Vol. 12, Special Issue 9 (2023)

Author(s):
Nishanth B, Jayathangaraj MG and Sridhar R

Abstract:
A study was undertaken to assess the faecal cortisol levels in captive elephants of Tamil Nadu state. Fresh dung samples from 25 temple elephants, 7 elephants in mudumalai camp and 18 elephants in Anamalai camp were collected in 80% methanol added air tight containers. The overtaxing extraction method was used for extraction of glucocorticoids from the fecal samples. Subsequent to extraction process, cortisol was estimated by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) technique. Fecal cortisol concentration in temple elephants ranged from 195 ng/g to 550 ng/g with a mean fecal cortisol concentration of 392±24.20 ng/g. Similarly, the faecal cortisol concentration in camp elephants of Mudumalai ranged from 125 ng/g to 300 ng/g with a mean fecal cortisol concentration of 169.57±22.48 ng/g and in Anamalai camp, the fecal cortisol values ranged from 140 ng/g to 196 ng/g with a mean fecal cortisol concentration of 159.11±3.93 ng/g. Faecal cortisol can be used to indirectly assess stress in captive and wild animals, including elephants. The difference in faecal cortisol levels can be attributed to the different managemental practices followed in the captive elephants.