two ways. Elephants’ heavier than those born to working animals in ability to remember large-scale space over long range countries, with a possible tendency to be periods suggests good cognitive mapping skills. fatter. In zoos, African elephants have tended to Elephants’ skill in keeping track of the current be removed from their mothers at older ages than locations of many family members implies that young Asians, and were also transferred between working memory may be unusually devel oped, zoos signi cantly less often: factors that could consistent with the laboratory nding that their possibly underlie this species’ lower calf losses quantity judgements do not show the usual and improving adult survivorship in Europe. Both magnitude effects. © 2009 Byrne. species have low fecundity in European zoos compared to in situ populations, and are not self- A. Campos-Arceiz sustaining, declining at approximately 10% per Shit happens (to be useful)! Use of elephant annum if reliant on captive-bred females under dung as habitat by amphibians historically prevailing conditions. Data from Biotropica 41 (2009) 406–407 other species suggest that stress and/or obesity Abstract. Although elephants are commonly are parsimonious explanations for the suite of cited as an example of ecosystem engineering, problems seen. We recommend speci c screens cases involving Asian elephants are missing in the for testing these hypotheses, and for potentially literature. In a dry environment of southeastern identifying vulnerable individuals within the Sri Lanka, I examined 290 elephant dung piles extant zoo populations. © 2009 Universities and found a total of six frogs from three different Federation for Animal Welfare. species in 1.7 percent (N= 5) of the dung piles. This suggests a facilitative role of elephants by A. Datta-Roy, N. Ved & A.C. Williams providing habitat for amphibians. © 2009 The Participatory elephant monitoring in South Author. Garo Hills: ef cacy and utility in a human- animal con ict scenario R. Clubb, M. Rowcliffe, P. Lee, K.U. Mar, C. Tropical Ecology 50 (2009) 163-171 Moss & G.J. Mason Abstract. We evaluate the ef cacy of community Fecundity and population viability in based elephant monitoring programme in South female zoo elephants: problems and possible Garo Hills, Meghalaya (India). Major objectives solutions of the programme are to understand the ranging Animal Welfare 18 (2009) 237-247 and habitat utilization patterns of free ranging Abstract. We previously reported that African Asian elephants in a human interspersed habitat (Loxodonta africana) and Asian (Elephas with frequent human - elephant con icts. We maximus) female elephants in European zoos collected information on elephant presence in 51 the landscape through participatory wildlife signi cant health problems. Circus animals travel monitoring techniques by modifying an existing frequently and the associated forced movement, model for African elephants from six ‘akings’ human handling, noise, trailer movement and or clan villages which are worst affected by con nement are important stressors. Although human-elephant con ict (HEC). A total of 201 there is no conclusive evidence as to whether visits were recorded in six ‘akings’ during June animals habituate to travel, con nement in 2005 to July 2006, of which solitary elephants beast wagons for long timeperiods is a de nite accounted for 100 visits. The visits were found welfare concern. Circuses have a limited ability to peak during the two main harvesting periods to make improvements, such as increased space, in the Garo hills indicating a de nite seasonality environmental enrichment and appropriate social pattern in the visits. Information from individual housing. Consequently, we argue that non- ‘akings’ also indicate that some ‘akings’ were domesticated animals, suitable for circus life, particularly prone to visits by solitary animals should exhibit low space requirements, simple indicating the complexity in the dynamics of social structures, low cognitive function, non- elephant ranging patterns within the landscape. specialist ecological requirements and an ability We note that participatory elephant monitoring to be transported without adverse welfare effects. can be a useful tool to collect
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