Panthera Tigris Altaica Research Articles

Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) energetic requirements: Implications for conserving wild tigers

The Global Tiger Recovery Program has identified increasing prey populations as a crucial component of recovering wild tiger numbers because prey density is a key determinant of tiger density, especially for Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) living at the northern limit of tiger distribution, where both tiger and prey densities are the lowest range wide. To understand potential prey requirements for Amur tigers, we developed a predictive energetics model based on allometric scaling and literature values for the costs of reproduction to estimate energetic requirements. We parameterized the energetics model with empirical activity budgets and movement rates estimated from 5GPS radiocollared tigers between 2009 and 2013. To avoid starvation, adult male tigers must consume a minimum of 5.2kg/day, non-reproducing adult females 3.9kg/day, and an adult female raising 4 cubs to independence needs 200% more energy, or an average of 11.4kg/day over the 651day reproduction period. Given knowledge of Amur tiger diet composition and prey biomass in the Russian Far East, male tigers would consume 24.8prey per year, non-reproducing females 18.2prey per year, and a female raising 4 cubs 53.8prey per year. However, our energetics model underestimated empirical consumption rates, emphasizing that while the relative costs of reproduction are valid, wild tigers are likely consuming more prey than predicted by basal metabolic demands alone. Quantifying the energetic requirements of tigers allows resource managers to estimate nutritional carrying capacity, estimate the impact of tigers on prey, and develop science-based conservation recommendations.

Screening and analyzing genes associated with Amur tiger placental development

The Amur tiger is a unique endangered species in the world, and thus, protection of its genetic resources is extremely important. In this study, an Amur tiger placenta cDNA library was constructed using the SMART cDNA Library Construction kit. A total of 508 colonies were sequenced, in which 205 (76%) genes were annotated and mapped to 74 KEGG pathways, including 29 metabolism, 29 genetic information processing, 4 environmental information processing, 7 cell motility, and 5 organismal system pathways. Additionally, PLAC8, PEG10 and IGF-II were identified after screening genes from the expressed sequence tags, and they were associated with placental development. These findings could lay the foundation for future functional genomic studies of the Amur tiger.

On the assessment of big cats and their prey populations based on camera trap data

The development of camera traps has improved our ability to study Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica), Amur leopards (Panthera pardus orientalis) and their prey populations. This research introduces camera trap monitoring methods of Amur tigers, Amur leopards and their prey populations in Chunhua and Madida areas of the Hunchun Nature Reserve, Changbai Mountains, China. A selection of monitoring positions, methods of erecting, parameter settings, and data filtering techniques are presented. Additionally, unique identifiers of Amur tigers and Amur leopards based on body patterns, calculations of relative abundance indexes (RAI), and the establishment of RAI models between the predators and prey are presented. We discuss the applicability of unique identifiers with ipsilateral patterns, the differences between camera trap monitoring and traditional survey methods, and the error of camera trap monitoring. We conclude that predicting densities of Amur tigers and Amur leopards with camera traps and automatic-individual-identifiers still needs improvement. Camera trap densities of one pair per 25 km can meet the needs for Amur tigers and leopards within Chunhua and Madida of the Hunchun Nature Reserve, but a separate monitoring project is 726 生 物 多 样 性 Biodiversity Science 第 22 卷 needed for ungulates prey.

Distribution and abundance of Amur tiger, Amur leopard and their un-gulate prey in Hunchun National Nature Reserve, Jilin

The Hunchun National Nature Reserve (HNNR) serves as core habitat for both Amur tiger (Pan- thera tigris altaica) and Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) in Northeast China. To investigate the relative abundance of wildlife and human disturbance within the reserve, we analyzed images from a moni- toring network of 83 camera traps deployed between April and June of 2013 in HNNR. Among the 6,060 to- tal trap nights, 18 species of mammals were detected from the images, including four Mustelids, three Felids, two species each from Canidae, Cervidae and Sciuridae, and one species each from Suidae, Ursidae, Mos- chidae, Erinaceidae and Leporidae, respectively. Cameras photographed 11 tigers and 13 leopards. Relative abundance index (RAI) of tigers (0.84) was higher than that of leopards (0.48). RAIs of ungulates, from high to low, were sika deer (Cervus nippon) (2.18), Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) (1.53) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) (0.92). RAI of human activities (40.64) and livestock grazing (2.76) were both significantly higher than animal species. The data also indicated that tigers and sika deer were mainly restricted to the core zone of HNNR and that their abundance was lower in the community-based natural resource management

