Immediate response to repeated capture and handling of wild impala

Abstract

The composition of blood from veld and boma (enclosure)-kept impala, obtained immediately after the animals were manually restrained, was compared to control values. Statistically significant differences existed between the values for hematocrit, lactate, glucose, and osmolarity of veld and boma-kept animals compared to control data. Cortisol values were significantly greater (P less than .05) in boma-kept animals (93 +/- 21 nmol/liter) but not in veld impala (11 +/- 3 nmol/liter). It is suggested that the high cortisol and other values measured in boma-kept impala were due to an anticipatory conditioned response in these animals which occurred prior to them actually being caught. Repeated capture and handling, over a period of several months, of boma-kept impala resulted in statistically insignificant decreases in the mean values of several variables. Although this is indicative of adaptation it is doubtful whether the animals would ever fully adapt to the procedures involved.