Black rhinoceros gestation period9/5/2023 Poaching for horn constitutes a major threat to the conservation of eastern black rhinos ( Diceros bicornis michaeli) in the wild. A high priority is to continue using noninvasive hormone monitoring to evaluate how ecological or other variables influence reproductive success in this and other eastern black rhino subpopulations in Kenya. Overall, results suggest that irregular ovarian activity and isolated bouts of anestrus do not have negative impacts on reproductive performance in this subpopulation at Ol Jogi. Surprisingly, a majority of cycles in optimal reproducing individuals were categorized as irregular based on fPM profiles. Single anestrous periods averaging 67 ± 13 days were observed in five females. A total of 12 complete cycles were observed in seven females with an average length of 36 ± 3 days and equal numbers of regular and irregular cycles. Ten rhinos were pregnant during at least part of the study period. > 10 days) between optimal (inter-calving interval 3 years) reproducing individuals. In this study, we analysed longitudinal fecal progestagen metabolite (fPM) concentrations in all breeding female eastern black rhinos at Ol Jogi (n = 17) and compared the prevalence of irregular estrous cycles (longer or shorter than 20–40 days) and anestrous periods (interluteal period more than twice the length of a normal follicular phase, i.e. Hormones drive the reproductive process, so non-invasive assessments of endocrine patterns can be useful indicators of individual reproductive health. At Ol Jogi Wildlife Conservancy, some individuals are experiencing sub-optimal reproduction based on historical calving records and long inter-calving intervals (>3 years). Still, some populations have failed to achieve desired population growth targets. In Kenya, once threatened with extinction due to massive poaching pressures, increased protection has resulted in losses being less than 1% annually today. Eastern black rhinos ( Diceros bicornis michaeli) are a critically endangered species living in diverse habitats across Africa.
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