Title
Biotelemetric monitoring of physiological function in gaur (Bos gaurus)
Author(s)
Thomas P.R., Cook R.A., Burney D.A., Doherty J.G., Koontz F.W.
Published
1996
Publisher
Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Abstract
Biotelemetry transmitters were implanted in adult female gaur (Bos gaurus) at the Bronx Zoo/Wildlife Conservation Park to establish baseline heart rate and body temperature value ranges in unrestrained animals and to document changes in these physiological functions when animals were exposed to different environmental conditions. Heart rate and body temperature were monitored using similar, but distinct, telemetry systems. Mean heart rates for five gaur ranged from 49.3 to 57.7 beats/min, and the mean body temperatures for two animals were 38.2°C and 38.8°C. Short-duration adversive stimuli caused brief three-fold increases in heart rate, but baseline rates returned once the stressors were removed. Moving gaur to novel environments or pairing them with nonaffiliates also resulted in heart rate increases. Body temperature was not affected by short-term stressors but was positively correlated with ambient temperature. The onset of ovulation may be predictable based on temperature spikes exhibited by the gaur at 19-22 day intervals. Copyright 1996 by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians.
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PUB12969