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The development of social behaviour in translocated juvenile African elephants Loxodonta africana (Biumenbach)

Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 1997.

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Other Authors: Van Jaarsveld, A.S.
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2017
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Van Jaarsveld, A.S.
author_browse Van Jaarsveld, A.S.
author_facet Van Jaarsveld, A.S.
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2017 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 (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 1997.
format Thesis
id oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/61606
institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:37:56.361Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2017
publishDateRange 2017
publishDateSort 2017
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:2263/61606 The development of social behaviour in translocated juvenile African elephants Loxodonta africana (Biumenbach) Van Jaarsveld, A.S. Richardson, Philip R.K. Garai, Marion Elizabeth UCTD Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 1997. Groups of translocated orphaned juvenile African elephants were studied in holding pens and following their release to assess how they re-organize and restructure socially by adopting roles, and if they show behavioural signs of stress. An adult female adopted a young individual. In all groups allomothering was observed to some degree. One 5 year old female prematurely assumed the role of leader and this role appears to be learned. Most groups established a linear dominance hierarchy. Placing the trunk tip into a partner's mouth correlated with play-fighting and aggression. This behaviour is suggested to be one of appeasement to reduce aggressive motivation and prevent escalation thereof, and that the behaviour is ritualised. Four possible evolutionary steps are presented. Nearest Neighbour analyses illustrated the changing social positions of some juveniles relative to other individuals. Tight grouping was assumed to indicate insecurity. There was a marked difference in behaviour pattern during resting times. Groups without adults were within touching distance of one another whilst resting. In a group containing an adult female some juveniles dispersed more and some juveniles formed a subgroup. It appears that dominance hierarchies, individual social relationships and caretaking of young were important factors which affected group cohesion and could influence a more central position within a group. Certain behaviour patterns were defined as being stress related and compared among the groups. There was a significant decrease in arousal behaviour after the introduction of an adult female. Aggressive behaviour was the most frequent behaviour in four groups whilst penned and following their release. Play behaviour was absent in three penned groups, and tended to gradually increase following the release. Temporal gland secretion occurred during excitement, anticipation and nervousness. Secretion occurred in all age and sex classes. Females tend to secrete more frequently than males and older individuals more than younger ones. Frustrated or stressed animals vocalized more frequently than relaxed ones, as did calves below 2 years of age who tended to use louder calls, than older juveniles. Acoustical analyses of four vocalizations are presented. Very young individuals appear to vocalize using marginally higher frequencies. Zoology and Entomology MSc Unrestricted 2017-08-08T11:57:47Z 2017-08-08T11:57:47Z 1997 1997 Dissertation Garai, ME 1997, The development of social behaviour in translocated juvenile African elephants Loxodonta africana (Biumenbach), MSc Dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd <http://hdl.handle.net/2263/61606> http://hdl.handle.net/2263/61606 en © 2017 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
The development of social behaviour in translocated juvenile African elephants Loxodonta africana (Biumenbach)
title The development of social behaviour in translocated juvenile African elephants Loxodonta africana (Biumenbach)
title_full The development of social behaviour in translocated juvenile African elephants Loxodonta africana (Biumenbach)
title_fullStr The development of social behaviour in translocated juvenile African elephants Loxodonta africana (Biumenbach)
title_full_unstemmed The development of social behaviour in translocated juvenile African elephants Loxodonta africana (Biumenbach)
title_short The development of social behaviour in translocated juvenile African elephants Loxodonta africana (Biumenbach)
title_sort development of social behaviour in translocated juvenile african elephants loxodonta africana biumenbach
topic UCTD
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/61606