Ovarian Activity in Captive Eld's Deer (Cervus eldi thamin)

Abstract

Urinary pregnanediol-3α-glucuronide was used to track ovarian activity in 16 Eld's deer ( Cervus eldi thamin ) from 23 December 1991 to 10 December 1992. All females exhibited a long period of ovarian activity (i.e., short anestrus); mean duration of the reproductive season was 277.9 ± 9.7 days (range, 225–342 days), during which females averaged 13.8 ± 0.5 estrous cycles (range 10–17). Although our study was conducted on captive females in North America, it suggested that Eld's deer were capable of prolonged ovarian activity. We contend that the lack of seasonality in ovarian activity is predictable based on environmental conditions in the native habitat of Eld's deer and their strategy of hiding young. Absence of reproductive seasonality may convey a selective advantage to female Eld's deer.