The effects of feeding and transport length on the welfare of white rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum simum) during long-distance translocations: a preliminary study

Authors

Keywords:

fluid shift, negative energy balance, stress, transport, translocation, white rhinoceros, Ceratotherium simum simum, animal welfare

Abstract

Translocation is a valuable conservation tool, but poses significant risks for the transported rhinoceroses. Interventions reducing these risks are required to ensure positive welfare during transportation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of journey duration and feeding during the transport of white rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum simum). A total of 32 animals were transported by road during two events, five days apart. Fifteen rhinoceroses in the first transport event (37.0 ± 2.4 hr duration) were not fed, while 17 rhinoceroses in the second event (32.2 ± 1.5 hr duration) were offered lucerne. Blood samples were collected at capture and after transport for the evaluation of changes in serum clinical chemistry analytes. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to compare differences between the groups.

In all rhinoceroses, transport resulted in changes in serum electrolyte, metabolite and enzyme concentrations, indicating a loss in total body water, nutritional shifts, stress and fatigue. Fed rhinoceroses, transported over a shorter time, displayed greater changes in osmolality (p < 0.006), serum sodium and chloride concentrations (p = 0.005 and = 0.001, respectively) indicating a greater degree of total body water loss than non-fed rhinoceroses. Feeding and a shorter transport duration reduced, but did not prevent, nutritional challenges. A greater increase in the muscle enzymes CK and AST (p = 0.027 and = 0.001, respectively), indicated greater fatigue in non-fed rhinoceroses transported over a longer time. Further work to distinguish the effects of feeding and journey duration is required to better understand the role feeding may play in mitigating welfare challenges during rhinoceros translocation.

Author Biographies

  • M Leiberich, University of Pretoria

    Centre for Veterinary Wildlife Research, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria and Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa

  • F Pohlin, University of Vienna

    Centre for Veterinary Wildlife Research, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria and Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria

  • E Hooijberg, University of Pretoria

    Centre for Veterinary Wildlife Research, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria and Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa

  • M Hofmeyr, Great Plains Conservation and Rhinos Without Borders

    Great Plains Conservation and Rhinos Without Borders, Botswana and Rhino Recovery Fund/Wildlife Conservation Network and Oak Foundation, United Kingdom

  • D Cooper, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife

    Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, South Africa

  • M Reuben, Department of Wildlife and National Parks

    Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Botswana

  • L Meyer, University of Pretoria

    Centre for Veterinary Wildlife Research, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria and Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa

Downloads

Published

2022-07-18

Issue

Section

Original Research