The Biology and Management of Capricornis and Related Mountain Antelopes

ISBN-13: 9789401180320 / Angielski / Miękka / 2012 / 391 str.

Hiroaki Soma

Opis

The Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus) has been protected by law since 1955 in Japan, because it was becoming rarer and approaching extinction. Thereafter, the serow population has increased gradually. The Japanese serow is thought to be a primitive relict species on the islands of Japan, and the geographical range of the serow has retracted upwards into the moun- tain forests to avoid contact with humans. Little was therefore known about these animals. However, increasing losses of forest habitat due to exploit- ation of the mountain forests or expanding cultivation by local foresters have driven the Japanese serow back into the lowlands of Japan. Since then, complaints of damage to trees and other vegetation have accumulated against the serow. In some prefectures the shooting of Japanese serow was allowed in order to prevent damage to forests. The animals killed were taken for research by the Departments of the Environment and by universities. was set up at the summit of Mt. Gozaisho, The Japan Serow Center Komono-cho, Mie Prefecture, in 1962 and has made a great effort to breed the serow and its related species in captivity. In addition, the International Studbook of Capricorn is crispus in captivity was established in Japan, and the state of breeding of the Japanese serows is now reported annually. However, without detailed scientific research, it is impossible to conduct sensible protection, conservation or management of the serow in captivity or in the wild.

Spis treści

One: Evolution and Breeding History of the Rupicaprini.- 1 On the evolution of the Caprinae.- 2 The saiga (Saiga tatarica) in captivity, with special reference to the Zoological Society of San Diego.- 3 Evolutionary aspects of the biology of chamois, Rupicapra spp. (Bovidae, Caprinae).- 4 Evolutionary pathways of karyotypes of the tribe Rupicaprini.- Two: Ecological Distribution and Behaviour of Capricornis.- 5 Survey of 217 Japanese serows, Capricornis crispus, bred in captivity.- 6 Distribution of Japanese serow in its southern range, Kyushu.- 7 Family break-up in Japanese serow, Capricornis crispus.- 8 Censusing Japanese serow by helicopter in deciduous mountain forests.- 9 Radio tracking of Japanese serow in Akita Prefecture, Japan.- 10 A preliminary study on the ecology of Formosan serow, Capricornis crispus swinhoei.- 11 Social behaviour of Japanese serow, Capricornis crispus crispus.- Three: Keeping and Breeding of Capricornis.- 12 Breeding of Sumatran serow at Dusit Zoo.- 13 Breeding and behaviour of Formosan serow at Taipei Zoo.- 14 Behaviour of the Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus) at the San Diego Wild Animal Park.- Four: Ecology and Breeding of the Rupicaprini.- 15 Keeping and breeding of chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra rupicapra Linné 1758) at the Alpine Zoo, Innsbruck/Tirol.- 16 Experiences of keeping and breeding saiga antelope at Tierpark, Berlin.- 17 Breeding of Mongolian gazelle at Osaka Zoo.- 18 Nemorhaedus cranbrooki Hayman.- 19 Breeding of goral, Formosan serow and chamois.- Five: Anatomy of Capricornis.- 20 Morphological characteristics of Japanese serow, with special reference to the interdigital glands.- 21 Histology and lipid analysis of the infraorbital gland of Japanese serow, and functional considerations.- 22 Brachial and lumbosacral plexuses and brains of the Japanese serow.- 23 What can serow horns tell us?.- Six: Diseases of the Rupicaprini.- 24 Clostridial infections in chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) in captivity.- 25 Pathological studies on Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus).- 26 Serological survey for selected microbial pathogens in Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus) in Gifu Prefecture, Japan.- 27 Haematological and biochemical findings on Japanese serow.- Seven: Endocrinology and Reproduction of Capricornis.- 28 Reproduction of female Japanese serow based on the morphology of ovaries and fetuses.- 29 Seasonal changes in male reproductive functions of Japanese serow.- 30 Steroid hormone synthesis and secretion by adrenals of wild Japanese serow, Capricornis crispus.- Eight: Nutritional Status of Capricornis.- 31 The quantity of food taken by raised Japanese serow.- 32 Nutritional estimation of Japanese serow by faecal analysis.- 33 Heavy metal accumulation in wild Japanese serow.