user: pass:


Pannrucker, C., 2021. The effects of animal transfers on the reproductive success of female White rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum simum) kept in European zoos. Thesis presented to University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria, pp. 1-36, 10 figures, 10 tables

  details
 
Location: Captive - Europe
Subject: Reproduction
Species: White Rhino


Original text on this topic:
Southern white rhinoceroses, although their numbers have increased, are still an endangered species due to continued poaching. Zoos should maintain a stable or, at best, even growing population in order to be able to support the wild population in the given situation. Although white rhinoceroses have been kept in Europe since the 1960s, breeding success has been low. The exact reasons for this multifactorial and complex syndrome are not fully understood. Social composition, diet and available space all seem to affect reproductive success. Female rhinoceroses that have never bred, or have not bred for a very long time, have a greatly increased risk of developing reproductive tract pathologies. In many cases, this leads to infertility already occurring at a young age. Due to medical progress in recent years, it is now possible to closely monitor the reproductive activity of female white rhinoceroses. Animals that have not yet produced offspring, despite having reached breeding age should be examined sonographically, as well as via non-invasive hormone monitoring. If the animals are physiologically healthy, transfers, among other measures, are a possibility of stimulating reproduction. This means that either the females themselves are transferred to other zoos, or males are integrated into new groups. High expectations were given to these transfers. The aim of this study was to provide concrete figures on the success of the transfers. We found that births within a maximum of four years occurred after 26.2% of male and 30.0% of female transfers. Through endocrine analysis positive hormonal responses to transfers were identified in 84% of resident females, after arrival of a new male and in 50% of transferred females. It is unclear why pregnancy does not occur more frequently in these cases.

[ Home ][ Literature ][ Rhino Images ][ Rhino Forums ][ Rhino Species ][ Links ][ About V2.0]