Ten North American river otters (Lutra canadensis) were anesthetized with Telazol and instrumente... more Ten North American river otters (Lutra canadensis) were anesthetized with Telazol and instrumented with ingestable radiotelemetry temperature sensors for measuring core body temperature. The otters were then subjected to a washing protocol to simulate rehabilitation following an oil spill contamination. This protocol consisted of a 30-min wash in a 1:16 dilution of dishwashing liquid using either cold (24 degrees C) water or water near baseline core body temperature (38.4 degrees C), followed by a 30-min rinse with water of the same temperature, followed by 10 min of forced hot air drying. Core body temperatures of the otters washed in cold water fell at a median rate of 0.1 degrees C/min, whereas otters washed in warm water maintained stable core temperatures until the completion of the protocol, at which time their core temperatures began to drop at a similar rate. Core temperatures restabilized in both groups, and no statistical difference in core temperature between groups remained 180 min after initiation of the protocol. Efforts to examine the efficacy of supplemental squalene administration to speed the recovery of fur condition and waterproofing were unsuccessful because the washing protocol did not cause loss of coat waterproofing in 8 of the 10 subjects.
Remote thermal telemetry was performed on North American river otters (Lutra canadensis) during t... more Remote thermal telemetry was performed on North American river otters (Lutra canadensis) during the 1995 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Otter Restoration Project. Otters were anesthetized with either ketamine-midazolam (n = 11) or tiletamine-zolazepam (n = 9) combinations. Based upon initial rectal temperatures, mild to moderate hyperthermia (39.4-40.5 degrees C) developed in five otters given ketamine-midazolam and three otters given tiletamine-zolazepam. Following anesthetic induction, each otter received an ingestible temperature transmitter. Dependent upon gastrointestinal transit time and transmitter battery life, core body temperature was monitored for up to 13.75 hr postanesthesia. Thermal telemetry revealed a gradual decline in core temperature in all otters after anesthetic recovery (30-60 min). Median core temperature stabilized subsequently within 0.3 degrees C of resting temperature (38.4 degrees C) 1.75 hr after initial injection in otters given tiletamine-zolazepam and 2.75 hr in otters given ketamine-midazolam. Minor fluctuations in body temperature (less than 1 degree C) occurred in most otters from 6 to 13.75 hr and were attributed to variations in physical activity.
The authors have investigated early changes in liver cell gap and tight junctions that occur when... more The authors have investigated early changes in liver cell gap and tight junctions that occur when rats are fed a carcinogenic diet. Animals were fed a choline-deficient diet that contained 0.1% ethionine (CDE) for periods up to 6 weeks. Short-term feeding of this diet results in the rapid proliferation of so-called "oval cells" within the liver, which is reversible upon returning the rats to a normal diet. Livers from animals fed the diet were removed at various times during feeding and during recovery from the diet and were analyzed by light and electron microscopy. The freeze-fracture technique was used to produce extended views of the internal structure of liver cell membranes at each stage under study. The characteristic junctional complex surrounding canalicular regions in normal liver disappears after only 2 weeks of the CDE regimen. Gap junctions were not found after 4 weeks of the diet, and tight junctions became increasingly disorganized. Tight junction elements were observed, however, between hepatocytes and oval cells, which indicated that these two cell types do interact directly. Changes occur in the structural complexity of tight junction elements between hepatocytes and between hepatocytes and oval cells. Recovery from the CDE diet results in a rapid increase in junctional complexity, and the large gap junction plaques characteristic of normal liver are visible within 2 weeks after cessation of the CDE regimen. These and other observations demonstrate that reversible alterations in hepatocyte gap and tight junctions occur as a result of administration of a diet that induces oval cell proliferation. The relationship of these changes to those that have been reported during other processes of cell proliferation are discussed.
