Interbirth intervals are associated with age of the mother, but not with infant mortality in Indian rhinoceroses

Current Zoology
Jan PluháčekFriederike von Houwald

Abstract

Rhinoceroses are among the most endangered mammals in the world. Despite a recent increase in numbers in most wild populations, poaching or political instability may exterminate large populations very quickly. Therefore, captive orex siturhinoceros populations can play an important role in their conservation. Previous studies identified infant mortality and interbirth intervals among the main parameters affecting the viability and survival of rhinoceros populations. In our study, we tested the recently suggested prediction that in captive Indian rhinocerosRhinoceros unicornis, longer interbirth intervals may result in higher infant mortality. We also examined the factors that are the main predictors of infant mortality and interbith intervals using the studbook data on Indian rhinoceros born in zoos worldwide as well as data from Dudhwa National Park, India, where rhinoceroses were successfully reintroduced. We found no association between interbirth intervals and infant mortality. In both populations, the main predictor of infant mortality was mother's parity, with higher mortality in calves born to primiparous mothers. In addition, we found that the interbirth intervals were shorter in zoos than in Dudhwa and that they increa...Continue Reading

References

Jun 1, 1990·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·J B Silk
Sep 1, 1986·The Quarterly Review of Biology·T H Clutton-Brock, G R Iason
May 4, 2000·Animal Behaviour·J Pluhácek, L Bartos
Dec 16, 2003·Journal of Dairy Science·J M Johanson, P J Berger
Mar 2, 2013·Science·Duan BiggsHugh P Possingham

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