Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31574099›Full record

ArticlePloS one2019

Management factors affecting adrenal glucocorticoid activity of tourist camp elephants in Thailand and implications for elephant welfare.

Pakkanut Bansiddhi, Janine L Brown, Jaruwan Khonmee, Treepradab Norkaew, Korakot Nganvongpanit, Veerasak Punyapornwithaya, Taweepoke Angkawanish, Chaleamchat Somgird, Chatchote Thitaram

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 26 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
26citing papers in PubMed
4.5field-weighted citation impact, top 6% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

26 citing papers in PubMed, 46 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. Article
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. Article
  17. Article
  18. Article
  19. Article
  20. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Pakkanut BansiddhiCenter of Elephant and Wildlife Research, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Janine L BrownCenter of Elephant and Wildlife Research, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.ORCID 0000-0003-3898-7755
Jaruwan KhonmeeCenter of Elephant and Wildlife Research, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.ORCID 0000-0002-3806-9746
Treepradab NorkaewCenter of Elephant and Wildlife Research, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Korakot NganvongpanitCenter of Elephant and Wildlife Research, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Veerasak PunyapornwithayaDepartment of Food Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Taweepoke AngkawanishNational Elephant Institute, Lampang, Thailand.
Chaleamchat SomgirdCenter of Elephant and Wildlife Research, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Chatchote ThitaramCenter of Elephant and Wildlife Research, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.ORCID 0000-0001-9319-5596
Chiang Mai University · THLampang Hospital · THSmithsonian Conservation Biology Institute · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Elephant camps are among the most popular destinations in Thailand for tourists from many countries. A wide range of management strategies are used by these camps, which can have varied impacts on health and welfare of elephants. The objectives of this study were to examine relationships between FGM (fecal glucocorticoid metabolite) concentrations and camp management factors (work routine, walking, restraint, rest area, foraging), and to other welfare indicators (stereotypic behaviors, body condition, foot health, and skin wounds). Data were obtained on 84 elephants (18 males and 66 females) from 15 elephant camps over a 1-year period. Elephants were examined every 3 months and assigned a body condition score, foot score, and wound score. Fecal samples were collected twice monthly for FGM analysis. Contrary to some beliefs, elephants in the observation only program where mahouts did not carry an ankus for protection had higher FGM concentrations compared to those at camps that offered riding with a saddle and shows. Elephants that were tethered in the forest at night had lower FGM concentrations compared to elephants that were kept in open areas inside the camps. There was an inverse relationship between FGM concentrations and occurrence of stereotypy, which was not anticipated. Thus, assessing adrenal activity via monitoring of FGM concentrations can provide important information on factors affecting the well-being of elephants. Results suggest that more naturalistic housing conditions and providing opportunities to exercise may be good for elephants under human care in Thailand, and that a no riding, no hook policy does not necessarily guarantee good welfare.

Indexed as

Parks, RecreationalAdrenal GlandsAnimalsElephantsFecesFemaleGlucocorticoidsMaleThailandGlucocorticoids

Identifiers

PMID31574099
PMCPMC6771993
OpenAlexW2979221504

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC0
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.