Six out of seven cuttlefish acquired by the Smithsonian National Zoological Park in July 1998 die... more Six out of seven cuttlefish acquired by the Smithsonian National Zoological Park in July 1998 died before 1 November 1998. Postmortem examinations showed mantle ulcers, secondary bacterial infections, inanition, and cuttlebone fractures. The surviving cuttlefish developed a progressive focal mantle ulcer, was treated with oral chloramphenicol intermittently for 9 wk, and maintained a normal appetite and growth rate until death at 7 mo of age. The National Zoological Park pathology database showed signalments, histories, and causes of mortality of 186 common cuttlefish, each 1-14 mo old, that received gross and histologic examinations; for example, the largest group of cuttlefish of known sex, age, and body weight at postmortem were 7-9 mo old and weighed an average of 376.2 g (males, n Ï 18) and 299.0 g (females, n Ï 15). Many cuttlefish had multiple pathologic diagnoses. Significant diseases included inflammation and secondary bacterial infections, especially gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, respiratory, reproductive, and ophthalmic, and septicemia due to Vibrio spp. or other gram-negative bacteria. Mantle lesions, including ulceration/ dermatitis, abscess/granuloma, necrosis/fibrosis/cellulitis, and laceration/abrasion/erosion, were also identified, along with inanition, cuttlebone lesions, and trauma. Mantle lesions were associated with secondary bacterial infections and death. On the basis of this information, if captive cuttlefish behavior creates risk for development of mantle lesions, administration of antibiotics effective against gram-negative bacteria may delay or halt disease progression. Cuttlefish exhibits require proper design, husbandry, economic resources, and staffing to minimize disease syndromes and mortality.
Blood samples were obtained from 155 North American river otters (Lontra canadensis; 94 adult mal... more Blood samples were obtained from 155 North American river otters (Lontra canadensis; 94 adult males, 38 adult females, 10 juvenile males, and 13 juvenile females) to establish baseline hematology and from 50 adult river otters (40 males and 10 females) for baseline serum biochemistry parameters for the species. The otters were livetrapped from eastern North Carolina (USA) during a 4-yr period. Data for 14 routine hematologic parameters and 22 serum chemistry assays showed significant differences in total leukocyte count and absolute neutrophil and monocyte numbers for adults versus juveniles, red blood cell counts and hemoglobin between adult and juvenile males, and calcium and alkaline phosphatase values for adult males between years of the study and an increase in leukocyte counts and absolute neutrophils with increased degree of trap injury sustained.
A 37-yr-old female Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) presented with anorexia, restlessness, and da... more A 37-yr-old female Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) presented with anorexia, restlessness, and darkcolored urine. Urinalyses showed hematuria, leukocyturia, isosthenuria, proteinuria, granular casts, and no calcium oxalate crystals. Bloodwork revealed azotemia. Urine culture revealed a pure growth of Streptococcus zooepidemicus resistant to sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim but susceptible to cephalosporins. A presumptive diagnosis of pyelonephritis was made based on bloodwork, urinalysis, and urine culture. The animal was treated with intravenous ceftiofur, and intravenous and per rectum fluids were given for hydration. The elephant's attitude and appetite returned to normal, the abnormal blood parameters resolved, and urinary calcium oxalate crystals reappeared after treatment, supporting presumptive diagnosis. Follow-up ultrasonography revealed an abnormal outline of both kidneys with parenchymal hyperechogenicity and multiple uterine leiomyomas.
This study was designed to develop a simple, noninvasive method for saliva collection: a first st... more This study was designed to develop a simple, noninvasive method for saliva collection: a first step toward developing new diagnostic tests to survey gorillas for infectious diseases. The subjects included free-ranging mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) in the Parc National des Volcans, Rwanda, and a group of orphan mountain and Grauer's gorillas (Gorilla heringei graueri) housed nearby in a temporary holding facility. Three collection methods were used to recover saliva from discarded forest food: swabbing, soaking, and washing. Saliva was also collected from orphan gorillas maintained in a captive setting by using dental ropes inside mesh bags. The presence of gorilla saliva in each sample was confirmed by using a salivary s-amylase assay and forensic press test paper. The recovery of gorilla DNA was verified by polymerase chain reaction by using primers specific to mountain and Grauer's gorillas. Of the three collection techniques used to recover saliva from forest food, directly swabbing plant bite marks was the most effective. Wild celery (Peucedanum linderi) provided for the most consistent saliva recovery and is eaten year round by mountain gorillas in Rwanda. This study shows that gorilla saliva can be recovered easily and noninvasively from known individual free-ranging gorillas by collecting pieces of wild celery discarded as the gorillas forage and from captive gorillas by offering them juice-soaked dental ropes inside mesh bags. Both methods can be used to recover gorilla DNA for genetic studies. Saliva collected from free-ranging and captive gorillas may prove to be a useful biologic sample for the development of new diagnostic tests and hormonal analysis.
In 2007, we detected human herpes simplex virus type 1, which caused stomatitis, in a juvenile co... more In 2007, we detected human herpes simplex virus type 1, which caused stomatitis, in a juvenile confiscated eastern lowland gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri) that had a high degree of direct contact with human caretakers. Our findings confirm that pathogens can transfer between nonhuman primate hosts and humans.
