A comparative perspective on the evolution of mammalian reactions to dead conspecifics
In a variety of mammalian species, mothers and others care for and/or carry deceased newborns, and sometimes other conspecifics. The rationale for such behavior remains elusive. Based upon field observations of olive baboon (Papio anubis), African elephant (Loxodonta africana), and Thornicroft’s giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) responses to recently dead conspecifics, combined with reports in the literature, […]
Congenital nutritional myodegeneration (white muscle disease) in a giraffe (giraffa camelopardalis) calf
It is well known that vitamin E and selenium deficiencies in domestic ruminants can lead to white muscle disease. After a clinically normal gestation period at Ouwehand Zoo in the Netherlands, a newborn giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) calf showed clinical signs of white muscle disease almost immediately after birth. The calf was rejected by the mother […]
Season of birth affects juvenile survival of giraffe
Variation in timing of reproduction and subsequent juvenile survival often plays an important role in population dynamics of temperate and boreal ungulates. Tropical ungulates often give birth year round, but survival effects of birth season for tropical ungulate species are unknown. We used a population of giraffe in the Tarangire Ecosystem of northern Tanzania, East […]
Leopard predation on giraffe calves in the Etosha National Park
Published intonation on the diet of the leopard Panthera pardus reveals that they are opportunistic feeders that prey mainly on small to medium sized animals, but are able to kill herbivores of more than twice their body mass (Smithers 1983; Bothma & LeRiche 1984; Norton et al. i984). Records of leopard kill for the Etosha […]
Giraffe cow reaction to the death of her newborn calf
Observations in their natural habitat of animals’ reactions to recently deceased conspecifics are rare. Documenting a diversity of mammalian responses is essential to augment our understanding of potential evolutionary foundations of both mental states and social bonds. Individuals that previously had strong social ties to dead conspecifics might be expected to display different reactions than […]