Ashoka Dangolla, A.G. Malitha, and Indira Silva (2004). Mineral status in blood serum of domesticated elephants (Elephas maximus) and certain plants of Sri Lanka. Zoos' Print Journal 19(7): 1549-1550. ISSN: 0971-6378.
Descriptors: bark, blood serum, calcium, coconuts, jackfruits, leaves, magnesium, mineral deficiencies, nutritional state, nutritive value, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Caryota urens, Cocos
nucifera,
Elephas maximus, coconut, jak, kitul, ear vein.
Clauss, M., W. Loehlein, E. Kienzle, and H. Wiesner (2003). Studies on feed digestibilities in captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus). Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition 87(3-4): 160-73.
NAL Call Number: 389.78 Z3
Abstract: In order to test the suitability of the horse as a nutritional model for elephants, digestibility studies were performed with six captive Asian elephants on six different dietary regimes, using the double marker method with acid
detergent
lignin as an internal and chromium oxide as an external digestibility marker. Elephants resembled horses in the way dietary supplements and dietary crude fibre content influenced digestibility, in calcium absorption parameters and in faecal volatile
fatty acid
composition. However, the absolute digestibility coefficients achieved for all nutrients are distinctively lower in elephants. This is because of much faster ingesta passage rates reported for elephants. No answer is given to why elephants do not
make use of their high digestive potential theoretically provided by their immense body weight. Differences in volatile fatty acid concentrations between these captive elephants and those reported from elephants from the wild are in accord with a reported
high dependence of free-ranging elephants on browse forage.
Descriptors: animal nutrition, dietary fiber metabolism, digestion, elephant metabolism, animal feed, zoo animals, biological markers analysis, fatty acids, volatile analysis, feces chemistry, gastrointestinal transit physiology, lignin
metabolism,
animal models.
Clauss, M., Y. Wang, K. Ghebremeskel, C.E. Lendl, and W.J. Streich (2003). Plasma and erythrocyte fatty acids in captive Asian (Elephas maximus) and African (Loxodonta africana) elephants. Veterinary Record 153(2): 54-8.
NAL Call Number: 41.8 V641
Abstract: The fatty acid components of the plasma triglycerides and the phospholipid fractions of the red blood cells of a captive group of two African (Loxodonta africana) and four Asian (Elephas maximus) elephants were
investigated.
All the animals received the same diet of hay, fruits and vegetables, and concentrates. A comparison with data from free-ranging African elephants or Asian work-camp elephants showed that the captive elephants had lower proportions of polyunsaturated
fatty
acids (PUFAs), and for several lipid fractions a higher n-6:n-3 ratio, than their counterparts in the wild or under the more natural, in terms of diet, work-camp conditions. The difference in PUFA content was smaller in the African than in the Asian
elephants.
The captive Asian elephants tended to have lower levels of n-3 and total unsaturated fatty acids in their red blood cells than the captive African elephants.
Descriptors: metabolism, erythrocytes metabolism, unsaturated metabolism fatty acids, phospholipids metabolism, triglycerides metabolism, zoo animals, blood chemical analysis, diet, blood, unsaturated blood fatty acids, triglycerides blood,
workload.
Groendahl Nielsen, C. (2004). Drunken Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) from ryegrass hay. Proceedings: American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, American Association of Wildlife Veterinarians, Wildlife Disease Association: Health and
Conservation
of Captive and Free-Ranging Wildlife. Joint Conference, San Diego, California, American Association of Zoo Veterinarians: p. 372-373. 660 p.
Descriptors: Asian elephant, Elephas maximus, diet, ryegrass hay, diseases, disorders, ethanol intoxication, ataxia associated with rygrass hay, captivity, drunken elephants.
Steinheim, G., P. Wegge, J.I. Fjellstad, S.R. Jnawali, and R.B. Weladji (2005). Dry season diets and habitat use of sympatric Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) and greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinocerus [Rhinoceros] unicornis
) in Nepal. Journal of Zoology (London) 265(4): 377-385. ISSN: 0952-8369.
NAL Call Number: 410.9 L84P
Descriptors: Rhinoceros unicornis, Elephas maximus, food plants, dry season diets, habitat utilization, dry season habitat, semi aquatic habitat, forest, woodland, grassland, Nepal, grass, browse, bark.