Chemosignalling of musth by individual wild African elephants (Loxodonta africana): implications for conservation and management.

The sexually active states of free-ranging male African elephants (Loxodonta africana): defining musth and non-musth using endocrinology, physical signals, and behavior.

Musth in male African elephants, Loxodonta africana, is associated with increased aggressive behavior, continuous discharge of urine, copious secretions from the swollen temporal glands, and elevated androgen levels. During musth, bulls actively seek out and are preferred by estrous females although sexual activity is not restricted to the musth condition. The present study combines recently es...

Effects of rainfall, host demography, and musth on strongyle fecal egg counts in African elephants (Loxodonta africana) in Namibia.

Wild African elephants (Loxodonta africana) are commonly infected with intestinal strongyle parasites. Our objective was to determine baseline fecal strongyle egg counts for elephants in the northeast region of Etosha National Park, Namibia and determine if these numbers were affected by annual rainfall, elephant demography (age of individuals and composition of groups), and hormonal state of m...

Endocrine correlates of musth and the impact of ecological and social 1 factors in free - ranging African elephants ( Loxodonta africana )

Role of musth in the reproductive strategy of the African elephant (Loxodonta a/ricana)

Behavioural and endrocrin%gical data on African elephants (Loxodonta africana) are integrated to provide a hypothesis oj the adaptations reflected in the phenomenon of musth in bulls. Occupation oj home ranges, movements. male dominance hierarchies and intra-specific agonistic behaviour are reviewed. Bulls in musth leave their home range, travel far and jast, initiate more contacts with distant...

Spatial behaviour of translocated African elephants (Loxodonta africana) in a novel environment: using behaviour to inform conservation actions

When animals encounter a novel environment they can either reject it and leave or accept it and explore their new home. It is important to understand what governs animals’ response to a novel place because of the fitness consequences and wildlife management implications entailed. Here I examine the spatial behaviour of translocated African elephants (Loxodonta africana) upon arrival at a novel ...