CHARACTERIZATION OF INTEGRON-MEDIATED ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AMONGESCHERICHIA COLISTRAINS ISOLATED FROM A CAPTIVE POPULATION OF AMUR TIGERS IN CHINA

The present study was undertaken to identify and characterize integrons and integrated resistance gene cassettes among multidrug resistant Escherichia coli isolates from a captive population of Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) in China. In addition, the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance and class I integrons was assessed in E. coli strains (n = 61) isolated from a captive population of Amur tigers in Heilongjiang Amur Tiger Park, China. Among the isolates, 52.46% (32 of 61) were positive for intI1, but no isolates carried intI2 or intI3. Most isolates were susceptible to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, aztreonam, and polymyxin B, while they also exhibited high incidence rates of resistance to ampicillin, doxycycline, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, and dihydrofolate reductase. Sequencing analysis revealed three gene cassettes, which encoded resistance to dihydrofolate reductase (dfrA15), dihydrofolate reductase (dfrA12), and adenyltransferase (aadA2). The gene cassette arrays dfrA15 (31%) and dfrA12-aadA2 (19%) were most prevalent among these isolates.

3 APPLICATION OF LAPAROSCOPIC OVIDUCTAL ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION FOR CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT OF BRAZILIAN OCELOTS AND AMUR TIGERS

The Brazilian ocelot (Leopardus pardalis mitis) and Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) are 2 iconic cat species that are becoming increasingly imperiled in the wild. Although both felids are managed in North American zoos by species survival plans (SSP), their long-term sustainability has proven difficult through captive breeding alone, necessitating the development and application of assisted reproductive techniques. Our recent progress using laparoscopic oviducal artificial insemination (LO-AI) in domestic cats (Conforti et al. 2013 Biol. Reprod. 89, 1–9) suggested that this approach could help improve reproductive management of nondomestic felids. In this study, our objectives were to (1) assess ovarian and endocrine responses to 2 exogenous gonadotropin regimens in ocelots and Amur tigers, and (2) investigate fertility and offspring production following LO-AI with freshly collected and/or frozen–thawed semen in both felid species. Female ocelots (n = 13) and Amur tigers (n = 10), housed at 16 North American zoos and recommended for breeding by the Ocelot and Tiger SSP, were treated with 2 different eCG/porcine LH (pLH) regimens (400 or 600 IU of eCG, 3000 IU of pLH, ocelots; 750 or 1000 IU of eCG, 10 000 IU of pLH, tigers). Ovarian responses were evaluated laparoscopically at 39 to 45 h post-pLH, and ovulatory females were inseminated using low numbers of freshly collected or frozen–thawed spermatozoa (≤5 million motile sperm/oviduct). Serially collected fecal samples from each female were lyophilized, extracted, and assessed via enzyme immunoassay for oestrogen and progesterone metabolite profiles. Most ocelots (11/13, 85%) and tigers (7/10, 70%) ovulated following gonadotropin treatment, with no difference (P > 0.05) between eCG dosages in mean (± s.e.m.) follicle or corpus luteum (CL) number in ocelots (11.5 ± 4.2 follicles, 2.8 ± 1.0 CL, 400 IU of eCG; 9.9 ± 5.2 follicles, 3.1 ± 1.3 CL, 600 IU of eCG) or tigers (9.0 ± 4.6 follicles, 4.0 ± 2.8 CL, 750 IU of eCG; 12.7 ± 4.4 follicles, 6.0 ± 1.7 CL, 1000 IU of eCG). Similarly, peak fecal hormone concentrations did not differ (P > 0.05) between regimens, except for slightly greater (P ≤ 0.05) progesterone levels for 10 days post-treatment with the higher eCG dose in tigers. Independent t-tests were used for all statistical calculations. One Brazilian ocelot and 1 Amur tiger conceived following LO-AI with freshly collected semen (10 × 106 motile sperm, ocelot; 0.15 × 106 motile sperm, tiger), with each producing 1 viable offspring after an 83-day and 103-day gestation, respectively. These births represent the second ocelot and first tiger produced by LO-AI. Our findings indicate that high and low eCG dosages may be equivalent and that viable offspring can be produced following LO-AI with relatively low sperm numbers in both species. Further refinement of ovarian synchronization and semen cryopreservation methods may be necessary for LO-AI to be applied routinely for ocelot and tiger conservation efforts. Funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Riverbanks Zoo & Garden and Minnesota Zoo; with thanks to Ocelot & Tiger SSP, and participating zoos).

