VMD 512: Zoo/Wild Animal Breeding, Management, Nutrition and Health Care (1+1)

REPRODUCTIVE FEATURES IN MALE ELEPHANTS

• Musth is a physiological condition occurring in male Asiatic elephants. Aggression is one of the signs of musth most of the times. Silent musth is also noticed in certain female elephants.
• Period of persistence of musth may be from several days to several months and musth may occur once in a year.

Signs of musth

• Restlessness
• Aggressive behavior
• Dribbling of urine
• Secretion of black colored oily fluid from cheeks
• Disobedience of the commands given in case of captive male elephants