Investigating body condition and metabolic hormones in relationship to reproductive cyclicity in zoo female African elephants, Loxodonta africana

摘要: African elephants (Loxodonta africana) in U.S. zoos generally appear heavier than wild counterparts, and there are claims that obesity-related health reproductive problems may be contributing to population non-sustainability. However, a major constraint screening for obesity is the lack of practical method accurately assess body fat elephants. Body condition scoring (BCS) assessment subcutaneous stores based on visual or tactile evaluation muscle tone key skeletal elements, provides an immediate appraisal degree individual. The objective this study develop BCS index female validate it using ultrasound measures fat. To index, standardized photographs were collected from zoo (n=50) free-ranging (n=57) identify regions anatomical sites, which used visually deposition patterns. consists list physical criteria obtaining overall score 5point scale, with 1 representing lowest 5 highest levels