T-lymphocyte-rich Thymoma and Myasthenia Gravis in a Siberian Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica)

SummaryA 10-year-old captive male Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) presented with acute onset collapse, vomiting and dyspnoea, preceded by a 6-month period of progressive muscle wasting. Following humane destruction, post-mortem examination revealed a large multilobulated mass in the cranial mediastinum, which was diagnosed as a T-lymphocyte-rich thymoma with the aid of immunohistochemistry. Retrospective serology for acetylcholine receptor antibodies (titre 3.90 nmol/l) confirmed a diagnosis of thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis. Thymomas are reported rarely in wild carnivores, but when detected they appear to be similar in morphology to those seen in domestic carnivores and may also be accompanied by paraneoplastic syndromes. The clinical signs of myasthenia gravis in the tiger were consistent with those reported in cats and dogs and the condition is proposed as an important differential diagnosis for generalized weakness in captive Felidae.

Does prey density limit Amur tiger Panthera tigris altaica recovery in northeastern China?

A residual population of Amur tigers Panthera tigris altaica probably survives in the eastern Wanda Mountains (EWM) in China, where the main prey species are red deer Cervus elaphus, eastern roe deer Capreolus pygargus and wild boar Sus scrofa ussuricus. We used 53 snow sample plots each containing about 29 km of transects to detect ungulate presence and determined their total density in EWM in 2002 to be 87.9 ± 8.9 kg km−2. We then applied these data to three published models that predict the relationship between tiger density and prey biomass density to obtain three estimates of tiger carrying capacity in EWM. Existing estimates of tiger density suggest that tigers were below carrying capacity estimates. Relationships between prey density and tiger density from 15 studies indicate a threshold prey biomass of 195 kg km−2 (CI: 33‐433), below which a tiger population cannot be sustained. We therefore concluded that the EWM population of tigers is in peril. We compared densities between the years 2002 and 2008 using comparable data and found that the EWM populations of the three ungulate prey species all experienced decreases of 40‐45%, apparently due to intense poaching. This rapid decline in prey density and pervasive threats to tigers and their prey in the EWM demands immediate and effective protection of ungulate and tiger populations from poaching if tigers are to persist and recover.

The Animal Book: A Collection of the Fastest, Fiercest, Toughest, Cleverest, Shyest—and Most Surprising—Animals on Earth by Steve Jenkins (review)

Reviewed by: The Animal Book: A Collection of the Fastest, Fiercest, Toughest, Cleverest, Shyest—and Most Surprising—Animals on Earth by Steve Jenkins Elizabeth Bush Jenkins, Steve. The Animal Book: A Collection of the Fastest, Fiercest, Toughest, Cleverest, Shyest—and Most Surprising—Animals on Earth; written and illus. by Steve Jenkins. Houghton, 2013. [208p] ISBN 978-0-547-55799-1 $24.99 Reviewed from galleys R Gr. 3-6 In this ambitious work Jenkins moves beyond nature picture books to a more comprehensive look at animal life in general, in a size and format to entice browsers, report writers, and voracious readers alike. Material is organized in seven chapters, covering animal taxonomy, family life, senses, predators, defenses, “extreme” traits, and evolution. Subheadings guide researchers quickly to their topic of choice, but the chunks of text are short enough to encourage kids to complete entire sections. Arrays of cut-paper collage animals with short annotations fill most spreads, but each chapter also boasts a double-page spread with a visual surprise (e.g., a swarm of termites, an oversized close-up of an exploding Malaysian ant, a startling lifesized view of a Siberian tiger’s face), as well as at least one chart or diagram that allows readers to compare relevant information for the topic. An excellent glossary is included, along with a lengthy section of “More Animal Facts,” alphabetically organized into a sort of mini encyclopedia. The most clever bonus item, though, is a collaged section on how Jenkins makes his books, from concept, through research, writing, revision, and illustration, to completion. This will be an ideal holiday gift for kids who love animals or who love Steve Jenkins books—and that amounts to a lot of kids. Copyright © 2013 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

Spatial correlates of livestock depredation by Amur tigers in Hunchun, China: Relevance of prey density and implications for protected area management

