title: Use of salivary cortisol to evaluate the influence of rides in dromedary camels.
abstract: Animals in captivity and in the wild face numerous challenges, including the risk of enduring acute or chronic stress. In captivity, facilities attempt to alleviate the risk of chronic stress by providing environmental enrichment, shown to minimize behavioral disorders and stress in several species. One potential form of enrichment in zoos is training animals to provide rides for guests, however, the effect of this activity on the welfare of individual animals has never been examined. We validated the use of saliva for assessing stress in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius), an animal commonly used for rides. We then measured variation in salivary cortisol in four male camels while providing rides of differing frequency for guests at the Toronto Zoo. The camels were sampled during the ride season (June to September) using four treatments: (1) in their pasture, (2) at the ride area when not performing rides, (3) while providing a low number of rides (n=50/day) and (4) while providing a high number of rides (n=150/day). Furthermore, samples were taken before and after the ride season for comparison. There was a significant difference between the post-ride season treatment and the three treatments involving guest presence during the ride season (ride area, low rides, high rides). In general, cortisol concentrations were lower during the ride season and higher during the non-ride season. Based on the metrics we used, performing rides is not a stressful experience for these dromedary camels and suggests that rides may be a form of enrichment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 7B8, Canada. Electronic address: yasminemajchr@trentu.ca.
authors.forename: Yasmine N
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Majchrzak
authors.affiliation: Environmental and Life Sciences Department, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 7B8, Canada.
authors.forename: Gabriela F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Mastromonaco
authors.affiliation: Bowmanville Zoological Park, 340 King St. E, Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 3K5, Canada.
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Korver
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 7B8, Canada. Electronic address: garyburness@trentu.ca.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Burness
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology*; D002162:Camelus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology*; D005615:Freezing; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D008297:Male; D009864:Ontario; D011998:Recreation; D012015:Reference Standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D012621:Seasons; D013048:Specimen Handling; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis; D014186:Transportation
chemical_list: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: ACTH challenge; Animal rides; Environmental enrichment; Enzyme immunoassay; Saliva stability; Salivary cortisol