Conditioning of a Red-flanked Duiker (Cephalophus rufilatus) to Determine and Monitor Pregnancy

K. Wanders, Keeper III*, J. Blessington, Zoo Keeper

Kansas City Zoo

Missouri , USA

kwanders@kc.rr.com

There are ~20 species of duikers. The Red-flanked duiker is a medium sized duiker that is found naturally in western and central Africa . From the 2006-2007 Association of Zoo’s and Aquariums (AZA) Population Management Plan (PMP), there were 27.22 individuals at 17 institutions.

In 2007, the Kansas City Zoo housed 1.1 Red-flank duikers. Lil, the female duiker, was born at the Kansas City Zoo on September 30, 2004 . Alfalfa, the male duiker, was born at the San Diego Zoo and was brought to Kansas City on November 17, 2006 as a breeding recommendation from the 2006-2007 PMP.

Red-flanked duikers are generally shy and elusive creatures that normally live in pairs. They are monogamous animals with a very short estrus period of only ~1/2 to 1 full day. Gestation is recorded at ~223-245 days. Given that the estrus period is so short, the staff working with the duikers had never seen actual copulation by the pair. It was decided that a conditioning program would be established to help determine and monitor a possible pregnancy. The conditioning program started with 1) scale training to track weight changes and 2) ultrasound training to determine actual pregnancy and calf development. Upon completion of the ultrasound training and still not having conclusive findings, it was decided to apply her previous conditioning to radiograph training.

This presentation is a compilation of the steps taken and results found from these conditioning programs.