EVALUATION OF CORTISOL LEVELS IN RED DEER (CERVUS ELAPHUS LINNAEUS, 1758) IN DIFFERENT BREEDING CONDITIONS IN BELARUS

Abstract

Red deer is one of the wild ungulates species in Belarus, it is a valuable game species, lives in the wild and is bred in captivity. The article examines the influence of the enclosure size, breeding conditions, species composition, population size and density of kept wild animals on the assessment of the cortisol level as stress indicator. Particular attention is paid to identify stereotypical behavior that reflects the presence of stress in animals and has negative consequences for their survival. In Belarus, no connection was found between the breeding conditions in the enclosures and the demonstration of stereotypical behavior in game enclosures; only isolated cases of stereotypical forms of locomotor and feeding behavior (walking in circles and eating soil) were noticed. This behavior occurred immediately after individuals were moved into the enclosure, as well as transferred to an enclosure with smaller area, but later it quickly stopped. The relationship between the breeding conditions, the quantity in the enclosures and the demonstration of stereotypical behavior in red deer has not been observed.

To identify stress under different conditions of red deer breeding, an assessment and comparative analysis of cortisol level in excrement of animals was carried out. The data obtained indicate that the cortisol level is quite high both when keeping deer in game enclosures and living in the wild, in natural conditions, and corresponds to such level in tame deer in a zoo in the presence of a strong stress situation (explosions of firecrackers and fireworks). At the same time, the cortisol level in individuals living in the wild was statistically significantly higher than in enclosures. The highest cortisol level was found in adult males, and the lowest - in yearlings, which is explained by the peculiarities of the social structure of red deer.

Comparing data on stereotypical behavior, cortisol level and breeding conditions of red deer, it can be said that with sufficient food supply, the stress level is affected by population density, the presence of predators and hunting.