Skip NavigationSkip to Content

Reproductive status of endemic felid species in Latin American zoos and implications for ex situ conservation

  1. Author:
    Swanson, W. F.
    Johnson, W. E.
    Cambre, R. C.
    Citino, S. B.
    Ouigley, K. B.
    Brousset, D. M.
    Morals, R. N.
    Moreira, N.
    O'Brien, S. J.
    Wildt, D. E.
  2. Author Address

    Cincinnati Zoo & Bot Garden, Ctr Conservat & Res Endangered Wildlife, 3400 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45220 USA Cincinnati Zoo & Bot Garden, Ctr Conservat & Res Endangered Wildlife, Cincinnati, OH 45220 USA NCI, Lab Genom Divers, Frederick, MD 21701 USA Smithsonian Natl Zool Pk, Conservat & Res Ctr, Washington, DC USA White Oak Conservat Ctr, Yulee, FL USA Hornocker Wildlife Res Inst, Moscow, ID USA Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Fac Med Vet & Zootech, Coyoacan, Mexico Univ Fed Parana, Setor Ciencias Biol, BR-80060000 Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Univ Fed Parana, Curso Med Vet, Palotina, Brazil NCI, Lab Genom Divers, Frederick, MD 21701 USA Swanson WF Cincinnati Zoo & Bot Garden, Ctr Conservat & Res Endangered Wildlife, 3400 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45220 USA
    1. Year: 2003
  1. Journal: Zoo Biology
    1. 22
    2. 5
    3. Pages: 421-441
  2. Type of Article: Article
  1. Abstract:

    Reproductive evaluations were conducted on 185 male cats representing eight endemic Latin American species that were maintained in 44 zoos and private facilities in 12 Latin American countries. Reproductive assessments (testicular measures, ejaculate quality, and blood testosterone/cortisol concentration) were used to establish normative values for large- and small-sized cats in Latin American collections. Data also were analyzed using multiple regression to study the impact of proven breeder status, diet, and various animal housing combinations. Most felids (>95%) in the survey were of wild-born origin, and <20% had produced offspring in captivity. Larger felids had bigger testes and produced more semen, but tended to produce low-sperm-density ejaculates. The ejaculates of small felids were more sperm-concentrated, but contained fewer total spermatozoa. Sperm motility was unrelated to species size, and certain species (puma, margay, tigrina, and jaguarundi) consistently produced few (<40%) normal sperm forms. Across species, >50% of males had low sperm counts (< 1 million total sperm per ejaculate). Among large cats (jaguars and pumas), proven breeders had larger (P<0.05) testes, greater semen volume, and more normal sperm than nonbreeders. Males on adequate diets had higher (P<0.05) circulating cortisol. Among small-sized felids, proven breeders had higher (P<0.05) testosterone, and males housed alone or paired with a conspecific female had more (P<0.05) total sperm per ejaculate and greater (P<0.05) seminal and testicular volumes. Fifty-nine ejaculates (potentially representing similar to 100 artificial insemination (AI) or 26,000 in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures) were cryopreserved for a felid genome resource bank. In conclusion, breeding success and reproductive traits for many endemic felids in Latin American zoos appear to be suboptimal, and likely would benefit from improvements in diet and exhibitry. Technology transfer and continued training of zoo staff and scientists in Latin American countries are essential if these zoos are to achieve their tremendous conservation potential for felids and other threatened endemic species.

    See More

External Sources

  1. No sources found.

Library Notes

  1. No notes added.
NCI at Frederick

You are leaving a government website.

This external link provides additional information that is consistent with the intended purpose of this site. The government cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal site.

Linking to a non-federal site does not constitute an endorsement by this institution or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the site. You will be subject to the destination site's privacy policy when you follow the link.

ContinueCancel