Clinical disease associated with excess iron deposition (hemosiderosis) in the duodenum, liver, a... more Clinical disease associated with excess iron deposition (hemosiderosis) in the duodenum, liver, and spleen occurs in captive lemurs. In this report we review the occurrence of hemosiderosis and related disease in the Zoological Society of San Diego lemur collection; we then define and describe potential pathogenic factors with the goal of establishing rational husbandry methods to limit or prevent the disease. At the San Diego Zoo, all 49 lemurs necropsied since 1968 were hemosiderotic, the severity increasing with increasing age; liver and kidney disease were common. Our review of iron metabolism, current knowledge on the pathogenesis of hemosiderosis in humans, and the diets of captive and wild lemurs reveals several key dietary substances that may contribute to lemur hemosiderosis: iron, tannins, and ascorbic acid. In captivity, excess dietary iron (commercial monkey chow) and high levels of ascorbic acid (citrus fruits) lead to enhanced iron uptake and increased toxicity of stored iron due to free radical formation. In the wild, lemurs have an unusual preference for leaves, fruits, and bark high in tannin, a polyphenolic secondary plant compound that rapidly chelates iron, protein, and minerals in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, preventing their absorption. These findings suggest that hemosiderosis in captive lemurs results from a diet high in iron, high in ascorbic acid, and lacking in tannin. Immediate correction of captive diets may limit hemosiderosis in lemurs in the future.
The genetic relatedness of mountain gorillas and humans has led to concerns about interspecies tr... more The genetic relatedness of mountain gorillas and humans has led to concerns about interspecies transmission of infectious agents. Human-to-gorilla transmission may explain human metapneumovirus in 2 wild mountain gorillas that died during a respiratory disease outbreak in Rwanda in 2009. Surveillance is needed to ensure survival of these critically endangered animals.
The most complete kids animal encyclopedia on the market, "The NG Animal Encyclopedia" ... more The most complete kids animal encyclopedia on the market, "The NG Animal Encyclopedia" is packed with more than 1,000 full-colour photographs, diagrams, and range maps, as well as lively, authoritative text, presenting a riveting (and often surprising) survey of the animal kingdom. Featuring a mind-boggling 2,500 species, thousands of fascinating facts, the latest conservation data, and exclusive from-the-field reports from "National Geographic's" explorers, this amazing resource will find a permanent spot on every child's desk or bedside.
From 1985-2003, 34 orphaned giant otters, Pteronura brasiliensis, (22 males, 12 females) were han... more From 1985-2003, 34 orphaned giant otters, Pteronura brasiliensis, (22 males, 12 females) were hand raised for eventual return to the wild at The Karanambu Cattle Company Limited Ranch (Karanambu), on the Rupununi River, Guyana, South America. The orphans ranged in age from 2 weeks to 9 months old; most were 8-10-week-old cubs. Feeding, housing, exercising, veterinary care, and rehabilitation protocols for young giant otters were developed during this period. Six cubs died during hand-rearing; of these, four died from illness or injury, and two were killed, one by a caiman and one by another orphaned otter. Of 34 giant otters brought to Karanambu, 28 (82%) were reared successfully to an age and condition suitable for rehabilitation, and 18 (53%) returned to the wild. Ten otters survived hand-rearing but died either before or during the process of rehabilitation. These hand-reared giant otters were killed by people (3 known, 2 presumed) or other giant otters (5), including one male otter that remained at Karanambu for several years. During rehabilitation, young giant otters chose to spend increasing amounts of time on the Rupununi River away from human care, often interacting with wild giant otters. Although long-term monitoring was not possible, Karanambu staff observed most (15 of 18) of the rehabilitated otters repeatedly, for as long as 4 years after their return to the river. The giant otter rehabilitation program at Karanambu generated new knowledge about this species, and offered visitors the opportunity to observe them. Zoo Biol 24:153-167, 2005.
JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, a... more JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact
The Biomedical Field Monitoring System (BFMS) was designed to telemeter body core temperature, am... more The Biomedical Field Monitoring System (BFMS) was designed to telemeter body core temperature, ambient and two skin temperatures, heart rate, and physical activity estimates from untethered military personnel engaged in high-stress activities. A laboratory human study of controlled exercise and thermal stress showed the expected relations among the monitored variables. The BFMS was also used in an exploratory study of
Ten North American river otters (Lutra canadensis) were anesthetized with Telazol and instrumente... more Ten North American river otters (Lutra canadensis) were anesthetized with Telazol and instrumented with ingestable radiotelemetry temperature sensors for measuring core body temperature. The otters were then subjected to a washing protocol to simulate rehabilitation following an oil spill contamination. This protocol consisted of a 30-min wash in a 1:16 dilution of dishwashing liquid using either cold (24 degrees C) water or water near baseline core body temperature (38.4 degrees C), followed by a 30-min rinse with water of the same temperature, followed by 10 min of forced hot air drying. Core body temperatures of the otters washed in cold water fell at a median rate of 0.1 degrees C/min, whereas otters washed in warm water maintained stable core temperatures until the completion of the protocol, at which time their core temperatures began to drop at a similar rate. Core temperatures restabilized in both groups, and no statistical difference in core temperature between groups remained 180 min after initiation of the protocol. Efforts to examine the efficacy of supplemental squalene administration to speed the recovery of fur condition and waterproofing were unsuccessful because the washing protocol did not cause loss of coat waterproofing in 8 of the 10 subjects.
Remote thermal telemetry was performed on North American river otters (Lutra canadensis) during t... more Remote thermal telemetry was performed on North American river otters (Lutra canadensis) during the 1995 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Otter Restoration Project. Otters were anesthetized with either ketamine-midazolam (n = 11) or tiletamine-zolazepam (n = 9) combinations. Based upon initial rectal temperatures, mild to moderate hyperthermia (39.4-40.5 degrees C) developed in five otters given ketamine-midazolam and three otters given tiletamine-zolazepam. Following anesthetic induction, each otter received an ingestible temperature transmitter. Dependent upon gastrointestinal transit time and transmitter battery life, core body temperature was monitored for up to 13.75 hr postanesthesia. Thermal telemetry revealed a gradual decline in core temperature in all otters after anesthetic recovery (30-60 min). Median core temperature stabilized subsequently within 0.3 degrees C of resting temperature (38.4 degrees C) 1.75 hr after initial injection in otters given tiletamine-zolazepam and 2.75 hr in otters given ketamine-midazolam. Minor fluctuations in body temperature (less than 1 degree C) occurred in most otters from 6 to 13.75 hr and were attributed to variations in physical activity.
The authors have investigated early changes in liver cell gap and tight junctions that occur when... more The authors have investigated early changes in liver cell gap and tight junctions that occur when rats are fed a carcinogenic diet. Animals were fed a choline-deficient diet that contained 0.1% ethionine (CDE) for periods up to 6 weeks. Short-term feeding of this diet results in the rapid proliferation of so-called "oval cells" within the liver, which is reversible upon returning the rats to a normal diet. Livers from animals fed the diet were removed at various times during feeding and during recovery from the diet and were analyzed by light and electron microscopy. The freeze-fracture technique was used to produce extended views of the internal structure of liver cell membranes at each stage under study. The characteristic junctional complex surrounding canalicular regions in normal liver disappears after only 2 weeks of the CDE regimen. Gap junctions were not found after 4 weeks of the diet, and tight junctions became increasingly disorganized. Tight junction elements were observed, however, between hepatocytes and oval cells, which indicated that these two cell types do interact directly. Changes occur in the structural complexity of tight junction elements between hepatocytes and between hepatocytes and oval cells. Recovery from the CDE diet results in a rapid increase in junctional complexity, and the large gap junction plaques characteristic of normal liver are visible within 2 weeks after cessation of the CDE regimen. These and other observations demonstrate that reversible alterations in hepatocyte gap and tight junctions occur as a result of administration of a diet that induces oval cell proliferation. The relationship of these changes to those that have been reported during other processes of cell proliferation are discussed.