Livestock depredation by highly endangered Amur tigers is a major source of human-tiger conflict in Northeast China. We model livestock depredation risk to understand factors shaping the spatial distribution of depredation conflicts using Hunchun, China as a case study. Ungulate occupancy survey data, presence of ungulate snares and other landscape covariates (such as elevation, slope and tree cover) were first used to model ungulate prey densities using generalised least squares. Predicted densities were then incorporated together with landscape covariates as predictors for actual livestock depredation incidents in a zero-inflated negative binomial model for depredation risk. Lower overall prey densities were associated with proximity to snares, and other anthropogenic-related covariates like distances to villages and roads were also important predictors of prey densities. Depredation conflicts were associated with closer proximity to snares and rivers, greater distances from roads, greater tree cover, and deciduous forest habitats. High-risk areas were found to be concentrated in community-management zones in Hunchun National Nature Reserve (HNR). The results suggest that compensation payments for depredations within HNR provide an unwanted incentive for local people to continue to use the protected area (especially in community co-managed zones) as grazing lands, leading to increased conflict. Eliminating cattle and snaring from HNR and other tiger recovery zones within Northeast China may be essential to reduce conflicts and minimise detrimental impacts on tiger populations.

Winter Ecology of the Amur Tiger Based Upon Observations in West‐Central Skihote‐Alin Mountains 1970–1973, 1996–2010, 2nd Revised Edition. A. G.Yudakov and I. G.Nikolaev. Managing Editor E. NMatyushkin.Translated from Russian byM.Jones and J. C.Slaght. English Editors D. G.Miquelle and J. C.Slaght.2012. Dalnauka, Vladivostok, Russia. 199 pp. $10.99 paperback. ISBN 978‐5‐8044‐1333‐1.

Winter Ecology of the Amur Tiger Based Upon Observations in West‐Central Skihote‐Alin Mountains 1970–1973, 1996–2010, 2nd Revised Edition. A. G.Yudakov and I. G.Nikolaev. Managing Editor E. NMatyushkin.Translated from Russian byM.Jones and J. C.Slaght. English Editors D. G.Miquelle and J. C.Slaght.2012. Dalnauka, Vladivostok, Russia. 199 pp. $10.99 paperback. ISBN 978‐5‐8044‐1333‐1.

Spatially explicit capture-recapture method (SECR, SPACECAP): A new approach to determination of the Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) population density by means of camera-traps

Spatially explicit capture-recapture method (SECR, SPACECAP): A new approach to determination of the Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) population density by means of camera-traps

Canine distemper virus (CDV) in another big cat: should CDV be renamed carnivore distemper virus?

ABSTRACTOne of the greatest threats to the conservation of wild cat populations may be dogs or, at least, one of their viruses. Canine distemper virus (CDV), a single-stranded RNA virus in the Paramyxoviridae family and genus Morbillivirus, infects and causes disease in a variety of species, not just canids. An outbreak of CDV in wild lions in the Serengeti, Tanzania, in 1994 was a wake-up call for conservationists, as it demonstrated that an infectious disease could swiftly impact a previously healthy felid population. To understand how this virus causes disease in noncanid hosts, researchers have focused on specific mutations in the binding site of the CDV hemagglutinin gene. Now, Seimon et al. provide information on CDV in its latest feline victim, the endangered wild Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) [T. A. Seimon et al., mBio 4(4):e00410-13, 2013, doi:10.1128/mBio.00410-13]. Their findings of CDV strains infecting tigers, in combination with recent information from other felids, paints a different picture, one in which CDV strains from a variety of geographic lineages and with a variety of amino acid residues in the hemagglutinin gene binding site can infect cats and cause disease. Although CDV has been known as a multihost disease since its discovery in domestic dogs in 1905, perhaps it is time to reconsider whether these noncanid species are not just incidental or “spillover” hosts but, rather, a normal part of the complex ecology of this infectious disease.

The tiger genome and comparative analysis with lion and snow leopard genomes

Tigers and their close relatives (Panthera) are some of the world’s most endangered species. Here we report the de novo assembly of an Amur tiger whole-genome sequence as well as the genomic sequences of a white Bengal tiger, African lion, white African lion and snow leopard. Through comparative genetic analyses of these genomes, we find genetic signatures that may reflect molecular adaptations consistent with the big cats’ hypercarnivorous diet and muscle strength. We report a snow leopard-specific genetic determinant in EGLN1 (Met39>Lys39), which is likely to be associated with adaptation to high altitude. We also detect a TYR260G>A mutation likely responsible for the white lion coat colour. Tiger and cat genomes show similar repeat composition and an appreciably conserved synteny. Genomic data from the five big cats provide an invaluable resource for resolving easily identifiable phenotypes evident in very close, but distinct, species.

