Ligand Specificity Of Uterine Oestrogen And Progesterone Receptors In The Subadult African Elephant, Loxodonta Africana (1997)

Relative high annual rates of population growth in African elephants confined to conservation areas in southern Africa (for example, 7%; Hall-Martin, 1992) may have negative consequences for the maintenance of biological diversity. As a result the densities of some of these populations are reduced artificially through culling operations that are opposed both by some conservationists and the concerned public. There is, therefore, a need for the development of alternative and generally acceptable techniques for inhibiting population growth. In this regard Poole (1993) and Short (1992) suggested that consideration should be given to the use of contraceptives or contragestins, such as an antiprogestin, like mifepristone (RU?486; Roussel Uclaf, Paris), that may block uterine receptor activity. However, the use of such treatments require detailed knowledge of the reproductive endocrinology in the elephant.