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Recursion

(56,582 posts)
Mon Apr 29, 2013, 04:12 PM Apr 2013

The Release of a Captive-Raised Female African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) in the Okavango Delta

Some rare good news from the literature:

http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/3/2/370

More importantly, in the 17 months following release Nandipa was able to maintain body condition
scores similar to those of wild females during the rainy and flood seasons, although she was in poorer
condition during the short dry season. This may reflect her lack of familiarity with the extended area
she explored post release; wild herds would have known the best foraging areas when resources were
limited. The low body condition scores for the dry season may also be influenced by the fact that her
release occurred immediately before the first of the two dry seasons she was intensively monitored,
and she had lost condition while held in the boma prior to release. Ideally, she would have been
released during a period of maximum food availability, but this was not possible due to the rapid
decline in her condition and welfare. Following her release, Nandipa’s body condition scores improved
over time, suggesting a decrease in stress and an improvement in her welfare.

Wild female elephants can give birth when 9-years old (45), although they normally have their first
calf at 11 to 14 years (46,47). Nandipa was released when fifteen years old: she had not bred, although
she had opportunities to breed with both wild and captive males when part of the captive herd and
mounting had occurred. Whether this reproductive failure was related to her status within the Abu herd
is unknown. Since gestation is around 22 months, Nandipa mated successfully for the first time
approximately a year after release. Her first two calves were thriving in April 2013, when her third calf
was born.

It is important to consider the long-term welfare of captive elephants, especially when they consist
of groups of unrelated individuals. It is to be expected that some of these elephants, as was the case for
Nandipa, will not be accepted by their companions and their welfare compromised. While this was a case
study, and so limited by sample size, it shows that captive-raised females can be released into the wild,
survive, reproduce and spend time with, and move with, wild herds. However, it also highlighted the
importance for released elephants to be able to socialize with known individuals and of social bonding
at an early age in female elephants. There may be greater welfare concerns when female elephants are
released by themselves; our data suggest that future releases of captive female elephants should
include one or more other known individuals. In addition, each individual case should be carefully
considered to ensure that the welfare of the individual is not further compromised, the area is suitable
for the release, and that humans are not put at risk. This study, and that on male elephants [11], show
that releasing wild-born, captive-raised elephants is a valid long-term management strategy and should
be explored further using elephants from different types of captive collection.
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The Release of a Captive-Raised Female African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) in the Okavango Delta (Original Post) Recursion Apr 2013 OP
We need more wild donkeys too. xtraxritical Apr 2013 #1
Here you go... billh58 Apr 2013 #2
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