Canine Distemper Virus: an Emerging Disease in Wild Endangered Amur Tigers ( Panthera tigris altaica )

ABSTRACTFewer than 500 Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) remain in the wild. Due to low numbers and their solitary and reclusive nature, tiger sightings across their range in the Russian Far East and China are rare; sightings of sick tigers are rarer still. Serious neurologic disease observed in several wild tigers since 2001 suggested disease emergence in this endangered species. To investigate this possibility, histology, immunohistochemistry (IHC), in situ hybridization (ISH), and reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) were performed on tissues from 5 affected tigers that died or were destroyed in 2001, 2004, or 2010. Our results reveal canine distemper virus (CDV) infection as the cause of neurologic disease in two tigers and definitively establish infection in a third. Nonsuppurative encephalitis with demyelination, eosinophilic nuclear viral inclusions, and positive immunolabeling for CDV by IHC and ISH were present in the two tigers with available brain tissue. CDV phosphoprotein (P) and hemagglutinin (H) gene products were obtained from brains of these two tigers by RT-PCR, and a short fragment of CDV P gene sequence was detected in lymph node tissue of a third tiger. Phylogenetically, Amur tiger CDV groups with an Arctic-like strain in Baikal seals (Phoca siberica). Our results, which include mapping the location of positive tigers and recognition of a cluster of cases in 2010, coupled with a lack of reported CDV antibodies in Amur tigers prior to 2000 suggest wide geographic distribution of CDV across the tiger range and recent emergence of CDV as a significant infectious disease threat to endangered Amur tigers in the Russian Far East.

Estimating Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) kill rates and potential consumption rates using global positioning system collars

The International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified all subspecies of tigers (Panthera tigris) as endangered and prey depletion is recognized as a primary driver of declines. Prey depletion may be particularly important for Amur tigers (P. t. altaica) in the Russian Far East, living at the northern limits of their range and with the lowest prey densities of any tiger population. Unfortunately, rigorous investigations of annual prey requirements for any tiger population are lacking. We deployed global positioning system (GPS) collars on Amur tigers during 2009–2012 to study annual kill rates in the Russian Far East. We investigated 380 GPS location clusters and detected 111 kill sites. We then used logistic regression to model both the probability of a kill site at location clusters and the size of prey species at kill sites according to several spatial and temporal cluster covariates. Our top model for predicting kill sites included the duration of the cluster in hours and cluster fidelity components as covariates (overall classification success 86.3%; receiver operating characteristic score of 0.894). Application of the model to all tiger GPS data revealed that Amur tigers in this study made a kill once every 6.5 days (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 5.9–7.2 days) and consumed an estimated average of 8.9 kg of prey biomass per day (95% CI 8.8–9.0 kg/day). The success of efforts to reverse tiger declines will be at least partially determined by wildlife managers' ability to conserve large ungulates at adequate densities for recovering tiger populations.

Secobarbital poisoning in an Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica)

THE Amur or Siberian tiger ( Panthera tigris altaica ) is one of six subspecies of tiger and is classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN 2008). Captive Amur tigers in European collections are bred in a coordinated manner under the auspices of a European Association of Zoos and Aquaria endangered species breeding programme to increase population numbers, maintain genetic diversity and reduce the risk of extinction. Modern zoo practice generally precludes the feeding of unsuitable or poor-quality food items to captive animals, but cases of barbiturate poisoning in carnivores have occurred on occasion when meat has been contaminated with veterinary barbiturates at the point of slaughter. A product containing a combination of 400 mg/kg cinchocaine hydrochloride and 25 mg/ml of the barbiturate secobarbital sodium (Somulose; Arnolds) is commonly used by veterinary surgeons for the euthanasia of large animals. Secobarbital was formerly known as quinalbarbitone in the UK. This short communication describes a case of secobarbital poisoning in a captive Amur tiger following the ingestion of potentially contaminated horse meat. The report highlights the importance of ensuring that chemically euthanased animals are not used for feed and reminds the wider veterinary profession of the potential risk of secondary barbiturate poisoning in wild, captive and domestic carnivores. A group of three adult female Amur tigers was kept in a large, wooded day enclosure, with separate indoor night quarters, in a safari park in the south of England. All three were fed horse meat on December 26, 2007, at 09.00. At 08.00 the following morning, one nine-year-old tiger was observed to be mildly ataxic and hyporesponsive to auditory and other stimuli. The other two tigers appeared unaffected and all three had been behaving normally during the preceding days. At 16.00 on December 27, the affected animal had become …

Characterization of Degenerative Changes in the Temporomandibular Joint of the Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) and Siberian Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica)

