Stress evaluation by estimation of fecal cortisol metabolites of free ranging Barasingha (Rucervus duvaucelii branderi)

Abstract

Barasingha also known as Swamp deer are found in the the central India as well as the around the foothills of Himalayan region. Hard ground swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii branderi) is the state animal of Madhya Pradesh, the site of this study. They are enlisted in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife (Protection) act, 1972, amended in 2022. Poaching and anthropogenic invasion of their natural habitats endanger their survival and extensive conservation efforts are needed to save them. In the present study, estimation of faecal cortisol metabolites (FCM) was performed to compare stress levels of free-ranging Barasingha of Kanha Tiger Reserve (KTR) and Satpura Tiger Reserves (STR). The body condition of Barasingha was also evaluated in both the tiger reserves. Accordingly, faecal samples were processed in following ways i.e. (i) for coprodiagnostic analysis to screen gastrointestinal parasitic egg load and (ii) assessment of faecal cortisol metabolites using ELISA diagnostic kit (DetecX, Arbor assay, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA). The mean FCM level 263.335±43.050 pg/ml and 290.054±40.147 pg/ml were recorded in KTR and STR respectively with non-significant difference indicating acclimatization to new habitat. Significant positive correlation was observed between FCM concentration and parasitic load (OPG) for Eimeria spp. in Barasingha of both the parks (p