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Causes and Correlates of Calf Mortality in Captive Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus)

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  • Khyne U Mar
  • Mirkka Lahdenperä
  • Virpi Lummaa

Abstract

Juvenile mortality is a key factor influencing population growth rate in density-independent, predation-free, well-managed captive populations. Currently at least a quarter of all Asian elephants live in captivity, but both the wild and captive populations are unsustainable with the present fertility and calf mortality rates. Despite the need for detailed data on calf mortality to manage effectively populations and to minimize the need for capture from the wild, very little is known of the causes and correlates of calf mortality in Asian elephants. Here we use the world's largest multigenerational demographic dataset on a semi-captive population of Asian elephants compiled from timber camps in Myanmar to investigate the survival of calves (n = 1020) to age five born to captive-born mothers (n = 391) between 1960 and 1999. Mortality risk varied significantly across different ages and was higher for males at any age. Maternal reproductive history was associated with large differences in both stillbirth and liveborn mortality risk: first-time mothers had a higher risk of calf loss as did mothers producing another calf soon (

Suggested Citation

  • Khyne U Mar & Mirkka Lahdenperä & Virpi Lummaa, 2012. "Causes and Correlates of Calf Mortality in Captive Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus)," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(3), pages 1-9, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0032335
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0032335
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