EVALUATION OF PROGESTERONE LEVELS IN FECES OF CAPTIVE RETICULATED GIRAFFE (GIRAFFA CAMELOPARDALIS RETICULATA)

Abstract

Fresh fecal samples were collected from seven adult female reticulated giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata). Samples were collected for several weeks before, during, and for a few weeks after gestation. Fecal samples were analyzed for progesterone levels by radioimmunoassay. There were significant differences in progesterone levels between pregestational and gestational samples and between gestational and postgestational samples. These results demonstrate that fecal progesterone levels are useful in determining pregnant versus nonpregnant reticulated giraffe.