The articulation of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is composed of the temporal bone dorsally, the mandibular condyle ventrally and a fibrous articular disc. The TMJ disc plays an essential role in distributing load between the two articular surfaces. Degeneration of the disc in the presence of joint pathology has been shown in man; however, TMJ pathology has not been documented previously in tigers (Panthera tigris). The mandibular condyle and TMJ disc of a Bengal tiger (P. tigris tigris) and a Siberian tiger (P. tigris altaica) were evaluated grossly and the TMJ disc was characterized biochemically and mechanically. Characterization of the TMJ disc verified region- and direction-dependent biochemical and mechanical properties, reflective of the functional demands on the joint. Degenerative joint disease was observed in both cases and this was more severe in the Siberian tiger. Simultaneous evaluation of joint pathology, biochemical composition and mechanical properties of the TMJ disc revealed a loss in functional properties (tensile anisotropy) of the disc as joint pathology advanced from moderate to severe. TMJ degeneration may compromise the ability of the animal to eat and thrive and may be a factor contributing to the endangered status of these species.

Simultaneous polyandry and heteropaternity in tiger (Panthera tigris altaica): Implications for conservation of genetic diversity in captive populations of felids

Male tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) in captivity copulate alternatively with an estrous female, suggesting a potential for heteropaternity as an effective reproductive strategy to maximize genetic diversity of offspring. We analyzed microsatellites to test and compare the genetic output of multiple male mating (simultaneous polyandry) and single male mating (monogamy) with a female in a captive population. Simultaneous polyandry resulted in heteropaternity in 66.7% observed litters. No significant differences between parental populations and between offspring populations were detected in the number of alleles (A), expected heterozygosity (H e), number of effective alleles (N e) per locus and standard individual heterozygosity (SH) (P>0.05 for all 4 indexes). Comparisons showed no significant reduction of A, H o, H e and SH from parental population to offspring population for the two mating modes (P>0.05) except for SH in polyandrous families (P=0.029). However, such reduction was equivalent to single mating families when the influence of relatedness was eliminated using effective SH (E SH ) (P>0.05). These results highlight an alternative strategy for managing captive populations of tiger and other wild felids in which animals are combined at one location allowing for copulation by multiple males to encourage heteropaternity in favor of maintained genetic diversity among offspring.

Influence of dietary fiber type and amount on energy and nutrient digestibility, fecal characteristics, and fecal fermentative end-product concentrations in captive exotic felids fed a raw beef-based diet

Little nutritional or metabolic information has been collected from captive exotic cats fed raw diets. In particular, fiber types and concentrations for use in raw meat-based diets for captive exotic felids have not been well studied. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of fiber type and concentration on apparent total tract energy and macronutrient digestibility, fecal characteristics, and fecal fermentative end-products in captive exotic felids. Four animals of each captive exotic species (jaguar (Panthera onca), cheetah (Acinonyz jubatus), Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti), and Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) were randomized in four 4 × 4 Latin square designs (1 Latin square per species) to 1 of the 4 raw beef-based dietary treatments (94.7 to 96.7% beef trimmings): 2 or 4% cellulose or 2 or 4% beet pulp. Felid species, fiber type, and fiber concentration all impacted digestibility and fecal fermentative end-products. Inclusion of beet pulp increased (P ≤ 0.05) fecal short-chain fatty acids and fecal output in all cats. Inclusion of 2 and 4% cellulose, and 4% beet pulp increased (P ≤ 0.05) fecal bulk and diluted fecal branched-chain fatty acid concentrations compared with 2% beet pulp. Apparent total tract DM, OM, fat, and GE digestibility coefficients decreased (P ≤ 0.05) linearly with BW of cats. Additionally, fecal moisture, fecal score, and concentrations of fermentative end-products increased (P ≤ 0.05) with BW. Although the response of many outcomes was dependent on cat size, in general, beet pulp increased wet fecal weight, fecal scores, and fecal metabolites, and reduced fecal pH. Cellulose generally reduced DM and OM digestibility, but increased dry fecal weight and fecal percent DM. Although beet pulp and cellulose fibers were tested individually in this study, these data indicate that the optimum fiber type and concentration for inclusion in captive exotic felid diets is likely a combination of fermentable and nonfermentable fibers, with the optimal fiber blend being dependent on species. Smaller cats, such as cheetahs and jaguars, tolerated fermentable fibers, whereas larger cats, such as Malayan and Siberian tigers, appeared to require more insoluble fibers that limit fermentation and provide fecal bulk. Further research is required to test whether these trends hold true when fed in combination.