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Effect of feeding management on faecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations as a measure of physiological stress in the African Elephant (Loxodonta africana)
Dissertation (MAgric (Animal Science Production Physiology))--University of Pretoria, 2024.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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University of Pretoria
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613481742630913 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Webb, E.C. (Edward Cottington) |
| author_browse | Webb, E.C. (Edward Cottington) |
| author_facet | Webb, E.C. (Edward Cottington) |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2023 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
| description | Dissertation (MAgric (Animal Science Production Physiology))--University of Pretoria, 2024. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/100628 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:36:50.456Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/100628 Effect of feeding management on faecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations as a measure of physiological stress in the African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) Webb, E.C. (Edward Cottington) markoreynders@gmail.com Du Toit, Cornelius Jacobus Lindeque Andre, Ganswindt Reynders, Marko UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Welfare Mixed feeders Nutritional intake Season Stress-related biomarker Dissertation (MAgric (Animal Science Production Physiology))--University of Pretoria, 2024. The African elephant (Loxodonta africana) once roamed freely across most of the African conti-nent but is now confined to smaller tracts of land within reserves, protected areas and captive fa-cilities. As such, these animals experience many natural stressors but increased human contact places significant additional stressors on elephants. Monitoring glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) concentrations as a stress-related biomarker in faecal samples makes it possible to examine ani-mal welfare aspects without adding additional stress on elephants. With elephants being mixed feeders, they have a very large variety of plant species which they feed on. By monitoring their feed intake and calculating their daily nutritional intake it is possible to determine where deficiencies in nutrition exist, increasing our understanding of these animals and the appropriate mitigation mechanisms to reduce placing additional stress on them. A reduc-tion in elephant stress will have a positive impact on the management of these animals improving their welfare, especially in captive settings. The current study found no significant interactions between the nutritional values of the assumed diet of the HERD elephants and their respective fGCM concentrations. Therefore, fGCM concen-trations were not affected by the diet of the elephants. Significant differences were observed in fGCM concentrations between the different seasons as well as the sex and age class of the ele-phants. However, the fGCM concentrations of the HERD elephants were comparable to fGCM levels of elephants in other facilities and in the wild. The methods used in this paper can be used in situations where the exact nutritional intake of animals is known and then tested for any significant interactions between the nutritional values in their diet and their glucocorticoid levels. This will give a better understanding of the feeding man-agement required for the animals to improve their overall wellbeing. Hoedspruit Elephant Rehabilitation and Development (HERD), Adine Roode Animal and Wildlife Sciences MAgric (Animal Science Production Physiology) Unrestricted Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences SDG-15: Life on land 2025-02-10T07:34:04Z 2025-02-10T07:34:04Z 2025-04 2024 Dissertation * A2025 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/100628 DOI TBC en © 2023 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Welfare Mixed feeders Nutritional intake Season Stress-related biomarker Effect of feeding management on faecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations as a measure of physiological stress in the African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) |
| title | Effect of feeding management on faecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations as a measure of physiological stress in the African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) |
| title_full | Effect of feeding management on faecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations as a measure of physiological stress in the African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) |
| title_fullStr | Effect of feeding management on faecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations as a measure of physiological stress in the African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of feeding management on faecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations as a measure of physiological stress in the African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) |
| title_short | Effect of feeding management on faecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations as a measure of physiological stress in the African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) |
| title_sort | effect of feeding management on faecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations as a measure of physiological stress in the african elephant loxodonta africana |
| topic | UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Welfare Mixed feeders Nutritional intake Season Stress-related biomarker |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/100628 |