title: A case study: fecal corticosteroid and behavior as indicators of welfare during relocation of an Asian elephant.
abstract: This study was a preliminary investigation of an enzyme immunoassay for measuring fecal glucocorticoid metabolites in a male Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) by investigating changes in behavior and cortisol metabolite excretion associated with a putative stressful event. The study collected fecal samples for 10 days prior to, and 10 days after, 24-hr transport and relocation of the elephant to a new herd. The study measured cortisol metabolites using 2 enzyme immunoassays indicating a 389% and 340% increase in cortisol metabolite excretion following relocation. Maximal cortisol metabolite excretion occurred 2 days after relocation and remained elevated during establishment of the new herd. Stereotypic behavior increased approximately 400% after relocation. The relocation disturbed sleep patterns, the elephant spent less time sleeping during the night, and the elephant slept standing up. These results provide preliminary evidence that noninvasive monitoring of fecal cortisol metabolites can be used to investigate adrenal activity in Asian elephants and may be a safe, practical, and accurate welfare indicator.
authors.affiliation: The Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Laws
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ganswindt
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heistermann
authors.forename: Moira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sherwin
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000032:analysis*; D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D004606:Elephants / Q000523:psychology*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D014186:Transportation
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones