Table 9.
Serum cortisol concentration (ng/mL) for males across all reproductive states and during periods of musth and inter-musth. Individual, birth origin, age range during study, number of samples measured for serum cortisol, and concentration median, range, mean, standard deviation (SD), and coefficient of variation (CV).
| All Reproductive States | Inter-Musth Period | Musth Period | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | Origin of Birth | Age Range (Years) |
N | Median (Range) |
Mean (SD) | CV% | Median (Range) |
Mean (SD) | CV% | Median (Range) |
Mean (SD) | CV% |
| Male1 | Wild | ~34–43 | 380 | 27.70 (5.40–261.60) |
36.68 (26.51) |
72.29 | 23.30 (5.40–261.60) |
30.28 (25.28) |
83.48 | 44.40 (15.20–125.80) |
49.90 (23.77) |
47.63 |
| Male2 | Zoo-born | 32–54 | 1099 | 23.50 (4.40–141.30) |
28.19 (17.21) |
61.06 | 21.55 (4.40–141.30) |
27.10 (17.78) |
65.60 | 26.95 (5.00–96.00) |
30.18 (16.16) |
53.53 |
| Male3 | Wild | ~34–44 | 525 | 24.80 (2.50–109.70) |
29.92 (19.87) |
66.39 | 19.90 (2.50–106.10) |
24.82 (15.91) |
64.12 | 32.50 (6.50–109.70) |
38.04 (22.24) |
58.48 |
| Male4 a | Zoo-born | 12–32 | 934 | 22.30 (2.50–176.30) |
27.23 (20.08) |
73.75 | 18.50 (2.50–176.30) |
24.72 (20.66) |
83.59 | 33.80 (4.80–128.30) |
34.78 (18.64) |
53.59 |
| All Elephants |
~12–54 | 2938 | 24.00 (2.50–261.60) |
29.29 (20.22) |
69.03 | 24.00 (2.50–261.60) |
26.54 (19.74) |
74.40 | 30.75 (4.80–128.30) |
35.65 (20.26) |
56.85 | |
| Wild-born | ~34–44 | 905 | 26.20 (2.50–261.60) |
32.76 (23.12) |
70.58 | 21.85 (2.50–261.60) |
27.39 (21.01) |
76.71 | 37.15 (6.50–125.80) |
43.08 (23.67) |
59.54 | |
| Zoo-born | 12–54 | 2033 | 23.10 (2.50–176.30) |
27.75 (18.59) |
66.98 | 20.90 (2.50–176.30) |
26.10 (19.06) |
73.04 | 28.90 (4.80–128.30) |
32.14 (17.39) |
54.11 | |
a Age range limited for comparisons to Male1 and Male3 at similar chronological ages.