Non-invasive Study Of The Behavioral And Physiological Ecology Adaptation In Captive Przewalski’s Horse(Equus Ferus Przewalskii)

This work was carried out at different periods from2011to2012, using all-occurrence sampling, scan sampling, focal sampling methods and fecal non-invasive measurement technique, to investigate three special period of the breeding season, the summer heat period and transportation for reintroduction about different groups of captive Przewalski’s horses, in Xinjiang Wild Horse Breeding Centre (89°14’～89°36’E,45°49’～46°04’N) and a new releasing site located in the middle of the Kalamaili Ungulate Nature Reserve (89°26’305"E,45°29’443"N). Researches were also conducted to explore the research approach on behavioral and physiological ecology adaptation of captive Przewalski’s Horse, it can not only provide us a scientific basis for the management and protection, and also provide instructions for re-introduction of this species. The main results are showed as follows:(1) There were no significant difference in feeding, drinking and standing behavior between male and female captive Przewalski’s Horse during breeding season (p>0.05), while the resting, moving, grooming and other behavior all showed significant differences (p<0.05), which male horses were significantly lower than female horses in the time spent on resting and grooming; moving and other behavior were significantly higher than female horses.(2) Result from the fecal glucocorticoid metabolites concentration of captive wild horses in breeding season shows that there were significant differences between groups(p<0.05), and the order of stress level was the lactating female horses> male horses> female horses; in addition, fecal testosterone of male horses was significant positive correlation with fecal cortisol during breeding period, while there was no correlation among fecal estradiol. progesterone and fecal cortisol of female horses and the lactating female horses; the lactating female horses were significantly lower (p<0.05) than normal female horses on fecal estradiol level during breeding period, meanwhile, fecal progesterone was to maintain a relatively high level, but the difference was not significant (p>0.05).(3) There were some differences in the main type of behaviors on the time budget between different groups during summer heat period, in the time spent on feeding behavior, the lactating female horses were significantly higher (p<0.05) and foals were significantly lower (p<0.05) than the other groups; the lactating female horses were lower than the other groups in the time spent on drinking behavior, which differences with female horses were significant (p<0.05); the lactating female horses were significantly lower (p<0.05) and foals were significantly higher (p<0.05) than the other groups in the time spent on standing behavior; foals were higher than the other groups in the time spent on resting behavior, which differences with male horses and the lactating female horses were were significant (p<0.05); male horses were significantly higher (p<0.05) and the lactating female horses were significantly lower (p<0.05) than the other groups in the time spent on moving behavior; female horses were significantly higher (p<0.05) than the other groups in the time spent on grooming behavior; foals were significantly higher (p<0.05) and female horses were significantly lower (p<0.05) than the other groups in the time spent on other behavior. In addition, behavioral differences were not significant (p>0.05) within each group of wild horses in different degrees of heat stress.(4) Result from degrees of physiological responses of captive wild horses to summer high temperature were significantly different among groups (p<0.05), and the order of stress level was male horses> female horses> the lactating female horses, while the metabolic levels revealed in an order of female horses> male horses> the lactating female horses; moreover, stress and metabolic level differences were not significant (p>0.05) within each group of wild horses in different degrees of heat stress.(5) Compared to pre-transportation main behaviors on the time budget, a family group of captive Przewalski’s horses showed some changes following transportation. Following transportation, horses allotted more time for moving, grazing, and lying recumbent behaviors, and the change in moving behavior was especially significant (p<0.05). The following behaviors showed a decrease in allocated time:standing, stand resting, grooming, drinking, marking (referring to the stallion), and other behaviors; all of the above behaviors (standing, stand resting, grooming, drinking, marking) were significantly decreased (p<0.05), with the exception of other behaviors.(6) The family group of captive Przewalski’s horses expressed a certain physiological response to transportation stress. The average time of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites concentration reached peak value (p<0.05) at24hr post-transportation, and then declined. Seventy-two hours following transportation, all values returned to their respective baseline levels (p>0.05). In light of these results, we advise that the day and the day following transportation could be proposed to be a sensitive period in order to prevent accidental injury. According to the recovering period length of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites level, we found that the value was more likely to domestic animal other than wildlife, which might be caused by nearly one hundred years captive. Therefore, we believe that our results can be used as a monitoring wild process method, which is also an indicator of the ultimately "wild"This study demonstrates that behavioral observation and techniques of non-invasive fecal sampling can be an important way to monitor and assess wild animals on survival and physiological state, not only provide us a scientific basis for the management and protection, and also provide instructions for re-introduction of this species.