Six out of seven cuttlefish acquired by the Smithsonian National Zoological Park in July 1998 die... more Six out of seven cuttlefish acquired by the Smithsonian National Zoological Park in July 1998 died before 1 November 1998. Postmortem examinations showed mantle ulcers, secondary bacterial infections, inanition, and cuttlebone fractures. The surviving cuttlefish developed a progressive focal mantle ulcer, was treated with oral chloramphenicol intermittently for 9 wk, and maintained a normal appetite and growth rate until death at 7 mo of age. The National Zoological Park pathology database showed signalments, histories, and causes of mortality of 186 common cuttlefish, each 1-14 mo old, that received gross and histologic examinations; for example, the largest group of cuttlefish of known sex, age, and body weight at postmortem were 7-9 mo old and weighed an average of 376.2 g (males, n Ï 18) and 299.0 g (females, n Ï 15). Many cuttlefish had multiple pathologic diagnoses. Significant diseases included inflammation and secondary bacterial infections, especially gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, respiratory, reproductive, and ophthalmic, and septicemia due to Vibrio spp. or other gram-negative bacteria. Mantle lesions, including ulceration/ dermatitis, abscess/granuloma, necrosis/fibrosis/cellulitis, and laceration/abrasion/erosion, were also identified, along with inanition, cuttlebone lesions, and trauma. Mantle lesions were associated with secondary bacterial infections and death. On the basis of this information, if captive cuttlefish behavior creates risk for development of mantle lesions, administration of antibiotics effective against gram-negative bacteria may delay or halt disease progression. Cuttlefish exhibits require proper design, husbandry, economic resources, and staffing to minimize disease syndromes and mortality.
Blood samples were obtained from 155 North American river otters (Lontra canadensis; 94 adult mal... more Blood samples were obtained from 155 North American river otters (Lontra canadensis; 94 adult males, 38 adult females, 10 juvenile males, and 13 juvenile females) to establish baseline hematology and from 50 adult river otters (40 males and 10 females) for baseline serum biochemistry parameters for the species. The otters were livetrapped from eastern North Carolina (USA) during a 4-yr period. Data for 14 routine hematologic parameters and 22 serum chemistry assays showed significant differences in total leukocyte count and absolute neutrophil and monocyte numbers for adults versus juveniles, red blood cell counts and hemoglobin between adult and juvenile males, and calcium and alkaline phosphatase values for adult males between years of the study and an increase in leukocyte counts and absolute neutrophils with increased degree of trap injury sustained.
A 37-yr-old female Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) presented with anorexia, restlessness, and da... more A 37-yr-old female Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) presented with anorexia, restlessness, and darkcolored urine. Urinalyses showed hematuria, leukocyturia, isosthenuria, proteinuria, granular casts, and no calcium oxalate crystals. Bloodwork revealed azotemia. Urine culture revealed a pure growth of Streptococcus zooepidemicus resistant to sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim but susceptible to cephalosporins. A presumptive diagnosis of pyelonephritis was made based on bloodwork, urinalysis, and urine culture. The animal was treated with intravenous ceftiofur, and intravenous and per rectum fluids were given for hydration. The elephant's attitude and appetite returned to normal, the abnormal blood parameters resolved, and urinary calcium oxalate crystals reappeared after treatment, supporting presumptive diagnosis. Follow-up ultrasonography revealed an abnormal outline of both kidneys with parenchymal hyperechogenicity and multiple uterine leiomyomas.
This study was designed to develop a simple, noninvasive method for saliva collection: a first st... more This study was designed to develop a simple, noninvasive method for saliva collection: a first step toward developing new diagnostic tests to survey gorillas for infectious diseases. The subjects included free-ranging mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) in the Parc National des Volcans, Rwanda, and a group of orphan mountain and Grauer's gorillas (Gorilla heringei graueri) housed nearby in a temporary holding facility. Three collection methods were used to recover saliva from discarded forest food: swabbing, soaking, and washing. Saliva was also collected from orphan gorillas maintained in a captive setting by using dental ropes inside mesh bags. The presence of gorilla saliva in each sample was confirmed by using a salivary s-amylase assay and forensic press test paper. The recovery of gorilla DNA was verified by polymerase chain reaction by using primers specific to mountain and Grauer's gorillas. Of the three collection techniques used to recover saliva from forest food, directly swabbing plant bite marks was the most effective. Wild celery (Peucedanum linderi) provided for the most consistent saliva recovery and is eaten year round by mountain gorillas in Rwanda. This study shows that gorilla saliva can be recovered easily and noninvasively from known individual free-ranging gorillas by collecting pieces of wild celery discarded as the gorillas forage and from captive gorillas by offering them juice-soaked dental ropes inside mesh bags. Both methods can be used to recover gorilla DNA for genetic studies. Saliva collected from free-ranging and captive gorillas may prove to be a useful biologic sample for the development of new diagnostic tests and hormonal analysis.
In 2007, we detected human herpes simplex virus type 1, which caused stomatitis, in a juvenile co... more In 2007, we detected human herpes simplex virus type 1, which caused stomatitis, in a juvenile confiscated eastern lowland gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri) that had a high degree of direct contact with human caretakers. Our findings confirm that pathogens can transfer between nonhuman primate hosts and humans.
