The Iberian Lynx Conservation Breeding Program follows a multidisciplinary approach, integrated within the National Strategy for the Conservation of the Iberian lynx, which is carried out in cooperation with national, regional and international institutions. The main goals of the ex situ conservation programme are to: (1) maintain a genetically and demographically managed captive population; (2) create new Iberian lynx Lynx pardinus freeranging populations through re-introduction. To achieve the first goal, the Conservation Breeding Program aims to maintain 85% of the genetic diversity presently found in the wild for the next 30 years. This requires developing and maintaining 60-70 Iberian lynx as breeding stock. Growth projections indicate that the ex situ programme should achieve such a population target by the year 2010. Once this goal is reached, re-introduction efforts could begin. Thus, current ex situ efforts focus on producing psychologically and physically sound captive-born individuals. To achieve this goal, we use management and research techniques that rely on multidisciplinary input and knowledge generated on species' life history, behaviour, nutrition, veterinary and health aspects, genetics, reproductive physiology, endocrinology and ecology. Particularly important is adapting our husbandry schemes based on research data to promote natural behaviours in captivity (hunting, territoriality, social interactions) and a stress-free environment that is conducive to natural reproduction.
SUMMARY:It is of paramount importance for surgeons to have a thorough knowledge of the normal anatomy of the extrahepatic bile ducts and its variations due to the high frequency with which they perform in this anatomic site. The cystohepatic triangle, or Calot's Triangle, is bound by the cystic duct, common hepatic duct, and the hepatic border; therefore, its surface area depends on the conformation of these ducts and is closely linked to surgical procedures performed in this region. It has been reported that the length and the position of these ducts may be related to the formation of bile duct stones, Mirizzi's syndrome, and bile duct cancer. Thus, the present work aims to analyze the configuration of the extrahepatic biliary tree and its possible variations, as well as measure the components that make up the cystohepatic triangle. For this task 41 samples from fixated human cadavers were analyzed, with 25 consisting of anatomic parts (liver and biliary tree) and 16 in situ samples. The extrahepatic biliary trees were dissected in order to measure the length of the common hepatic and cystic ducts with a digital caliper, and all anatomic variations were registered. The length of the common hepatic duct varied between 4.18 mm and 50.64 mm, with an average of 21.76 ± 9.51 mm. The length of the cystic duct varied between 7.28 and 38.88 mm, with an average of 19.11 ± 6.77 mm. Anatomic variations were found in 3 samples (7.3%): in one of them the cystic duct connected to the left hepatic duct; in another, the cystic duct connected to the right hepatic duct; in the third, there was a triple confluence of hepatic ducts (two right ducts and one left duct). The results are a contribution to the clinical and surgical anatomy of this region.
Knowledge on the growth and early development patterns of endangered species can become a useful conservation tool because it may allow detecting anomalous growth in newborns, both in captivity breeding and in the wild. We studied the growth and early development of 40 Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) cubs belonging to 21 litters born in captivity between 2005 and 2012 at "El Acebuche" Iberian Lynx Breeding Centre. This is the first study on growth in this critically endangered species. The Iberian lynx cubs were not fully developed at birth. During the first 3 weeks of life, cubs underwent many of the physical changes that allowed them to improve their interaction with the environment, such as the opening of eye and auditory channels, teeth eruptions, and the ability to walk. When the cubs were 1 month old, they were ready to leave the den and develop new behaviors such as the exploration of their environment, play, or hunt. Three different models had been fitted to the body mass growth of the Iberian lynx. The von Bertalanffy curve provided the best fit. The asymptotic adult mass was the only parameter that differed between males and females (males being 8% larger), due to the higher growth rate of males. The adult weight of hand-reared cubs (i.e., those abandoned at born) did not differ from that of cubs reared by their mothers. Both growth and development showed differences from other lynx species.
34The aim of this paper is to describe the ontogeny of the circadian activity rhythms in captive-35 born Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) from birth to subadult age and to verify if they develop a 36 bimodal circadian pattern similar to the one they show in the wild. The amount of daily activity 37 and the circadian rhythmicity of 61 Iberian lynx (48 mother-raised and 13 hand-reared) cubs 38 were studied in two breeding centers. During the first month of life, the cubs were active 30% of 39 the day. Activity increased up to 50% during the following two weeks, and then it remained 40 constant until the end of the lynx physical development. The location of the breeding center 41 affected the amount of daily activity of the cubs probably as result of different climatic 42 conditions. Once the lynx cubs had completed their development, there was no difference in the 43 time spent active between wild and captive lynx. Newborns had a constant level of activity 44 throughout the day (24 hours) during the first month of life. During the second month, once they 45 had developed sufficiently to leave the den, a crepuscular bimodal circadian rhythm started to 46 emerge. This pattern was completely defined by the third month of life. The overlap in circadian 47 activity was over 0.88 when comparing the sexes, breeding centers and rearing methods. 48However, there was a significant difference between mother-raised and hand-reared cubs -the 49 latter being more active in the morning-, as well as between breeding centers -again due to 50 climate differences-. Finally, an overlap of 0.85 in circadian activity pattern was observed 51 between wild and captive lynx, although the wild animals were more active at night. 52 53 54
Understanding the behavior of endangered species is crucial to improve the management tools to breed animals in captivity and, thus, to increase the success of ex situ conservation programs. In this study, we monitored suckling behavior of 26 cubs born between 2008 and 2012 at "El Acebuche" Iberian Lynx Breeding Centre. The cubs devoted 251 ± 19.7 min (mean ± SE) to lactation on the day of birth, while mothers spent 426 ± 27 min (mean ± SE) nursing their offspring. The time cubs spent suckling decreased exponentially as they grown, until they were fully weaned at 65 ± 2.6 days. The onset of weaning (first intake of solid food) occurred at 54 ± 1.35 days (mean ± SE). Thus, the strict lactation period occupied most of the overall lactation period. Both suckling and maternal behavior were affected by litter size. In twins and triplets, the competition between siblings caused a decrease in the time spent suckling, in spite of the mothers spending more time nursing their young. Finally, no significant differences were found in time spent suckling between littermates or depending on the sex of the cub. Lactation appeared to play a key role in the nutrition of the Iberian lynx and should therefore be conveniently managed in captive breeding programs of this threatened species. Zoo Biol. 35:216-221, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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