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dc.contributor.authorParnell, Tempe
dc.contributor.authorNarayan, Edward
dc.contributor.authorMagrath, Michael
dc.contributor.authorRoe, Sheila
dc.contributor.authorClark, Giles
dc.contributor.authorNicolson, Vere
dc.contributor.authorMartin-Vegue, Patrick
dc.contributor.authorMucci, Al
dc.contributor.authorHero, Jean-Marc
dc.contributor.editorSteve Cooke
dc.date.accessioned2017-05-03T15:44:24Z
dc.date.available2017-05-03T15:44:24Z
dc.date.issued2014
dc.identifier.issn2051-1434
dc.identifier.doi10.1093/conphys/cou038
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10072/66186
dc.description.abstractGlucocorticoid quantification using non-invasive methods provides a powerful tool for assessing the health and welfare of wildlife in zoo-based programmes. In this study, we provide baseline data on faecal-based glucocorticoid (cortisol) monitoring of Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris ssp. sumatrae) managed at the Melbourne Zoo in Victoria, Australia. We sampled five tigers daily for 60 days. Faecal cortisol metabolites (FCMs) in tiger faecal extracts were quantified using enzyme immunoassays that were successfully validated using parallelism and accuracy recovery checks. Two female tigers had significantly higher mean FCM levels than the two males and another female, suggesting that females may have higher FCM levels. A significant elevation was noted in the FCM levels for one female 2 days after she was darted and anaesthetized; however, the FCM levels returned to baseline levels within 3 days after the event. Comparative analysis of FCM levels of tigers sampled at Melbourne Zoo with tigers sampled earlier at two other Australian Zoos (Dreamworld Themepark and Australia Zoo) showed that FCM levels varied between zoos. Differences in the enclosure characteristics, timing of sampling, size and composition of groupings and training procedures could all contribute to this variation. Overall, we recommend the use of non-invasive sampling for the assessment of adrenocortical activity of felids managed in zoos in Australia and internationally in order to improve the welfare of these charismatic big cats.
dc.description.peerreviewedYes
dc.description.publicationstatusYes
dc.format.extent1607517 bytes
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherOxford University Press
dc.publisher.placeUnited Kingdom
dc.relation.ispartofstudentpublicationN
dc.relation.ispartofpagefromcou038-1
dc.relation.ispartofpagetocou038-8
dc.relation.ispartofissue1
dc.relation.ispartofjournalConservation Physiology
dc.relation.ispartofvolume2
dc.rights.retentionY
dc.subject.fieldofresearchAnimal Physiology - Systems
dc.subject.fieldofresearchTerrestrial Ecology
dc.subject.fieldofresearchComparative Physiology
dc.subject.fieldofresearchEnvironmental Sciences
dc.subject.fieldofresearchBiological Sciences
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode060603
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode060208
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode060604
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode05
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode06
dc.titleEvaluating physiological stress in Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris ssp. sumatrae) managed in Australian zoos
dc.typeJournal article
dc.type.descriptionC1 - Articles
dc.type.codeC - Journal Articles
dcterms.licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
gro.facultyGriffith Sciences, Griffith School of Environment
gro.rights.copyrightThis article has been accepted for publication in Conservation Physiology. Copyright Parnell, et al. 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Society for Experimental Biology. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
gro.hasfulltextFull Text
gro.griffith.authorHero, Jean-Marc
gro.griffith.authorNarayan, Edward J.
gro.griffith.authorParnell, Tempe I.


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