Clinical disease associated with excess iron deposition (hemosiderosis) in the duodenum, liver, a... more Clinical disease associated with excess iron deposition (hemosiderosis) in the duodenum, liver, and spleen occurs in captive lemurs. In this report we review the occurrence of hemosiderosis and related disease in the Zoological Society of San Diego lemur collection; we then define and describe potential pathogenic factors with the goal of establishing rational husbandry methods to limit or prevent the disease. At the San Diego Zoo, all 49 lemurs necropsied since 1968 were hemosiderotic, the severity increasing with increasing age; liver and kidney disease were common. Our review of iron metabolism, current knowledge on the pathogenesis of hemosiderosis in humans, and the diets of captive and wild lemurs reveals several key dietary substances that may contribute to lemur hemosiderosis: iron, tannins, and ascorbic acid. In captivity, excess dietary iron (commercial monkey chow) and high levels of ascorbic acid (citrus fruits) lead to enhanced iron uptake and increased toxicity of stored iron due to free radical formation. In the wild, lemurs have an unusual preference for leaves, fruits, and bark high in tannin, a polyphenolic secondary plant compound that rapidly chelates iron, protein, and minerals in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, preventing their absorption. These findings suggest that hemosiderosis in captive lemurs results from a diet high in iron, high in ascorbic acid, and lacking in tannin. Immediate correction of captive diets may limit hemosiderosis in lemurs in the future.
The genetic relatedness of mountain gorillas and humans has led to concerns about interspecies tr... more The genetic relatedness of mountain gorillas and humans has led to concerns about interspecies transmission of infectious agents. Human-to-gorilla transmission may explain human metapneumovirus in 2 wild mountain gorillas that died during a respiratory disease outbreak in Rwanda in 2009. Surveillance is needed to ensure survival of these critically endangered animals.
The most complete kids animal encyclopedia on the market, "The NG Animal Encyclopedia" ... more The most complete kids animal encyclopedia on the market, "The NG Animal Encyclopedia" is packed with more than 1,000 full-colour photographs, diagrams, and range maps, as well as lively, authoritative text, presenting a riveting (and often surprising) survey of the animal kingdom. Featuring a mind-boggling 2,500 species, thousands of fascinating facts, the latest conservation data, and exclusive from-the-field reports from "National Geographic's" explorers, this amazing resource will find a permanent spot on every child's desk or bedside.
From 1985-2003, 34 orphaned giant otters, Pteronura brasiliensis, (22 males, 12 females) were han... more From 1985-2003, 34 orphaned giant otters, Pteronura brasiliensis, (22 males, 12 females) were hand raised for eventual return to the wild at The Karanambu Cattle Company Limited Ranch (Karanambu), on the Rupununi River, Guyana, South America. The orphans ranged in age from 2 weeks to 9 months old; most were 8-10-week-old cubs. Feeding, housing, exercising, veterinary care, and rehabilitation protocols for young giant otters were developed during this period. Six cubs died during hand-rearing; of these, four died from illness or injury, and two were killed, one by a caiman and one by another orphaned otter. Of 34 giant otters brought to Karanambu, 28 (82%) were reared successfully to an age and condition suitable for rehabilitation, and 18 (53%) returned to the wild. Ten otters survived hand-rearing but died either before or during the process of rehabilitation. These hand-reared giant otters were killed by people (3 known, 2 presumed) or other giant otters (5), including one male otter that remained at Karanambu for several years. During rehabilitation, young giant otters chose to spend increasing amounts of time on the Rupununi River away from human care, often interacting with wild giant otters. Although long-term monitoring was not possible, Karanambu staff observed most (15 of 18) of the rehabilitated otters repeatedly, for as long as 4 years after their return to the river. The giant otter rehabilitation program at Karanambu generated new knowledge about this species, and offered visitors the opportunity to observe them. Zoo Biol 24:153-167, 2005.
JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, a... more JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact
The Biomedical Field Monitoring System (BFMS) was designed to telemeter body core temperature, am... more The Biomedical Field Monitoring System (BFMS) was designed to telemeter body core temperature, ambient and two skin temperatures, heart rate, and physical activity estimates from untethered military personnel engaged in high-stress activities. A laboratory human study of controlled exercise and thermal stress showed the expected relations among the monitored variables. The BFMS was also used in an exploratory study of
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